Twa Me Foto

When fashion evokes the nostalgic memory of our childhood, it not only reminds you how beautiful appearance can be, but also how important it has always been to humans to look good.

Jermaine Bleu, through the “Twa Me Foto” SS25 Campaign, is said to have brought back the nostalgic aesthetics that defined old times and created smiles that call for the photographer to capture the moment. Hence the name Twa Me Foto, from the Twi language in Ghana, which easily translates as take me a photo.

Those who love fashion now see that fashion moves with time, not an unrepeatable dressing. This is credit to the work of Jermaine Bleu. The brand has reintroduced the love of fashion by weaving it through colour, texture, and people’s culture, to tell a story that only Jermaine Bleu’s collections can tell.

Let’s see if they do the same for this.

This womenswear creatively combines elements of quality tailoring with fine texture and tangible details.

The design is inspired by the inner jacket of a traditional menswear with a playful feminine shape. The material is suitable for the tropical climate of the African people. It combines a bright yellow long-sleeve shirt that has buttons and a collar with a deep blue waistcoat.

With the tassel flowing like feathers at the tip of the skirt, it offers a chilling feeling on the skin of the wearer.

It also links up well with the navy waistcoat and a very light-yellow chiffon skirt. It connects the sharp look of a corporate dress with romantic, fluid eveningwear.

There is slight fabric gapping along the front curve of the armhole on the waistcoat. And since the jacket is designed nicely as a single top without a shirt under it, a style with a little bit of a different feel would ensure the fabric fits the upper body flawlessly without pulling.

The mini skirt flowed down effortlessly from under the yellow buttoned fabric in a traditional way. And with the way the outer layer hangs so naturally, a curved or stepped hemline on that inner lining would make the switch between opaque and sheer feel more innovative.

This unique style shows how present-day menswear in Africa combines the textile heritage of the people with something that appears formal and corporate.

With stripes of dark, green, and earthy colours in the Kente fabric, the long-sleeve shirt blends easily with the necktie that appears bold to complement the cap worn.

Jermaine Bleu may have intentionally left the cuffs of the shirt and its collar unbuttoned, giving the feeling of hasty preparation for outdoor activity. If buttoned, the outfit would certainly blend into the formality of today’s cultural reality.

Also, the crop of the orange shirt lands squarely at the natural waistline, while the shorts feature a bulky, gathered waistband. Because the shorts hit below the knee, the combination tends to hide the upper body of the model. A better choice would have been a pair of shorts that is high-waisted and flat-front. A slightly longer, flowing hem of the shirt would equally create a leaner and taller human shape.

This collection is a beautiful way to show how African high-quality fashion has thrived over the years. The vertical stripes that carry the colour gracefully play well with the plain surface of the skirt.

The neckline of the top comes with an V shape that is inverted, which perfectly aligns with the vertical stripes that are anchored by the geometric lines.

The attire combines two different textures in a way that is appealing. The bodice gives way to a dense fringe navy skirt without betraying the beauty. The fringes at the hem of the sleeveless top connect well with the ones that beautify the skirt.

This suit shows how indigenous textiles can offer a modernity of western dress codes. The tailoring follows a striking workplace pinstripe suit pattern, richly and playfully.

The trousers have a baggy fit that balances with the top suit itself, allowing you to walk with confidence. The blue coloured inner shirt matches the deep blue and navy stripes of the textile used for the jacket.

The sleeve of the jacket is a little longer than the wrist bone and covers the hands.

If Jermaine Bleu could cut a quarter-inch out of the sleeves to show off a hint of the royal blue shirt cuff, the overall work’s beauty would be sharper.

The double-breasted jacket has a very low button that, when it is fastened tightly across the hips, creates noticeable fabric pulling and tension lines around the centre.

Moving the buttonhole a little up or adjusting the jacket’s side vents would make the fabric stay flat and smooth while moving.

This is a vibrant short gown with a hemline that has a diagonal decoration. The brilliance behind the placement of the fringe disconnects the vertical stripes with a sense of organic movement into the stiffened fabric.

Jermaine Bleu has put together masterful tailoring, working with avant-garde styling choices.

