Sharonda Quainoo

For my BA thesis I chose 'CODED' as the title for my work.

The goal was to create a capsule collection that explored the perspective of integrating messages into the garments by using color codes inspired by Kente cloth and 'Adinkra' symbols of the Akan people in Ghana.

It was important to me to utilise the 'Adinkra' symbols by using some that already existed and by also creating a new one that could be included to the existing symbols.

The symbols used from the anthology were 'Kojo baiden' which stands for omnipresence and cosmic events, 'Adinkrahene' which meaning reflects greatness and the symbol 'ese ne tekrema' which symbolizes friendship and the power in unity.

I also wanted something to symbolise growth and progress, so I created an icon that resembles a seed in a flower and used the painting as a digital print for one of the blouses.

By using an old akan tradition and also utilising contemporary technology I wanted to show how timeless and beautiful these akan techniques are and that they still fit in our digitilized world perfectly. The collection's aim is also to showcase that garments could also be used as a messenger and be read by anybody who knows or is being taught this particular code.