Pepper Leaf

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ALSO KNOWN AS

Adémé

This design is called ‘Pepper Leaf’ and “Adémé”, named after a vegetable from the south of Togo. Most mothers have their own way of preparing this vegetable, and likewise this fabric has many ways it can be worn.

Helmet

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ALSO KNOWN AS

Bunch of bananas / Shell

This heritage design from the 1960s is also known as ‘Bunch of Bananas’ and “Coquillage”, which means shell in English. In Togo this design is known as “Abobo To Lé Gomè”, which means ‘the snail out of its shell’. In a village called Abobo, they celebrate the Abobozan festival in September each year. During the festival, snail dishes are enjoyed by locals and the snail fabric is a popular choice.

You leave, I leave

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ALSO KNOWN AS

Tu sors, je sors

The name “Tu sors, je sors” means: if you are unfaithful to me, I’m not going to restrain myself either. With these words, the newlywed wife warns her husband about future escapades. In Togo the pattern is always bought by the woman herself in order to spread the word. The pattern became popular in 1983, particularly in Ivory Coast. The pattern was removed from the line in the nineties, but has been sold again since 2007.

ABC

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ALSO KNOWN AS

Alphabet

People wear this design to indicate that they went to school and know how to read and write. They also attach importance to a good education for their children, and they set aside money to provide it.

Santana

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ALSO KNOWN AS

Darling don’t turn your Back on Me

This rare three-colours pattern, loved by the Igbo, is one of the few Wax Hollandais patterns to incorporate three colours. Santana is derived from the name Madame Santa Anna Nelly, the name of one of the Nana Benz in Togo who apparently got the exclusivity of the sales of this pattern. The pattern is based on a sketch provided by vendors. It is said to represent an angry woman lying in bed with her back to the husband. Her husband is asking for forgiveness and begging het to turn around, saying “Cherie, ne me tourne pas le dos” (Darling, don’t turn your back on me).

Congrès

The pattern is very popular in Ivory Coast and Togo. Its two colours, red and yellow, are printed on top of each other. Each year it is worn during the meeting of the Lomé Houngni women, an order of women from Lomé, Togo. Despite the many imitations of this pattern that circulate today, the real Vlisco pattern remains the first choice for notables and upper class.

Don’t get married empty-handed

Don’t get married with empty hands: In Togo, young women prepare for marriage by assembling their valuable materials and financial assets, in order to be financially independent from their future husband. it is said that when a girl is wed with love as her only baggage, she runs the risk of returning to her mother’s arms in tears very quickly.

Otopa

This design is called “Otopa” in Togo. In the book “Les Messages du Pagne” (The Stories of Loin Cloth), this pattern means ‘Concert of Stars’. They are shining and moving. It’s a sign of a celebration, success and joy. The second name of the design, in Benin is “Hêfounmè wè hè non soudè” meaning ‘The Bird is growing in his down Feather’.

Lomé 2015

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This design is a new interpretation of the iconic ‘1004’ pattern. President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo had renewals and renovations planned for the city of Lomé in 2015 . The people of Togo named the pattern ‘Lomé 2015’ because they no longer believed in change.

Nadouvi Lawson-Body was Vlisco’s 2013 ambassador in Togo and is a renowned cardiologist and the director of La Clinique le Coeur. Being a female cardiologist, Dr Lawson-Body was a pioneer of her time.

 

Cardiovascular disease was and still is one of Togo’s most fatal illnesses, and Dr Lawson-Body was determined to fight this through her medical expertise. Knowing that prevention is better than cure, Nadouvi is a devout sportswoman, promoting physical exercise and supporting sport activities for women throughout Togo.

 

Until 2016, she was the president of the Togolese Basketball Federation, and the Vice President of the National Olympic committee. Nadouvi was the first ever woman to serve as president of a sporting federation in Togo and won the Women and Sports in Africa Award for her outstanding contribution to basketball and sports as a whole in her country.

 

Nadouvi would like to share the following with you:

“Women must gain economic independence with a minimum of education, perseverance, self-sacrifice and effort.”