Designer
© Photo: Alain Herman,
Paris
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© Photo: Alain Herman, Paris
Alphadi 1957
born in Timbuktu
lives and works in Niamey In his creations, Alphadi-who calls himself a 'child and magician of the desert'-reflects his own diverse cultural roots, i.e. the traditional lines, forms and colours of century-old desert peoples like the Bororo, Fulani (also called Peul), Haussa and Tuareg on the one hand, and European nations on the other. Alphadi weaves all these strands together and thus creates his own inimitable style. He tries not only to preserve almost forgotten African materials and techniques, but also to develop them further. He uses leather, silver and bronze, preferrably in combination with raw wool, linen and silk. Alphadi trained at Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Washington, D.C. Together with other African designers, he founded the 'Fédération des Créateurs Africains' (FAC) and has served as its chairman for six years. Apart from numerous distinctions, Alphadi received the 1987 'Oscar' as best African fashion designer from the 'Fédération de la Couture et du Prêt-à-Porter' in Paris, and in Amsterdam in 1998 1st Prize from the Prince Claus Foundation for outstanding creations and infrastructural promotion of African-designed fashion. For the first time in November 1998, Alphadi initiated and organized the 'Festival International de la Mode Africaine' (FIMA) in Agadez, an oasis right in the middle of the Agadez desert. At the second festival in Niamey, held in November 2000, fashion designers from all over the world presented their creations. Just as Alphadi tries to connect two worlds in his collections, fashion designers from other countries encounter the traditional desert culture during these festivals. Alphadi
BP 12873, Niamey, Niger
17 Rue Paul Bert, F-75011 Paris
www.alphadi.com
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