Chère Collègue is a collaboration between Eliza Squibb and Issa Oumarou Yacouba, founder of Batik Without Borders in Niger. We create timeless garments and accessories using fabrics imbued with long histories of tradition and techniques.

For each collection, we develop new motifs exploring natural imagery, which we produce with artisans to showcase traditional techniques with a modern twist and provide economic opportunities.

We aim to increase appreciation for West African textile heritage among a broader audience.

Mossi textiles are lightweight strip-woven cotton cloth made in Burkina Faso and hand-dyed with natural indigo. Our kimono-style draped jacket is carefully cut to emphasize the straight lines of the cloth and the stitched patterns of the dyeing. Worn by any gender, the jacket is lightweight and breathable, with two pockets in front. It’s a statement piece for any occasion.

Design and Tailoring: Eliza Squibb

Cloth: %100 vintage cotton cloth from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Tera-Tera is made by the Zarma ethnic group in Niger. Our kimono-style draped jacket is carefully designed to minimize any cuts to the woven fabric and emphasize the patterns. Worn by any gender, the jacket is lightweight and breathable, with two pockets in front. It is a statement piece for any occasion.

Design and Tailoring: Eliza Squibb

Cloth: %100 vintage cotton cloth from Niamey, Niger

Lepi is cotton brocade (bazin) fabric with a brilliant shine from the indigo dyeing process.  Our jacket has flattering touches like a draped lapel and two hidden interior pockets. This is an ideal jacket for formal wear with character. After many washings, the bazin cotton will soften to a silk-like texture.

Design: Eliza Squibb

Tailoring: Batik Sans Frontières

Cloth: %100 cotton bazin from Conakry, Guinea

Diatoms are phytoplankton that live in our oceans and create 50% of the oxygen we breathe. I created the motifs for this series of scarves by drawing large-scale diatoms based on microscopic imagery. Khader, a wood sculptor in Niger reproduced my drawings as wooden batik stamps. We dyed rayon scarves and I stamped the diatom patterns on each scarf before adding second or third layer of color.

We created wooden batik stamps from drawings by Issa’s children Nabil and Yacine. We dyed rayon scarves and I stamped the leopard and giraffe patterns on each scarf before adding second or third layer of color.

These lightweight scarves have beautiful drape, and each has unique color and stamp layout from the entirely hand-made process. Made from a %100 rayon fabric.