Designer Blends Fashion and Maths in ‘Four-Dimensional’ Designs

by Gee NY

Tessy Oliseh-Amaize, a rising star in the world of fashion, is making waves in the U.S. fashion scene with her unique take on African prints.

As the founder of Tesslo, a brand that fuses traditional ankara fabrics with bold geometric shapes, Oliseh-Amaize’s innovative approach is not only rooted in African culture but is also driven by a deep passion for mathematics.

Her groundbreaking “Africa to the World” collection is a testament to her commitment to blending aesthetics with precision. Each design takes anywhere from four to eight weeks to create and showcases intricate patterns that appear to “move in a four-dimensional way.”

Her designs, according to Oliseh-Amaize, are based on mathematical concepts such as the Pythagoras theorem, where shapes are calculated and even imagined in ways that go beyond the ordinary.

Oliseh-Amaize, who initially studied science before pursuing fashion, draws inspiration from both African culture and geometry. One of her standout pieces, the “Pyramids” dress, is a knee-length design inspired by the Giza pyramids, featuring geometric shapes that reflect the artist’s understanding of complex calculations. Another piece, “Mpi,” takes the form of a modern varsity jacket adorned with protruding cones, a nod to Nigeria’s Igbo culture, where animal horns are traditionally used for ceremonial purposes.

Breaking Boundaries in Fashion

Tessy Oliseh-Amaize wearing her “Pyramids” design. Tessy Oliseh-Amaize

Oliseh-Amaize’s design journey has been a blend of challenges and triumphs. After earning her stripes as the best designer at the 2006 Nigerian Fashion Show competition, she moved to the U.S. to expand her brand. Although she found herself starting from scratch, her unique vision helped her carve a space for herself in the competitive fashion world.

In September, she was invited to close the Ankara Festival Los Angeles, a prestigious event celebrating African fashion. Her work was also showcased at the Congressional Black Caucus and Philly Fashion Week.

Oliseh-Amaize’s dedication to redefining African fashion is clear. “African fashion is rich, diverse, and deserves to be seen as sophisticated and high-quality,” she remarked, pushing back against the notion that African prints must be seen as primitive or poorly made.

Her designs have caught the attention of Hollywood stars, including Bob Hearts Abishola actress Folake Olowofoyeku, who wore Tesslo’s “Hollywood” dress, a design inspired by mid-century glamour. Tesslo also received recognition from celebrity stylist J. Bolin for a high-profile client commission.

Mentoring the Next Generation
As a mentor and leader, Oliseh-Amaize has taken steps to ensure that her impact extends beyond her own designs.

Through her “Fashion Professor” project, she has held 35 mentoring sessions, guiding young designers on everything from fabric selection to client billing. Her mission is to help the next generation of fashion designers navigate the global industry while avoiding the mistakes she made in her own journey.

With a growing international presence, Oliseh-Amaize dreams of seeing Nigerian brands succeed on the global stage.

“I want to be identified as a global brand designing for the global market,” she told CNN. “This is what would make me fulfilled.”

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