Poverty – The Origin of Ghana’s Leading Trend, The Nsaasawa Mixed African Patches

Back in the early ’80s and 90s, it was assumed that those who used Mixed African prints pieces to sew dresses(Kaba, sleet, shirt) or the “NSAASAWA were considered to be poor folks who couldn’t afford the full cloth thereby joining pieces to get enough cloth to sew a dress or a shirt. This leads to its abandonment and uses totally. 

Not until recently that it was invoked from its slumber as a result of the colour blocking movement which allowed different colours to be paired up contrary to the “combination” system. This paved way for different colours, shades and textiles (sometimes mixing lace with Ankara material) of the prints to be pieced together and sewed into all sought of designs and still look extravagant. 

Many African designers have also jumped on this patched mixed print patch clothing by creating, exploring and experimenting with it into various forms of dresses, pants, bags, shirts, hats, pillows, and not to mention boxer shorts lol.

However the trend may gradually lose ground due to multiple cliche’s and overuse with less creativity, but for now, view some lovely Nsaasawa fashion below.

AN NSAASAWA BAG BY ADU AMANI,GH

NSASAAWA SHOES BY ADU AMANI