I first discovered designer Loza Maleombho scrolling through afro futurist pages on Instagram and was instantly inspired by her originality and fusion of modern fashion with traditional aesthetics. Being from a African heritage it is sometimes hard to fit in within an industry so heavily influenced by European Beauty ideals and standards Loza Maleombho is a breath of fresh air for those interested in African Futures. Maleombho fuses traditional techniques with structural elements of design providing a whole new perspective on self identity within fashion. Her designs have been applauded and featured by Vogue, Saint Heron and True Africa and used in a Beyonce 2016 Formation music video.
Born in Brazil she was raised between Côte d’Ivoire and the United States and has been designing since she was 13. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation at the University of the Arts of Philadelphia in 2006 and took on several internships at New York City’s top fashion designer houses before deciding to start a brand of her own which was Established in New York City in 2009 and relocated to Côte d’Ivoire since 2012 where its production now takes place, Loza Maléombho is best described as a fusion between traditional cultures/ sub-cultures and contemporary fashion. Loza Maléombho bridges Ivorian traditions with modern fashion: the silhouettes celebrate the paradox of the old and new, cultural and futuristic. More specifically, Loza Maléombho experiments the synergies between Ivorian tribal aesthetics and New York City’s urban fashion.
Loza Maléombho works with artisans who have mastered their craft for generations and find ways to communicate their trade with fashionable items that are on trend.
The talent that Loza Maleombho exudes is phenomal. She transforms her ideas into creative outlets that provoke emotion and communicate cultural oppression and differences through minimalist selfies with cultural props.
“The concept of “Alien Edits” came to me rather intuitively and I am still expressing and experimenting as I am writing this, but if I had to pin it I’d say that it came from frustrations about the U.S. judiciary system with its on going discrimination against African Americans and frustrations about social issues that are class, race, culture, sexuality and religious stereotypes, all of which cause a state of alienation on its victims.”
For more information you can check out her website and instagram
The exhibition was split into 2 halves, bottom floor being Balenciaga himself with works from both himself and his sister house and upstairs focused on his influence over modern designers. From Givency to new designers like Molly Goddard and Delpozo.
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