DUMEBI: African inspiration with western silhouettes

By Mia Aitken

DUMEBI, a luxury womenswear brand, was created by British fashion designer Barbra Biosah. The brand specialises in unconventional detailed clothing, shoes and accessories that mixes inspirations from Africa with western silhouettes. The clothes are handmade in Barbra’s atelier in both London and Paris. 

Situated in Fulham Road in the heart of Chelsea, the DUMEBI boutique is really going somewhere – proof is that it took part in London Fashion Week in September with a boutique opening and fashion show.

Specialising in exotic couture for goddesses, its new boutique in trendy Fulham offered visitors champagne and a chance to meet with the beautiful Justina Biosah 30, a singer/song writer and actress and the sister of the brand’s owner, Barbra, 32. 

The evening opening began by with many people admiring the exquisite dresses. Gabrielle Geozian, 22, a celebrity and personal stylist from Los Angeles,  was blown away by the designs. She said “I love the items that Barbra has designed, in particular the bags, although I would change the hardware on them.” 

Elegance and grace

The fashion show began, the models walking up and down the runway with elegance and grace really giving the gowns the utmost justice.

Media Student, Sofia Dec, 21, said: “The Anaemia collection was my favourite as it was inspired by the sickle cell disease linking science with fashion while also raising awareness.” Indeed, the sea of scarlet and claret down the runway really gave the illusion of blood flowing through the body. 

After the show, Barbra said the event was “an absolute privilege and that opening the boutique on Fulham Road is great for her company, she really feels ecstatic.” 

Getting the look does not come cheap, however. On their website, a “Floral fetish french lace, & Silk printed crop top” sells for £500, while a “EZE off-the-shoulder Queen Nefertiti Draped Dress & Playsuit” sells for £2,050. That has not deterred fantastic coverage of their designs, however: the label has been featured in Vogue, Gal-Dem, the Daily Mail, Hello! and others.