WAXING LYRICAL

Adaku Parker is the barrister turned designer behind African wax print fabric company, Dovetailed. Adaku’s love of the colourful fabrics began early in her childhood. “My parents are Nigerian so these print fabrics were always in the house when I was growing up.”

As a criminal barrister, Adaku often had to attend black-tie events. “I’d go to high-street stores to look for a dress and end up with something hot and uncomfortable,” she recalls. “At one event I saw someone I knew wearing a sari and thought, right, at the next one of these I’m wearing something in African fabrics. I found a picture of a dress I liked the shape of, bought the fabric, took it to a tailor my mum knew, and never looked back.”

"AT ONE EVENT, I SAW SOMEONE WEARING A SARI AND THOUGHT, RIGHT, AT THE NEXT ONE OF THESE I'M WEARING AFRICAN FABRICS."

LEARNING TO SEW

Adaku began sewing herself shortly after giving birth to her second child, butand thinking, I have no idea what they’re talking about. Someone says they’re cutting on the bias, what do they mean? I wanted to know more.”