Fashion Police Nigeria is always on the lookout for what’s unique in the fashion world, focusing particularly on how black creatives globally showcase the beauty of the continent. Many designers pay tribute to African imagery, culture, and language through their designs, particularly to portray the strength, history, and uniqueness of black people.
Among these designers is Lafalaise Dion, from Cote D’Ivoire, and the founder of her eponymous brand, “LafalaiseDion.” She infuses spirituality into her creations, using cowrie shells—a symbol rich in African history and spirituality—to create stunning works of art.
Her designs are not just about aesthetics, but also carry profound cultural meanings, connecting contemporary fashion to its ancestral roots. Through her work, Dion honors traditional African practices while pushing the boundaries of modern fashion, exemplifying how black designers are leading a cultural renaissance in the fashion industry.
Cowrie shells evoke various perspectives. Some see them as pretty shells from small sea creatures, while others recognize them as remnants of Africa’s past use as currency. Then there are those, like Lafalaise Dion, who appreciate their aesthetic and spiritual value, seamlessly integrating them into fashion.
Cowrie shells transcend their physical form, acting as symbolic windows into the soul of various African artistic traditions. In certain African mythologies, cowrie shells symbolize wealth, luck, and fertility. They are worn by dancers, warriors, priestesses and affluent families, with each piece telling a unique story. The more cowrie shells one wore, the wealthier they were believed to be. And, for Lafalaise Dion, cowrie shells brought her the same kind of luck and wealth.
Instagram.com/@lafalaisedionn Lafalaise’s journey helped her strengthen her cultural identity. she once shared how cowries hold special meaning for her because they are intertwined with her personal story.
As per her interview with Essence in 2020, Her fascination with African spirituality began years ago, stemming from a desire to explore its significance as she didn’t feel a strong connection to other religions. She recounted asking her parents questions about spirituality and embarked on a journey to her village to seek answers independently. During this journey, she met spiritual leaders and documented various aspects of her culture, consistently encountering the symbolism of the cowrie shell.
In 2018, Lafalaise Dion created her first cowrie-made headpiece, which she proudly wore at the Châle Wote Street Festival in Accra, according to Essence. The artistic flair and cultural significance of this creation garnered admiration, sparking collaborations with fellow designers. Initially designed as a personal expression of her cultural identity and fashion sense, the headdress marked the beginning of Dion’s career and the establishment of the Lafalaise Dion brand.
Over time, her brand has gained international recognition, drawing inspiration from the elegant cowrie shell. Since her debut headdress, the Ivorian Designer has collaborated with renowned artists such as Rossy de Palma, Novi Brown, Summer Walker, Ebonee Davis, Karefa Johnson, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, and others.
Lafalaise Dion was the creative mind behind the cowrie shell pieces featured throughout Beyoncé‘s cinematic project, “Black is King,” in 2020. Prior to this, in July 2019, Beyoncé released the “Spirit” music video, which celebrated African art, creativity, and style. In that video, Beyoncé showcased Dion’s artistry by wearing a cowrie shell face mask named “Lagbaja.”
Instagram.com/@lafalaisedionn Lafalaise Dion’s Lagbaja mask, worn by Beyoncé in her “Spirit” video
The “Queen of Cowries” believes her meeting with the cowrie shell was destined. She’s touched by its powerful meaning, from spirituality to beauty. This inspires her to tell her story in a special way, And, her her background in journalism makes her love this version of storytelling even more. She sees her journey as a way to bring back balance to African societies by reconnecting with their roots, which is what her brand represents.
The Ivorian designer takes immense pride in representing Africa and Côte d’Ivoire while honoring her ancestors. Her work carries a message of collective pride that resonates widely. Her creative process is unique; each design reflects either a part of her personality or embodies the distinctive qualities of an African deity.
At first, she would imagine a design, sketch it, make it using materials from local markets in Côte d’Ivoire, and wear it until she felt it was perfect for her to share. But now that her brand has grown, she has a team to help with the work, so she can focus on getting inspiration from nature and her surroundings.
Instagram.com/@lafalaisedionn Lupita Nyongp in Lafalaise Dion’s “Queen v3”, a creation from their Queen of Cowries collection.
Lafalaise’s contribution to African fashion is more of a calling, materializing through a vision that transforms into art. Her primary material, cowries, compels her to respect the craftsmanship that goas into the process, as well as the rarity of the shells.
This approach resists the pressures of mass production, which constantly demands more. Much like spirituality requires time and deep introspection, each piece is made with time, intentionality and profound meditation, as the cowries are linked together to create exceptional beauty.
