Pathé’O

N° 323

1st edition 2023
Language English
Softcover
Pages 462
360 colour images
Size 28 × 21 cm

Designer Hammer
Editors Pathé’O, Flurina Rothenberger, Hammer, Catherine Morand

Pathé’O, originally from Burkina Faso, is a major figure in African fashion. Based in Côte d’Ivoire, his work has influenced the aesthetic and cultural landscape of fashion across the continent for more than three decades, including a recent collaboration with Dior. His practice combines sustainability, cultural identity and entrepreneurial vision, encouraging a renewed appreciation for local fashion traditions in West Africa, where Western dress once dominated public life.

In the 1980s, Pathé’O developed a close relationship with Thomas Sankara, whose commitment to Pan-Africanism and cultural pride deeply shaped his approach. From that point on, he worked exclusively with locally produced fabrics, creating designs that reflect heritage, history and identity. Another key moment was his encounter with Nelson Mandela, who adopted Pathé’O’s garments in place of Western suits — a gesture that influenced political figures, celebrities and the broader public alike.

Pathé’O’s textiles remain central to his work, combining global fashion influences with diverse African materials and knowledge systems. This publication traces his trajectory and examines the broader context of fashion in West Africa, linking craftsmanship with themes such as cultural heritage, labour, politics and popular culture, spanning past and present.

Includes an interview by Catherine Morand and texts by Chayet Chiénin, Denise Epoté, Anne Grosfilley, Genevieve Hill-Thomas, Pépita Kragbé-Coulibaly, Célestin Monga, Saidi Mamadou Ouédraogo, Flurina Rothenberger, Filippe Sawadogo and Victoria L. Rovine

Description from the publisher’s website