Guest Post: Chayet from Nothing But the Wax, Part I

I am so excited about this Guest Post!  I stumbled upon Chayet's amazing blog, Nothing But the Wax, a few weeks ago and contacted her about using a photo featuring beautiful wax fabric (or "pagne" as it's called in Congo) pants for the Mama Congo Weekend List.  One thing led to another and here you have one of our most exciting, most COLORFUL, guest spots yet. We decided to split it up into two posts: Part I: Q+A and Part II: DIY.  
First, a little about about Chayet in Part I:

Tell us a little about yourself.  Where do you live?  What do you do? 
My name is Chayet, I’m 28 years old, living in Paris and originally from the Ivory Coast.  I work in finance and blog about wax print fabric and African fashion.

What is your personal connection to wax fabrics?  

I’m passionate about wax fabrics, I blog about it and love to find antique beautiful and rare prints. From my point of view, wax is not just about a fabric.  I see it and experience it more as a lifestyle and share it on my blog.

When did you begin thinking about wax fabrics in high fashion/haute couture?

I made the link between wax fabrics and Haute Couture the first time I saw Juanjo Oliva Spring Summer 2010 collection (see pictures below). This collection was just amazing, so classy, so modern. At this time I just began my blog. One year later, Burberry launched its Prorsum Collection, which, I can say, was the beginning of a new trend: using wax fabric in Haute Couture.  Moschino, Gerard Darel, Agnès B, Simonnetta Ravizza etc., all used wax fabrics for their Spring/Summer 2012 collection.  It was like  they were on to a good thing. Wax fabrics was so trendy than even retailers like Etam, Topman, H&M, Esprit etc. did the same.

What motivated you to begin "Nothing But theWax"?

At the beginning, I was just learning to use a sewing machine and I wanted to share with people my passion for wax fabric and my own handmade and homemade creations. Then, I discovered a lot of designers making beautiful clothes with this fabric and realized that they didn’t have the exposure they deserved in media. This was particularly true for African designers. So, my motivation began to make people aware about this new African fashion.

What is your current favorite clothing item made from wax fabric? 

I love this high waisted skirt from Yinkaalli!! It’s bright and colourful!! I can wear it  in winter as in summer with boots or high steels. This skirts allows every style.

 And I’m also in love with Mariah Bocoum's clothing line Les péchés Mignons, in particular with this dress which is so vintage and classy: 

Where do you buy your wax fabric in Paris?

I buy my wax fabric in a well known African district of Paris called “Château Rouge” and sometimes at “Toto”, a shop specializing in African prints. 

Not sure what to do with that beautiful piece of pagne/wax fabric sitting at home? 

Stay tuned for a special DIY by Chayet later today!

*all photos provided by Chayet for this post

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Bélya and the Magic of African Print

A few weeks ago we linked to African Prints in Fashion. Have you checked it out? They're about all things African print or pagne as we call it here in Congo.

African print is everywhere. Can you think of anything else we use to hold our babies on our backs that also looks good on a pair of Vans?

Pagne is our curtains, our clothes, and the dozen or so headbands my kids fight over in the mornings. Oh and now it's a line at Target.

So when I saw these designs by Bélya on African Prints in Fashion, I did a double take. I can't remember ever seeing pagne used in such a beautiful way.

This is our tablecloth looking as fine as can be on a leather purse. (See, here it is also serving as a backdrop for a worm.)

And wouldya just look at these boots?

And these shoes.

This bag!

And portes monnaies.

But guess what! You don't have to live in Africa to order. Go to Bélya's Etsy shop and check out all the amazing things Senegalese owner and designer Aïssatou Sene has there.

Because Aïssatou is not only a fabulous designer, but also Mama Congo's newest reader, she has offered 10% off on orders $100 or more. And she'll ship from Senegal if ordering from Africa! Be sure you mention Mama Congo when ordering.

Check back mid-February for even more designs on the Bélya site.

Thank you, Aïssatou! Best of luck on the start-up of beautiful Bélya.

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Raising the Bar

The other day, Mama Youyou came to get Mama Vida so they could walk out together at the end of the day.  These nannies obviously work with the right families:  Mama Youyou is timely, arriving precisely at 5:30 or so, and she usually waits politely for a bit, until it's necessary to hollar through the bathroom door at Mama Vida, "Vida!  Viiiiddddaaa!"  Mama Vida shouts back, "Na zoya!" (I'm coming! in Lingala) several times until she eventually emerges. This closely mirrors the Humphrey/Grimsrud & Sensamaust relationships with time.

While we were waiting for Mama Vida to get ready, I asked Mama Youyou if I could take her picture because she looked so dang good.  I mean, who looks this put together on their way to travel an hour on insane public transportation after an entire day wrangling multiple toddlers?

A Congolese woman.  That's who.

For example, this was taken last year at Elias' final day of Kindergarten.  We were just having a little gathering in the classroom, no biggie.  Yet, this is how the other mothers were dressed:

I wrote to Chantal (the beautiful mother above) to ask if I could use this random picture that I took of her for a little post about stylish Congolese women and she said something like, "Oh! I like that picture, but it wasn't anything special."  Really?  Those heels!  That purse!  That dress.  I'm pretty sure I was wearing jeans that day.

And today, the last day of 1st grade for our kiddos - this is what she was wearing:

Again with those heels!

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In an effort to unlock more fashion secrets, I asked Landrine to come over yesterday for a little photo shoot.  She said she would bring wardrobe changes.

