Tongoro is a clothing brand that was launched in 2016 by Sarah Diouf. The brand is fully designed and manufactured in Dakar, Senegal, and prides itself in being a “Made in Africa” brand that customers globally can get a piece of. One noticeable characteristic of Diouf’s newest ready to wear collection is that she exclusively designed pieces in black and white. Brands based in Africa are stereotypically seen as using only bright colors and prints, but Diouf breaks the mold. Tongoro means star in Sango, and that’s exactly what this brand is: a star. The brand has two lines, couture and studio, so I picked a couple looks that captivated me. Let’s dive in.
The Tongoro Couture Line
The couture collection features the petaw shell also known as the cowrie shell throughout. Through researching, I discovered that the cowrie shells were currency as early as the 14th century on Africa’s west coast. They were also seen as power in the trade market. . Those who had a substantial amount were viewed as wealthy and comfortable because cowrie shells are extremely hard to replicate for counterfeit. This couture collection evokes that same wealth and power in the silhouettes and petaw shell embellishments.
Nana Dress
The sheer elegance and confidence the dress exudes drew me to this final piece in the collection. The petaw shells studded on the dress look luminous in the light on top of the black velvet. Pieces that shift in the light based on your perspective really draw me in because I can never take my eyes off the light moving. The simple silhouette of the dress drew me to it as well. The off the shoulder neckline and the figure hugging shape remind me of something seen in Old Hollywood. It’s so alluring, especially when fitted well. Lastly, the styling of this look is perfect with the matching black velvet gloves, the gold petaw shell earrings, and the braids. It’s a mixture of the sultry elegance, but also traditional Senegalese culture.
Beda Jumpsuit
I’m getting an 80s vibe from this outfit. Imagine it’s 1985, you and your girls are going out for dinner then dancing. You just threw on the jumpsuit, and yet you look so chic as you move throughout the city. The fullness of the pant legs is fun. They would move so well on the dance floor. I love how the corset has a triangle shape near the hip area because it adds volume to the pants, and accentuates the hips consequently. The gold beads share a similar effect with the petaw shells by creating an effect in the light. Wearing this jumpsuit would make me feel like a cool girl, and that’s why I love it.
The Tongoro Studio Line
In the studio line, Diouf showcases how she reimagines black and white clothing. She adds intrigue through patterns that create dimension and prevent the look from being one note. Diouf proves that a black and white look doesn’t necessarily have to look simple. Black and white can draw the eye just as much as bright colors can.
Num Jumpsuit
The Num Jumpsuit has a very similar silhouette to that of the Beda jumpsuit because they both have voluminous pant legs. With this jumpsuit, I like how she’s used two different patterns. The pattern on the pant legs reels you in, but I’m it wasn’t used for the entire jumpsuit. It would have been a little muddled. The pattern on the corset top balances it out, so there is contrast. I enjoy how this look was styled, but I would love to see this look for the office with a white button down underneath and some loafers. It’s a little funky, but I think it’ll work.
Nura Dress
Something about this dress just screams vacation. I love the one shoulder neckline with the bow, and the ruched skirt. The skirt reminds me of a sarong in a way, but more formal. Additionally, I like how the skirt dips at the waist so that the waist is accentuated. This dress would be perfect for a nice dinner on vacation. It would be really easy to throw on with nice sandals or heels with the dress. Then paired with a simple up do, the look is complete.
Thank you all for reading this week’s post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you’d like to be notified of new ones, make sure to subscribe. Stay sharp 😉
Sources:
https://www.essence.com/designer-spotflight-sarah-diouf-tongoro/
https://nmaahc.si.edu/cowrie-shells-and-trade-power