Keuna

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Tuesday, 14 April 2009

Keuna


African style in Budapest

According to former H&M fashion designer Margareta van den Bosh, most woman would probably describe their ideal fashion in three words: new, individual and complex. If you are really keen on getting all three, a tiny shop Keuna, named after Ghanian fishing village but located in downtown Budapest, could provide you all you want.

Seemingly inspired by both the ancient African applied arts and the 21th century urban life, the Keuna store can be equally called new for its unique, sexy, comfy and refined tailoring, individual for the limited edition (5-10) of most models, and complex for its combination of authentic Ghanian textiles and modern fits.

One of the three owners, Veronika Sena Dagadu (pictured down) confesses to be a lucky heiress of two cultures, from her Hungarian mum and Ghanian (Ewe) dad. Born and schooled in Ghana, she arrived in Budapest in 2001 to attend her business studies.

 

„I had been to Hungary many times before coming to the university, as we kept a close relationship with our Hungarian relatives,” Sena recalls.

 

„Also, I was lucky for receiving and living through both the Hungarian and the Ghanian culture: my mum retained her ’magyarness’ by speaking her mother tongue, reading Hungarian books and cooking Hungarian food while, outside our house, we lived the normal, everyday life of Ghanians. Thus, I equally belong
                                                               and bond to both peoples and cultures.”

 

Besides the two cultures, Dagadu, better known as Sena, also inherited the music talent. She is a professional singer, and she has been performing ever since she arrived in Hungary. Currently, she is the member of four musical formations.

„I am ’notorious’ for always trying to make people visit Ghana”, she laughs. „Finally in 2002, I succeeded in inviting Péter Hárshegyi, the drummer of her band, and his girlfriend, Gabriella Sándor. During our trip to my other homeland, the three of us became true friends and also, we found a new profession…”

 

INSIGHT 

 

The trip was a lifetime experience”, Sándor recalls. „We were able to enjoy the colorful and lively African culture right on the spot, but also, we met Sena’s mum, Kati Torda-Dagadu, a Hungarian-born jewelry designer who is one of the founders of the Ghana Bead Society, whose beads and cool designs are also available at Keuna.

Kati Torda-Dagadu, who has her own well-established jewelery shop in Accra, has combined the cultural heritage of her two homes, thus creating an internationally celebrated and sought after beadwork.

Her creations reflect her expertise in Ghanian and other West African bead traditions, her own fierce spirit and the dynamic mix of cross-cultural influense that features the contemporary African art. They became popular with women in general but they have been worn by a number of beauty queens, models, first ladies and princesses as well.

 

„We were also amazed by the variety and beauty of West African textiles,” Sándor adds. „As an anthropology student at the ELTE university, I was deeply interested int he symbolism of those textiles. On the other hand, I was thinking of ways they could be used in Europe, perhaps in some different forms.”

After sharing experiences and ideas, and also joined by Sándor’s sister, the three women established the Keuna shop in Budapest in 2005. The first collection, including mainly women’s dresses, some men’s shirts and of course, Torda’s jewelry, was introduced at the Africa Day organized in the House of Hungarian Culture in the Buda Palace.  

„Our activities are not limited to designing and selling,” claims Sándor. „We also try to pursue a kind of cultural mission. We are normally present at quality venues and events in connection with Africa, making an exhibition of our designs completed with a historical and cultural guidance. So far, we have had only very positive feedback from our Hungarian audience and costumers.”

„These clothes provide an insight to another world”, Dagadu explains. „The textiles and the beads have their own history and symbol system.”

„They do have the power to make whoever is interested get closer to the African culture.”

 

                                                                    A special publication of the Budapest Sun – 2008 summer

                                                                                                                 Fashion Style Extra

Moni Oyelele