See Accra Through Designer Mimi Plange’s Eyes

From the open air market that’s a must-visit, to the hand-woven baskets that are a must-buy, the fashion designer’s inspiration lies in the history of Ghana.

See Accra Through Designer Mimi Plange’s Eyes

From the open air market that’s a must-visit, to the hand-woven baskets that are a must-buy, the fashion designer’s inspiration lies in the history of Ghana.

Though raised in Southern California, fashion designer Mimi Plange grew up immersed in the culture of her hometown: Accra. It was her mother’s photos from 1950s Ghana that first introduced Plange to fashion. "That’s how I fell in love with clothing and identity," she says. "I always wanted to showcase the real country that I experienced through these images in my designs." Her clothing mixes traditional African and modern influences, counting Rihanna and Michelle Obama as acolytes of its distinct cool.

<span style="font-family: Theinhardt, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif;">Mimi Plange is Ghanian-born </span>fashion designer from Southern California.

Mimi Plange is Ghanian-born fashion designer from Southern California. 

Photo by Emmanuel Andre

Jewelry, beads, metals—especially gold—are some of the greatest works of wearable Ghanaian art. They showcase the craftsmanship of the country’s highly skilled artisans. When I was little, these were the gifts my mom would always bring from her trips to Accra. I would always feel like I had something super special and unique.

"Jewelry, beads, metals—especially gold—are some of the greatest works of wearable Ghanaian art. They showcase the craftsmanship of the country’s highly skilled artisans. When I was little, these were the gifts my mom would always bring from her trips to Accra. I would always feel like I had something super special and unique."

Illustration by Justine Wong

I love spicy things—and pairing them with the finest ingredients in the world sounds like a win-win situation to me. It’s wonderful to see Ghanaian artisans like Midunu’s creating their own truffles and sweets from home-grown cocoa, fruits, and spices.

"I love spicy things—and pairing them with the finest ingredients in the world sounds like a win win situation to me. It’s wonderful to see Ghanaian artisans like Midunu’s creating their own truffles and sweets from home-grown cocoa, fruits, and spices."

Courtesy of Midunu Chocolates

See the full story on Dwell.com: See Accra Through Designer Mimi Plange’s Eyes