OUR STORY
When we are children, we have questions. When we become adults, we are encouraged to find answers.
WILGLORY
The Cameroonian-born girl grew up stateside. Frequently left to relish in the vibrant colours of traditional wear in her mother’s closet, she discovered one could lose themselves in the lush textures, the bold colours, all the ways to describe a place an ocean away.
Africa is the future and its fashion industry is on the rise. In response to all those childhood questions about her identity and its place in the world, Wilglory built Anima Iris, a unique high fashion brand that is situated at the inevitable rise of this sector. Influential, innovative, and groundbreaking, Anima Iris is disrupting the global fashion industry by redefining “luxury” and including Africa in its narrative, once and for all. Most importantly, she is doing so at the intersection of fashion, sustainability, transparency and social responsibility.
Wilglory grew up like most second-generation Africans, with curiosity as she only saw glimpses into an elaborate culture which spanned an entire continent. However, following her post-graduate years where she’d earned a degree in African Development from Princeton University,Wilglory spent months exploring the continent for herself, living and breathing in an array of cultures. From Nairobi to Dakar, Marrakesh, Accra, and Yaoundé, her travels and her education led her to the realization that the global direction of the world will be led by Africa and that the next decade, as many specialists have stated, does in fact belong to the continent.
ANIMA IRIS
Taking its name after Iris Tsamoh, Wilglory’s mother and Sarah Yaa Anima Amoyaw, Wilglory’s closest childhood friend, Anima Iris is a modern brand that pulls inspiration and strength from the matriarchs of its past. Like the palm oil reds of Cameroon’s traditional Bamileke cloth, or the notable geometric shapes of Ghana’s kente, Africa’s bold history is reflected in the molds of our pieces.
Every piece in the Anima Iris collection is carefully handcrafted by seasoned professionals in Dakar, Senegal. With centuries old African craftsmanship at the tip of their fingers, our artisans add a touch unrivaled in quality and attention to detail to create limited edition pieces. We partner with local Senegalese business owners to acquire materials and our leathers are sourced in limited quantities. In keeping with our promise to sustainability, throughout the manufacturing process we utilize a zero-waste model. This ensures that no two creations are the same and no material is wasted.
Named after a Cameroonian national and second generation Ghanaian, we are a marriage of the things that have been and still are yet to be, an ever-evolving, evocative and elaborate brand that has never shied away from displaying the vibrancy of our collective backgrounds. In a world of muted leathers and prescribed social norms, Anima Iris pushes the confines. It is unafraid, emboldened, outspoken, and emblematic of the women who carry it. With a clutch on her past and a clear vision for her future, the Anima Iris woman leads the way.