She started out with the "modern" woman.  A smart outfit for a business occasion.

Then, she brought out a design of her own.  I told her it looked like something from a Vlisco bilboard. (You'll want to click on that link.) Amazing.

The bar has officially been raised.  Moms aren't often seen in sweatpants around here.  If Mama Youyou can look better than I have ever looked at 5:30pm on a Thursday and Chantal can show up at Kindergarten looking like a million bucks and Landrine can sew herself a dress with haute couture shoulders during the few hours she has electricity every week...then I can at least graduate from jeans.

These mamas are fully aware that a little pride goes a long way.  I'm taking notes.

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Kinshasa on the Red Carpet

Did you see this? I finally watched the Oscars last night (I know, I know I'm a week behind. Blah, blah Argo wins). And this Congolese actress rocked some pretty great Vlisco pagne on the red carpet. She was so excited to be at the Oscars, she was the first one there. My kinda girl.
 

From thegrio.com.

Rachel Mwanza is an actress from DRC and was in the movie Rebelle (War Witch) about child soldiers. You might remember this made my list as a too-intense movie I most definitely will not be seeing. She lived for years on the street here in Kinshasa before she was in a documentary about Kinshasa street kids, aptly named Kinshasa Kids. Or as I think of it, another haunting movie I cannot handle. Félicitations Rachel!

Bonus: Check out Vlisco's celebration of Women's Month. And vote for DRC as your favorite country of inspirational women. Just think of the mamas!

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Friday (or whatever day) List

Sarah's List:

On the way back from the beach, we stopped at Chick-fil-A. This was my first time. (I know, I know, I'm about 2 decades behind.) The only thing I know about Chick-fil-A is they're closed on Sundays. I was not expecting 4-star service complete with self-adhesive children's place mats, clean booster seats and high chairs and about 4,000 different sauces. And to top it off, they double-checked to make sure it was okay if there was cinnamon in the kids' applesauce. Too good to be true? Probably so. Who thought they could get themselves so embroiled in scandal.

From the "I still think 1990 was 10 years ago" department, Adam and I just discovered the 90s Alternative Rock and Grunge station on XM Radio. Here you can see what's currently playing. I dare you not to feel nostalgic. Pretty sure Adam teared up mid-Greenday/Stone Temple Pilots/Radiohead playlist.

This article combines two wonderful things about Harrisonburg: The Farmer's Market and the Daily News-Record. A cover story this week investigated the Farmer's Market's decision to ban dogs. Climax of the story: dog steals pretzel. An excerpt below:

"On July 17, a dog snatched a pretzel from a woman's hand after she had just bought it from a vendor. Although neither the woman nor the vendor was upset and the dog owner bought the woman another pretzel, the situation could've been worse, Showalter said. It's the potential for it to be a finger and not a pretzel, even if the dog was just going for the pretzel," she said. Did I mention this was the cover story?

At Mama Congo, we love all things nanny. I can totally understand how this woman would want to keep the nanny after she slept with her husband. Sometimes a good nanny is harder to replace than a husband.

"Olympics! Everyone is so excited they wore weird pants."

Good luck to the DRC Olympic team. These guys look like a fun bunch:

Jill's List:

Frantically adding, "Download as much Mr. Bean as possible" to list of last-minute To Dos.  My kid laughed hysterically and requested to watch this about 50 times last night:

I bought two packs of Muppets Band-Aids today.  Kind of because we can always use imported Target Band-Aids in Kinshasa where they cost $15/pack at City Market.  But, mainly because of this.  Steven Colbert would make fun of me.

Man, DRCongo is all up in the news.  Sigh.

I'm going to rock the pagne pants at Katie's wedding today.  I know photographers are supposed to be somewhat subdued in their attire, but, my mother-in-law (watch her on WHSV Monday morning, by the way) made me some seriously hot, super-tailored, stovepipe pants out of some of the most fabulous pagne print ever.  Oh man, maybe I'm just excited about the Olympics.

Elias was psyched about watching the four athletes from the Congo walk during the Opening Ceremonies.  Medals, anyone?

Okay - off to a beautiful wedding.  Can't wait to show the photos to Mama YouYou and Mama Vida.  They are going to be so thrilled.  Maybe as much as the lovely bride.

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Friday List!

Jill's List:


Obsessing about style.  Beginner & Advanced.

Currently sitting with my finger poised over the "Add to Cart" button.  Cheaper than the cost of a new lens for my Canon, and much more practical for photography in Kinshasa.  No doubt the 5 will be out the second I press "Place Order."

N'djili Airport, Kinshasa.  Hipstamatic.

Finding it funny to watch people's reactions when Lou insists on shouting "Bonjour!" anytime we enter anywhere in Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA.  I think I'm proud after reading this reading this article.

Been considering how to convince my mother-in-law to sew me this out of some of the pagne I brought back as her gift.  That's not weird.

Trying to convince my parents to take me out for strawberry pancakes at the Little Grill.  It's JUNE, good grief.  Strawberry pancakes are only the special for a limited time.

Which leads me to waffle obsessions.  Namely, how to make them at home in Kinshasa.  We must dig out this gem from the Virginia storage space and bring it back with us.  Then, since pearl sugar is available for about 1000CDF ($1.50) in Kinshasa (the remnants of colonial influence) vs. the $15 at Whole Foods, we can make massive amounts of these:

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