Selly Raby Kane is a Senegalese fashion designer whose eponymous brand was launched in 2012. A rising star of Africa’s burgeoning fashion scene, Kane has a degree in management and business administration and a masters in product management for textile and clothing from L’Institut Supérieur Spécialisé de la Mode in Paris.
Since its launch, Selly Raby Kane has drawn influence from the designer’s interest in cinema and pop-culture, and with each design, she plays to an African aesthetic while simultaneously overturning traditional Senegalese fashion codes and trends. Speaking about creating art in her home country, Kane said, speaking to Elle South Africa:
“In a sense, doing fashion in Senegal is very liberating. Many dots are missing to the industry and as a young designer it made me feel less pressured by codes and formats that riddle the industry.
I had the liberty to mix strong art references to my craft at a very early stage, to express my love for performance through the creation of surreal universes at relatively reasonable costs.” As the brand evolves, Kane will continue to extend her reach, having recently been named the judge of Dezeen’s first ever Dezeen Awards. She also serves as Creative Director for the Design Indaba Festival.
Content Courtesy Of Selly Raby Kane , Industrie Africa & Nairobi Fashion Hub