
Season: S1/2019
Wax Hollandais is moved by the power and brilliance of Vlisco fabric traders. Vlisco honours the Ivorians whose respected position and entrepreneurial wisdom is often passed down from mother to daughter. These traders are not only the purveyors of Wax Hollandais, they are the indispensable backbone of African commerce.
Ivory Coast Special
Ivory Coast Special
The connoisseurs of Wax Hollandais
Wax Hollandais is moved by the power and brilliance of Vlisco fabric traders. Vlisco honours the Ivorians whose respected position and entrepreneurial wisdom is often passed down from mother to daughter. These traders are not only the purveyors of Wax Hollandais, they are the indispensable backbone of African commerce.
It is through the Wax Hollandais traders of the Ivory Coast, with their entrepreneurship, good taste, and discerning eye for quality, that Vlisco fabrics have reached the wardrobes and hearts of Ivorian women. To honour their contributions to a culture of beauty that shines so vibrantly across the African continent, we present this portrait series. Collaborating with Ivorian designer Eloi Sessou, we bring you their stories, their bustling shops, and fashion looks using six of Vlisco’s vivacious designs in an array of playful colour prints.
The women behind Wax
Video Credits:
Videography and editing: Daniel Attoh
by Accra Studio’s
Photoshoot Credits
Designer: Eloi Sessou Model: Kady Coulibaly Photographer: Matthew Miziolek
Image retouche: Deeptone
Styling Credits:
Jewellery stylist: Chyba jewelry
Make-up: Renee Balou
Hair: Dieudonne Senato

Bley Koussani
Adjo Constance
Bley’s boutique Emmanuella Textiles was born in 1999 in the heart of Abidjan. She started her business out of an adoration for the incomparable quality of wax fabrics, and how they are passed down from grandmother to mother to daughter, maintaining vibrant colour and beauty across generations.
Emmanuella Textiles
Plateau – Rue du Commerce
Immeuble Nassar Gaddar
Abidjan
Ivory Coast
Tel: +225 20 32 96 08
Interview with Bley
Nine worlds
in one print
A Wax Hollandais statement piece that pays tribute to classical Vlisco imagery. This collage of 9 vibrant new designs comes together under one iconic Zoba-Zoba, featuring plantlife, scales, spirals, summer fans, and bold markings, all merging together into an alluring landscape that pulls you into its story.
An alluring landscape that
pulls you into its story

N’cho Amon
Elisabeth
Ever since N’cho Amon Elisabeth was a child she loved the fabric trade. As a young woman in a very large family, she decided to leave school to pursue her passion. In 1978 N’cho established her first business selling Vlisco fabrics; this grew into Néa Textiles one of the most respected textile boutiques in all of the Ivory Coast.
NEA Textiles
Adjamé – Forum des Marchés
Entree agence EcoBank 10 Montagnes
Abidjan
Ivory Coast
Tel: +225 08 64 88 37

Tina Gregoire
The charismatic owner of Bouquet de pagnes thrives in the hustle and bustle of the textile trading life. Tina Gregoire runs her prosperous fabric boutique, based in the heart of Abidjan.

Salaou Makandjou Sedalo
Salaou Makandjou Sedalo adores fabric — her passion shows up in her delighted smile and her bustling boutique Chez Mme Sedalo.
This “show-off” Super Wax flaunts the secrets to wealth with bold vitality and oceanic motifs — crowns radiate their jeweled brilliance next to dancing keys. Each symbol pops on a grid of ornate twisting frames set over a wave-print background. Perfect for playful and powerful women who are making their mark.

Djetou
Marie-Paule
Since 2004, Djetou Marie-Paule has run Pagnerie St Michel from Abidjan’s booming Adjamé market, following in her mother’s footsteps as the next generation of textile traders. Above all else, Djetou loves colour, and the way that these bright Wax fabrics reflect the beauty of African life.
Pagnerie St Michel
Plateau – Rue du Commerce
Immeuble Nassar Gaddar
Abidjan
Ivory Coast
Tel: +225 20 33 62 39
Fashion
Inspiration
Discover all the looks created by Ivorian designer Eloi Sessou in this portrait series.
Fabrics
Special
Take a closer look at the vivacious designs featured in an array of playful colour prints.