Press: 1998-1999
German Vogue
In 1998, the designer’s media presence went beyond the French-speaking world. German Vogue features an extensive interview in September and an article in November. The interview is three pages long and has numerous photos. In the Japanese language publication Beam’s Japan, Ly Dumas’ boutique is mentioned along with a few photos. Other ppearances:
Revue noire
Revue noire dec 1997- febr 1998
”By layering different materials, Ndop, Rabal, Kasai velvet, cashmere and silk, Ly Dumas pays tribute to the splendour of African royal courts and helps valorise the art and know-how of African textile artisans. Working with the artist Eddy Saint-Martin, she launched a line of hand-painted designs on silk, inspired by the Bamoun alphabet invented in the 19th century in Cameroon. The clothes she creates are fragments of her life. They represent a journey full of encounters and emotions.”
1999
The year 1999 brought several appearances in the French and German press (Vogue, Divas, Black Men). 1999 also saw participation in two UNESCO events. Reports and photos related to these events appeared in the Divas and Black Man magazines.
1999 - First UNESCO event
The first event – A Tribute to African Ladies, Cameroon honors African women – was a charitable gathering held in Paris, the proceeds of which went to educational programs for African women. At this Cameroon-UNESCO collaboration, Ly Dumas starred alongside the most important ambassadors of the black continent in the world: Marie-Laure Croiziers de Lacvivier – Senegal Fenêtre Sur Foundation; Aicha Bah Diallo, Director of Basic Education Programmes at UNESCO; Marietou Bileoma Mbaye Ken Bugul, writer – Benin; Princess Esther Kamatari, President of the Burundi Association; Cesaria Evora, Cape Verdean singer; Assiatou Bah Diallo – Editor-in-Chief of Amina magazine; Denise Epote Durand – Director of TV5 Afrique – Cameroon etc.
1999 - Second UNESCO event
The second event of 1999 was the exhibition The Thread Magicians, organized by Ly Dumas, an opportunity to bring together artisans and weavers from several African countries and Bangladesh, represented by stylist Bibi Russell. A debate on craftsmanship and its future, as well as a fashion show featuring Ly Dumas' creations, as well as those of other designers such as Oumou Sy (Senegal), Alphadi (Niger), Victorine Kossou (Benin) and Angybell (Ivory Coast) punctuated the event.
Africa International
February brings an article by M. E., published in Africa International. It says:
“This African designer has inherited a thousand years of know-how. At the confluence of different cultures, her fashion is the product of a particular alchemy: perfect trendy cuts, borrowing from sumptuous African fabrics like Bogolan, Royal Ndop, and Kasai velvet. Her evening gowns are sumptuous creations that transform women into real princesses.
Ly Dumas. The name leaves one dreaming. It seemingly evokes the cast of a Hollywood blockbuster, but it is nothing of the sort. However, from her haughty bearing to her gracefulness, not to mention her devastating smile, this Cameroonian from the West, descendant of a prestigious line of kings and queens, has all the attributes to defy the limelight. But exposing herself is not her type; by temperament and, above all, by taste, she prefers quiet places and cosy atmospheres, where, she affirms, “the human being is authentic and has the opportunity to let his creativity run free. Creativity? The word is out. Because today, Ly Dumas’ personality overlaps with her work.
From the Hôtel Drouot to the Monde de l’Art, via the Lavrov Gallery, the Hôtel St James, the Dapper Museum and the Royal Monceau, where followers of refinement and good taste meet, the Ly Dumas label arouses the enthusiasm of some and inspires the respect of many others. Ly Dumas’ creations come from a long process that began several years ago. Since early childhood, this woman has had a passion for traditional African fabrics.
Coquetry? Not at all! Rather simple modesty and discretion. Ly Dumas is reluctant to put herself forward. She only becomes animated when she talks about her collection of fabrics. These collector’s items are full of history. Rarely has the African soul been so celebrated in its authenticity. To create her designs, she tries to decipher the language and symbolism that the fabrics conceal. She does not hesitate to consult researchers and ethnologists such as
héophile Obenga or Youssouf Tata Cissé. Despite her passion for Africa, Ly Dumas’ collections reflect her image. They are the product of several cultures, gathered in a single movement to form a whole. In this way, she becomes universal.”
