Every year, African fashion designers unlock a new layer of unprecedented creativity that is so thrilling to watch. This year is no exception despite the dark clouds hovering over the world. When Ghanaian designer Juliet Sakordie, the CEO and Creative Director of Julange Couture, announced the release of her new fashion collections, our expectations peaked at their threshold following her unbeaten record of drilling gold through needles and threads.

Expressing her creativity through sustainable fabrics, Julange Couture presents the 2020 Osrane Collection, which entails stylish and modest wear that encompasses the delicate nature of the users. To Juliet Sakordie, these designs capture what ‘formal tailoring for women should be’.
The concept behind this collection is to craft befitting outfits that capture the elegance of the modern woman.

The Osrane Collection is a pictorial representation of innovative fashion. The unique blend of distinct Ankara prints to create modernistic attire for females speaks volumes of the thoughtfulness dedicated to the planning stage. Each piece doesn’t just represent a culture but expresses the individuality behind the glowing garments.
The first look in the collection features a long-sleeved, collared shirt tucked in a pencil skirt with a flare and a black stiletto heel to complement the outlook.

Ankara fabric is a multifarious material adorned by both men and women. The use of Ankara has evolved over the years with the creation of bags, dresses, jewellery, and shoes using beautiful Ankara textiles. No wonder the designer captures this thrilling outfit using a unique fabric.

The pairing of this outfit is its unique selling point. The designer didn’t just follow the monotonous Ankara pairing that most fashion designers circulate. She took it up a notch starting from the fabric choice.

The print on the Ankara fabric is distinctive and could be mistaken for other fabric types. It is marked with raindrop-like patterns in different colours ranging from sky blue and orange, to white. The shells in the print remind us of love and beauty and the serene scenery of a cool beach. The texture seems hard on the outside but is medium-weight and works well with other fabrics.

The choice of a slim-fitted shirt that enhanced the delicate outlines of the model’s body gave the general appearance a befitting look. To further complement the shirt, the designer used a button to hold it in place. The buttonless cuffs are asymmetrical, adding style to the overall outlook.

Sakordie brings the smoke to this outfit with a knee-length mermaid skirt made from combining two different fabrics. This time, we get a fish-scale fabric woven into a straight skirt; however, the double flares are designed using the same Ankara material. While the style is inviting, the hip pad is not balanced and looks big on the model. For this style, the fabrics should stick to the user’s body to accentuate their curves. This is why the waistline should be fitting.

This look would surely penetrate the market, especially for young women who want to slay while maintaining the boss vibe. While this attire is innovative, there is room for improvement in terms of achieving a tailored fit that expresses the user’s personality. Beyond the mix-match, we want to see another layer of creativity as the skirt style is common and doesn’t add any excitement. As we stated earlier, fabric choice and pairing are the cheat codes of this outfit.

For styling, the model matches the outfit with a black heel, a curly bob hairstyle, and glam makeup. The smokey eyes and vibrant lips complement the outfit without making itself the centre of attraction. The styling enhanced the overall appearance.

This apparel will certainly appeal to the younger market whose love for short garments takes the day. It is current and commercially viable. Additionally, its structure allows for easy movement and comfort.
This colourful design would transcend towns and cities, and we cannot wait to say, ‘We told you so’.
This is what we call ART. Fashion is meant to cause a stir, and this just did. The designer took a trendy design and transformed it into an eye-candy.

Let’s start with the crop top. We all know crop tops have overflooded markets due to customers’ demands and the ease of wearing them. While they are available in different fabrics, an Ankara crop top is not an everyday experience.

Once again, Sakordie represented this using a colourful Ankara print. The positioning of the yellow sunflower covering the lower part of the top made it pop. The choice of fabric is a plus as it sits adorably on the model’s slender figure.

Crop tops are timeless pieces that never go out of style; instead, they get reinvented every season. They are one of the most versatile outfits and can be worn with a skirt, trousers, or even a jumper.

Using a different Ankara fabric, Sakordie went for a high-waisted skirt to complete the feminine feel.
This skirt is the perfect combination for fashionistas who love crop tops but want to keep their belly button hidden. Not only did the designer choose a pencil skirt, but it is skillfully enhanced with ruffles forming an oval shape from beneath her hip to the hem of the skirt.

This above-the-knee skirt with the crop top will make an elegant outfit for any occasion, especially for those who need to make a bold statement. With the right accessories, it will emit the smoky, youthful vibes it was intended.

For the unveiling, the stylist matched this great outfit with a black heel. The styling appears to be too basic as a little addition would have spiced this look. A gold wristwatch or gold bangle and a neck pendant could do justice to it.

Also, showing us different ways to style the crop top would have added another layer of satisfaction. An ensemble of this crop top with trousers or overalls will spark curiosity.
Nevertheless, we do not doubt the market viability of this outfit. It is trendy enough to generate mass buying and suits the taste of today’s generation. While it could have been improved, Julange Couture has given us hope that African fashion is not dead but a moving train.

Each piece in the 2020 Osrane collection is a magic potent of creativity, dedication, hard work, and an insatiable desire to do more. Launching her brand in 2016, Sakordie has built this legacy on a unique philosophy—’reinforcing and encouraging the freedom to be oneself through comfort and style’. Julange Couture has maintained the trajectory of patronising local traders and using sustainable materials from across African countries like Indigo, Fugu, Baulé, and leather and wooden buttons from Ghana to make its garments. Her unique designs and meticulous attention to detail have earned her a name among fashion critics, placing her as a promising talent with huge potential as a global export.

Amid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sakordie has risen above the rubble to showcase the huge potential on the large map of Africa. This collection will be a global sensation as the styles are suitable for all body sizes and express one’s authentic personal style with simplicity.