African stylings for life in. the concrete
jungle more sophisticated than savage

“IF YOU have the urge to
escape to a distant and ex-
otic place for spring vaca-
-tion, but it’s not in your
_ budget, do the next best
thing and go on a shopping
* safari.

Carol -
Crenna

~ FASHION STATEMENTS

Fashion ‘this season offers : a trip
to. ‘grasslands and jungle with

clothes that conjure up images of

- tribal cultures.

Sun-bleached | colors, soft sen-.

~suous ” fabrics. in “African . and.
Asian prints and ethnic. accessories

all-add.-up to. inspiracion ‘that. is

“more important: .than domestic..

_ It may‘seem. completely remoy- -.
éd.from the realities of’ urban liv-.

Bs, but African fashion is actual-
ly in tune with life i in the conerete.

jungle: Y
‘The look ‘is: more: “sophisticated

fabrics‘and rainforest colors. wo
‘The key: to these. looks: is: ver-
satility;: because’ they-‘can.be dress-

ed: up for: the: office “OF: worn as .
| below-calf: length style to dinner,

coverups to the beach.”
/«Trim’ them, with: tribal necklaces

and: metal bangles! for ‘ethnic ‘style
“or simply. wear them’ as you ‘would :

‘ Wahbniie piithitive “chic can be

“had by travelling to-the. sunny side... ‘p
_ bags average $29.99.
“Anew. store. in Park~.Royal -

lof the world;:. but: if travel ex-

penses.to a local. store.seem ‘more.

‘reasonable, investigate the. North
Shore’s . specialty. “African | ‘and
“Asian shops. "

Plan. a; street’ safari to several’

. $tores:which have been-introduced
to: the: area ‘that ‘do: not. com-

promise on quality or dressiness in -

” their merchandise.*And the. prices
a: of these fashions are: every reason-

“FIRM UP FOR SPRING!

a

{ 20 Sessionsie weeks .

ONLY *89. save $20.

; guaranteed inch loss :
#1028 1124 Lonsdate Ave. 986-0110

“(next to North Shore Credit Union)

44 It has little to do with loincloths
and ritual dances and more to do
with layered breezy fabrics and —
rainforest colors. 99.

Twiga Arts and Crafts, 3040
Edgemont Blvd., has been tucked
away in Edgemont Village for a

‘while, though you may never have

noticed it.

It carries a varied selection of
clothing for women and children,
home furnishings and tribal. art
which are made in Kenya, other
parts of Africa and Indonesia.

Asian Creations is a popular
clothing label in the’ store, par-
ticularly in the pure rayon sets.

Long draped jackets with a sub-

‘tle tribal print in dark colors are

slipped over a slip dress in the

* same print.

The soft, unstructured jacket
would look elegant over lean

pants, and the dress could go out

on its own for. evening. The set is
$129.99.) -
Other rayon sets: feature a

‘brightly colored - batik accent,

shaped like a fish or leaf, only in
a few areas .on a navy or deep
green background. -

Long gathered skirts are paired
with shirts or tunics for $115.

How about a Bali-made
babydoll? Feminine, pretty rayon

dresses which feature: muted col-”
than: Savage. . It «has - little -to :do™!

ith “loincloths and ritual dances _
‘and: more to do with layered breezy .

ors, some with over-prints, are

“cut loosely to the knee. with short

sleeves and’ buttons to the waist,

. for $85... . so

Fully: draped long dresses with :

long sleeves and buttons up , the:

front |.are $99.95,.°Wear. the

or. let‘it go out-casually when un-

(buttoned ‘to the thigh: and worn
with leggings beneath. — *

Add ‘a little’ primitive polish: to

“-an-outfit with a Kenyan carryall in
‘woven fibre with leather trim.

: Though its label. states that it is

‘va. traditional ‘bag of tribal culture,

it looks modern and upbeat when

“ mixed with: a) light jacket and a |

air of dressy walking shorts. The

Shopping Centre’s: South market

_ is Pelago’ Asian Imports. This tiny .
store has a number of fashionable
items
“women’s shirts in rayon and cot-

“including. men’s. and

ton, skirts, dresses’ and. ac-

cessories; with ‘a-small group of ©

ethnic furnishings and crafts.
Short-sleeved shirt: jackets with

dolman sleeves are very —

sophisticated in muted pastel
batiks, for $48.

Stylish, generously cut shirts
with graphic prints or batik effects
are $43 for men and women.. Lit-
tle slip dresses with spaghetti
straps and kick pleats at the frout
are perfect for warm summer
nights, priced at only $38.

Front-tied shirts are an updated
addition to the tribal look, in dark

’ muted tones for $38. :

To add just a hint of the Afri-
can .or Asian look, Pelago -has
some unique accessories including
fez hats with braid. trim for $26
and gold-beaded fabric shoes with
very pointed toe for $29.99, -

The best spot to complete your
Afsican shopping trek is at the

most well-established and largest:

specialty store on the North
Shore, Out of Africa Global
Culture, at 123 Carrie Cates Ct:

This store has recently moved’:

from one side of the--Lonsdale
“Quay’s upper market to the other.

it expanded to a larger location...
though the store is still jam-pack- .

ed with clothing for men. and
women, lots of accessories, some
home furnishings and tribal art.
New stock is constantly arriving
since the shop’s ‘owner | travels

where you. often can’t afford to. :

go. and’ purchases’ unique : mer-
‘-chandise. foe,

~ Indonesian and African ‘clothing

; is: sold, and “includes everything

from’ reversible outerwear. jackets

to shorts and: ‘T-shirts: and femi-.

nine jumpers and dresses.: +

. Unstructured jackets with toggle “|

-¢losures are sophisticated enough
to pair with a

are cut in. styles appropriate ‘for
evening, though in.a primitive

‘geometric print, they can ‘dlso be

worn for day.

Vests have a patchwork effect .

to add a tittle exotic spirit. And
‘wide’ gathered -diaper. pants in
sheer. handkerchief silk, thick cot-

ton and batik printed rayon could .

easily go from the beach to an
evening party,

‘ Prices vary greatly in this store,

depending upon the workmanship
and country of origin, but. there
are always good -deais. “{ just
bought a long-sleeved babydoll
dress here on sale for $35. ~

Coming
Soon .. _—

tailored skirt, but -
can also slide | over jeans. Dresses ‘

“ADD y AFRICAN raph to your closet without: having’

“Stitch,
- 1993,” a juried ‘exhibition of
: -. original ‘fibre .ast.-open’ to all
“residents ‘of - British. Columbia,

“is currently. accepting. submis-.:

sions from focal artisans.

Hand : or. machine itching’
must form an integral part of :
the work,. whether in its con-

- struction, or as embellishment.

Jurors are Ron Kong, man- -

“ager of Crafthouse at’ Granville

” Island, : Ann ‘ Rosenberg, -. art
reviewer for
Sun, and Joanna Staniszkis, 4
recipient of a Saidye Bronfman

award for excellence in crafts;..
and a founding member ofthe’ -

Canadian Craft Museum.

‘British “Columbia... to

the - Vancouver.

‘Stitch; Wee Gey ,
nadian Craft Museum:

The ‘entry. deadline i
“and “entry ° forms: may be “ob:

‘tained’. by “sending : a *self-ad
‘dressed, ‘stampéd* envelope’t
the Vancouver. Guild of :Fabri
Arts, c/o” ‘QED: Communica:

_ tions Ltd.,” 210-1122 Mainland:

St, Vancouver, VeB: 279.

For more information, "p $
phone Anne Love at 922-3083