Toyosi Adeleke
Thoughts From Home
For this collection, I conducted an intensive analysis of garments worn by my late grandfather in his early years in Lagos, Nigeria. I divided the looks into three categories based on his iconic style. The images in section one, The Locally Proud Aso-Oke (Stripes), suggest the importance to him of gathering with others. Section two, The Leisure Lace, captures a time in which he was deeply engaged in family life and hobbies. Section three, The People's Man with the Fabric Umbrella, showcases the elaborate style he adopted for major events. For the first section, I created a jacket modeled on one that he wore. Made from aso oke, a fabric created by Yoruba weavers, the garment features a large circular embroidered design in a 3D format on the back.
Through my photographs I tell the story of the rich culture of Yoruba people—a narrative that evokes a strong sense of homesickness.
