If you knew 10 years from now
that you were finally going to meet the love of your life, what on earth would
you do between now and then? I think
I’d probably waste away those precious days just waiting for that moment to
hurry along. And what if you knew that tomorrow would be your last day here? I
think that would ruin the fun of tonight. Don’t you? What I mean is that while
we all sometimes wish we could predict the future, and be calmed by just a
shred of certainty and reassurance that our lives are going to play out like we
hope they will, it’s actually strangely comforting muddling along here in the
unknown. It somehow takes all the pressure away; frees us, and dares us to dive
in head first and create whatever story we’ve always dreamed of; because each
of us has nothing to lose, and everything to gain. Plain and simple - life is a
mystery... and I think that’s one of the greatest gifts that each of us recieves.
Maryanne
Mathias and Molly Keogh are two ladies who know better than most of us that you
never know where you’re going to end up or what life has in store for you right
around the next corner. But that’s what makes it such an epic adventure, right?
These talented designers first met during high school, but it wasn’t until
Maryanne flew to Ghana that she found herself wanting to stay and design and
create a clothing collection. It was then that she envisioned something far
bigger and better, but unable to execute her ambitious vision as a one-woman
band, she decided to reach out to an old friend – Molly. ‘I asked Molly to join me as a partner
when we were at our 10-year high school reunion,’ Maryanne says.
What was
initially meant to be a one-off trip, ended up becoming the socially
responsible and sustainable fashion label – Osei-Duro. The two ladies work in
partnership with the Dzidefo Women’s Cooperative in Ghana, who are local
artisans, and together produce collections that are very unique and flattering,
with an innovative use of fabrics and prints that I have yet to see anywhere
else. It’s hard to pinpoint the style... it’s a mix of cultures (notably Accra
– the capital of Ghana – and North America, the two places where the pair split
their time between), and integrates ethnic elements with a strong contemporary
urban feel.
In stark contrast to what the high street continues to half-heartedly churn
out for us on a weekly basis - each finished piece from an Osei-Duro collection
represents many hours of creative collaboration between the dynamic design duo
and their talented crafters. ‘There is a lot of back and forth as we develop the prints,’
says Molly. ‘We might request an experimental technique that is new to the
dyers, or they might suggest a traditional method they think suits a need. We
send samples and sketches back and forth with the dyers and the sewers and the
cobblers until everyone is satisfied with the results.’
The name, Osei-Duro, translates to "honourable
magic" in Akan. I think that sums up the spirit of the label nicely.
It’s built upon a friendship, and is supported by a local community working
together to collectively produce something special. It’s about people from
different parts of the world crossing paths, colliding with one another,
something that wouldn’t have otherwise happened if it wasn’t for these
incredible ladies. It’s strange when you think of it like that... when you dare
to think about how none of it might have existed if Maryanne hadn’t pursued her
dream... It’s like everything that happens in our lives on a daily basis, we
all make choices to go one way or the other, and are sometimes left wondering
whether we made the right decision in that moment.
I think Maryanne and Molly
made a beautiful choice.
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