Eloli means “it’s beautiful” in Baffa, a language spoken in Cameroon. Eloli is an award-winning luxury African fashion brand from Cameroon — with bright colors and bold patterns — being showcased at African Fashion Week, happening Aug. 22-25.
“It’s African fashion week but it’s for everybody,” said Gilles Wouanko, the founder of Montreal African Fashion Week. “It’s not just for African and it’s not just African print as the design. “I think sometimes people think it’s only going to be traditional wear.
” Wouanko says that’s not really the concept. “The concept is to show African or Black creators. “It’s to show what did they create, what are their visions.
“Some are traditionally inspired, which is great because it has meaning to it, but also a lot in diverse environments. “Some are born in Montreal. “How do they view fashion? “How is the upbringing or background influenced the view as artists?” Wouanko actually started African Fashion Week in Edmonton when he moved there in 2011.
“When I came back in Montreal in 2018, there was no fashion week, so I decided to continue it here,” he said. Sume Ndumbe-Eyoh co-founded Eloli along with her sisters in 2012. “When I think back to 2011, 2012, when we launched, I don’t think we imagined that we’re actually creating like a business, so we just started,” she said.
“And so it was a lot of experimentation, it was having lots of fun with it. “I really think in through, what d.