Vlisco Group CEO Perry Oosting on Met Gala Theme, Connection With Company's Roots in African Culture

Yahoo

08-03-2025

MILAN — The Met Gala and the Costume Institute's spring exhibition 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' is fast approaching. Vlisco Group is especially interested in seeing how the theme and the dress code, 'Tailored for You,' will be developed, said Perry Oosting, chief executive officer of the Dutch maker of bold and colorful printed textiles marketed mainly in West Africa.
'We think the theme perfectly aligns with our physical identity. If you look at African dandyism, and if you look at our cultural reference, we feel we have a really authentic connection,' Oosting explained. 'Our fabrics have long been transformed by African tailors into garments that tell deeply personal, cultural stories. People purchase our fabrics with the intent to have them tailored into unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that reflect their individuality.'
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Vlisco fabrics are rooted in the Indonesian wax-batik technique. Founded in 1846, they have been embraced by West African culture, becoming a symbol of self-expression, tradition and celebration.
For example, civil rights activist and writer Kwame Ture, and South African singer, actress and civil rights activist Miriam Makeba 'embraced our prints, and even visited our factory in the Netherlands seen as a cultural reference for the deep symbolism of pride, resilience and identity they carry, because they wanted to express their identity,' Oosting said. 'Our fabrics have been worn by leaders and visionaries who understood the power of fashion as a statement of belonging. Vlisco prints are more than just textiles, they are a language of personal and cultural expression.
'I am very curious to see how the tailoring is going to be expressed [at the Met show], and African dandyism, as Vlisco has been part of that tailoring culture. People express themselves in a very individual way and I see many luxury brands showing an interest in the African luxury market,' Oosting continued. 'It would be exciting to witness collaborations and the involvement of a diverse array of African designers and voices, representing the full breadth and depth of this rich narrative, and to see how Vlisco could also be kind of like a point of reference, because if there's one brand that has roots and connection with Africa, it's Vlisco.
'Brands today demand authenticity, connection and purpose. Vlisco presents all of this. Rooted in culture and rich history, our prints are not just fabrics — they are art, stories and a way for people to connect with something greater than themselves. When people wear Vlisco, they stand for something. We want to share these rich layers with the world.'
Oosting, who joined Vlisco in the spring of 2023, has worked in luxury fashion for decades. He is currently also CEO and shareholder of luxury ready-to-wear brand A.W.A.K.E. Mode and CEO of Perely BV supporting Hussein Chalayan for its relaunch strategy and investor search. Previously, he was CEO of Clergerie; CEO of Hasselblad, and CEO of Vertu.
In the 1989 to 2009 period he was retail director of Gucci and commercial director of Gucci jewelry; general manager North & Eastern Europe at Prada, and managing director North & Eastern Europe at Bulgari.
'I'm a Dutch national, so of course I have known Vlisco for many, many years,' he said. The company 'is so ingrained in and part of the African culture as a symbol of self expression, tradition and celebration. The bond with Africa is so strong because Vlisco was part of all the moments that matter to many people in Africa and our products are sometimes called African print, although the starting point was The Netherlands.'
Vlisco Group comprises the Vlisco, Uniwax, GTP and Woodin brands, with headquarters and retail destinations in Ivory Coast, Congo, Togo, Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 'Our commitment to Africa is more than a business; it's a partnership grounded in respect, culture and community: it's our home,' Oosting said. The company has 2,100 employees, of whom 1,600 are across Africa and 500 in The Netherlands.
Vlisco has six owned stores in Africa and a new one, Maison Vlisco, will open in Kinshasa, Congo, this year, designed in collaboration with OMA and Rem Koolhaas. 'The store features exquisite storytelling craft interior pieces by Jean Servais Simian from Abidjan,' Oosting said.
'Our 180th anniversary in 2026 will be a milestone. Beyond textiles, we are expanding into new products and forging global, meaningful brand and cultural collaborations — continuing to create purpose, deep connections and lasting impact through the most beautiful prints in new and inspiring ways,' said Oosting, who cited a previous collaboration with Viktor & Rolf, for example.
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