A fusion of Culture at Aisse Boutique, The Square Birmingham

A fusion of Culture at Aisse Boutique

There’s nothing square about The Square.  And that’s certainly true at Aisse Boutique which specialises in European style clothing, decorated with African patterns.

It is the place to visit if you are looking for bright and bold designs. You will find everything from miniskirts to strapless dresses. The colours include oranges and reds and pinks and shades that seem to say summer already. Aisse Badiane calls them ‘happy colours’.

Her friend Anaisa Monteiro, who works with her, makes the hats and the colourful jewellery including headbands and necklaces.

Aisse who was born in Senegal in West Africa grew up in Paris and came to England when she was 18. She opened the shop in The Square last year. And she has always loved fashion.

‘I went to two or three parties and whatever I was wearing; someone was wearing the same thing. That’s how it started. I wanted something unique,’ she says.  She designs her clothes and some of them are now being made in Senegal.

Aisse Badiane of Aisse Boutique

She thinks her shoppers love them because the colours catch their eye and also they are unusual. ‘The style suits European people as much as African people,’ says Aisse whose personality is as sunny as her clothes. ‘The pattern pleases everyone.’