The subtle blue of a high fashion shirt is echoed by teal tights that are non-transparent and highlight a high fashion, editorial choice.  It adds an electric pop of colour that makes the entire silhouette highly memorable.

The red head tie, also called Gele, shines brightly on its own. It also has a dramatic feeling around it that suggests that its size and fierce colour are in contention to be the centre of attraction.

And since it’s worn with a striped gown and teal tights, it appears to be fighting for dominance rather than acting as a cohesive crown. It will be better to reduce the size of the head tie a little or replacing it with a matching deep navy or matte orange textile. That would bring better equilibrium to the look.

There is slight pulling around the centre bust and midsection buttons.

When a sewn shirt has firm vertical stripes, any twisting of the fabric line is highly noticeable on the runway. This is why it may help to extend the inner facing, or expanding the pattern used on the chest a little bit would ensure the button line drops perfectly straight.

This particular collection has a clean choice for outdoor activity. It is a type of streetwear that balances a busy monogram print with clean sewing.

This long-sleeved silk shirt is beautifully made. It stands out among any other piece. The orange-and-black monogram pattern is well designed, as its repetition offers a careful luxury fantasy. The fabric hangs nicely, giving a relaxed yet high-end feel.

The unique belt is a statement with the interlocking “JB” brand logo buckle. It provides a suitable visual that is anchor. It keeps the shirt well apart from the dark shorts while declaring the identity of the brand on the runway.

The measurement of the shirt is unbelievably crisp. The combination of a tucked, long-sleeved shirt with sharp, mid-thigh sewn black shorts reveals a clean, long leg line.

The sleeves of the shirt come with a soft, unbuttoned fabric that drops low over the wrists. While it carries a relaxed resort feel, the lack of structure at the cuffs makes the arms look slightly oversized. Adding a more rigid interfacing to the cuffs would help the sleeves hold their shape better.

This top style showcases a beautiful acceptance of the good taste of vacation, utilising a vibrant single-colour base to let a textured statement piece stand out.

The outerwear jacket is perfectly designed; especially, its deep navy base fabric highlights the vertical rainbow twist threads and a raw, multi-coloured fringe hemline. It provides a rough texture contrast against the smooth fabric that lies under it.

The choice to combine a yellow long-sleeved shirt and fluid, wide-leg trousers create a direct line of colour. This vibrant base reveals the outfit more while allowing the deep blue vest to pop visually without feeling disjointed.

The mustard-yellow shirt under the jacket features a collar designed like a polo shirt, while the vest on top has the traditional lapel, structured and notched. And with both collars sitting open, they appear to be fighting for space around the neck, forcing the shirt collar to look a little bit rough. A more rounded collar shirt would allow the jacket’s lapels to lay flat and clean.

The jacket features traditional welt pockets with flaps on the lower midsection. Given the raw nature of the strands on the hem right below them, these stiff pocket-flaps look a little too formal. Instead of that, more hidden side-seam pockets or minimalist welt pockets without flaps would keep the focus on the beautiful textile.

Jermanine Bleu is a brand that stands out by occupying a unique intersection: the subversion of rigid corporate tailoring while heavily preserving local heritage and sustainability. While older generations of African designers used standard wax prints, Jermaine Bleu draws inspiration from altering fabric bases to produce luxury. It takes traditional hand-woven Kente and introduces fluid rainbow threads, or adapts traditional West African Batik motifs onto breezy silk and crepe bases.

The brand always plays with corporate and formal beauties such as blazers, double-breasted suits, waistcoats, and ties, and breaks them down. You see this in cropped men’s shirts, wide-leg fluid trousers, and asymmetric halter necklines that challenge classic European geometries.

Comparatively, the textile focus that defines the uniqueness of Jermanie Bleu from Orange Culture is its custom silk-base Batik, textured handwoven Kente fabric. That is away from Orange Culture, which uses fluid synthetics, mesh, sheer organza, bold digital prints.

In conclusion, Jermaine Bleu has grown from an emerging incubator favourite to a ready-to-wear clothing line that known globally. They recently took home top prizes at the African International Design Awards. It caters directly to a global African diaspora that demands high-fashion structure without sacrificing cultural soul.

By Seun Emmanuel