A REVIEW ON JULANGE 2021 COLLECTION: THE BEAUTY OF ANKARA FASHION IN AFRICA

Tosin Clegg

A 21st century fashion company established in Ghana, Julange Couture, owned by Juliet Sarkodie, is one of the few ready-to-wear clothing brands involved in ensuring that African styles stay global. This company emboldens the carefree and unique nature of distinct members of society.

In fact, one of the easiest ways to identify Julange’s garment is that every piece is either made from a unique fabric known as Bògòlanfini, from Mali and Burkina Faso, or the Indigo from Baulé & Korhogo from Côte d’Ivoire. There’s also the Fugu & Kente from Ghana.

But why go through the stress of importing other local prints from other African countries when she could make do with the famous Ghanaian Kente? The answer is simple.

Juliet, aside from creating wealth and promoting beauty in African fashion, understands the dynamics of originality in today’s fashion landscape. This is another realm of creativity in its finest state. Julange Couture is all out for taking African fashion to every corner of the world.

Aside from originality, Julange Couture possesses an unwavering love for comfortable outfits, prime fabrics, fusion fashion, mild colours and locally sourced materials.

Now, regarding fashion fusion, Julange Couture has a different perspective on what should be mixed with a legendary fabric such as the Ankara. In modern fashion, what many fashion aficionados refer to as fashion fusion ― the blend of traditional textiles and contemporary elements does not do justice to what Juliet and her team of creatives call “heritage harmony”. What exactly are we talking about?

In 2021, Julange Couture released a collection of easy-to-wear female outfits. From free mini gowns to ankle-length trousers and stylish crop tops, fashion critics and enthusiasts alike were left in awe.

Although Julange Couture has had a range of striking collections in the past years, every year, they never fail to give the best of styles, designs, and patterns. And for this year’s ensemble, their standard and exceptional style is still making waves in the fashion world, not just in Africa, but globally.

With details to the fits, relevance to history and trend, originality of style, colour palette, type of fabric, and other noticeable criteria, Juliet Sarkodie takes modern-day fashion to another height.

Beginning with the hook and onyx patterned mini gown, spectators couldn’t get enough ─ from craftmanship, and novelty to simplicity, grace and warmth ─ all in one. It is a full package.

A reminiscence of African tradition with a touch of style and class, this thigh-length Ankara gown is suitable for young and old ladies who want to be on top of their game on every occasion. Think of a global woman feeling more confident with an elevated self-esteem.

Made from two iconic shades of blue: sky and navy blue, with a splash of gold lines running through the dress like tiny bridges, this outfit gives a sophisticated yet simple look.

Should wetalk about the length? This minimal gown intends to give the wearer enough reasons to be confident in her skin, especially the tone. Black is beautiful, after all. The minimal exposure is also for comfort. Living in a typical African country; take, for instance, Nigeria, might often require the working-class lady and mum to be more flexible in her wardrobe choices.

Moving further ─ more like moving upward, the bold V neckline shape and collar give the front view a chic look. The black camisole is a livid contrast to the warmth, calmness, and brightness that comes with the blue hues. The dress features a long-sleeve hand but tight at the wrist, fitting the wearer’s hand in a classy way. The leaf-like prints on the dress remind us of dried and fallen flowers in dry season.

Overall, the standout piece of this dress is the oval front view. This gives the dress a distinct semi-professional look, making it suitable for cooperate luncheons, parties, date nights, etc. It is obvious that the designer, Juliet Sarkodie, was quite intentional about making a lasting first impression with this elegant design.

A suggestion for the dress would be an accessory either a necklace or a wrist watch to give more beauty to it without overshadowing the original dress. The designer has once again put out an outstanding piece for those confident ladies who want to look gorgeous.

 This is another explicit design by Juliet Sarkodie, of Julange Couture. This particular piece is exquisite because of its creative combination of two ravishing designs.

The blouse is body-fitted in the torso region and has a balloon-like long sleeve that makes the wearer look like a boss lady. The red oval shape of the blouse gives it an attractive feature. You can’t help but look twice.

The design of the trousers perfectly synced with the blouse. The length is just right for the blouse and the heels. The green pattern in the trousers, though completely different from that of the blouse, still gives it a radiant look. 

The outfit is perfect for corporate work and meetings, conferences, seminars, and the like. The designer didn’t fail to show off her creative skills with this design.

A little suggestion would be to add a pendant that isn’t so pronounced so it can accentuate the beauty of the wearer. Apart from that, the designer did a great job in ensuring the design was a perfect blend.

 This may be the last piece of this collection, but it is definitely not the least. This masterpiece happens to be the most appealing, because of its bright and prominent colours. This beautiful outfit features a short-sleeve blouse that is not fitted, but fitting, revealing an alluring part of the abdomen of the wearer.

The Palazzo trousers are just the right length and size. Sleek and simple. The upper part covers part of the wearer’s abdomen and belly button, making it less provocative. The lower part of the trouser flows downward reaching the foot of the wearer. This outfit is suitable for casual hangouts, nightclubs, red-carpet events, showbiz, etc. With this design, one can easily tell the designer wanted the typical Ghanaian lady to look sexy without offense.

One suggestion for this outfit would be a clutch bag, ash colour in particular, to give it that classy look at that event.  Juliet did yet another wonderful job by creating this fantastic design.

Just to crown it all, the 2021 Julange Couture collection does not only dignify the Ghanaian culture, it also contributes to the evolution of fashion in Africa as a whole. Though this brand was established in 2016, its impact on the fashion industry feels like decades. This tells you how much creative and innovative work goes on behind the scenes.

Julange Couture is not just a company that designs clothes. It is invested in reinforcing and encouraging freedom to oneself through comfort and style while connecting people into a tribe—a community that shares similar traits and tastes in threads and ideas.