Hata African Ankara Print Shift Dress

 Take the guesswork out of outfit planning and say hello to this gorgeous and versatile African Ankara print shift dress – a wardrobe staple that can be worn for almost any occasion. Dubbed the ‘everywoman dress’, this little number converts well from day to night, is travel friendly and is just one of those dresses that will never go out of style! Dispel the myth that a shift dress has to be a plain colour and go ‘the works’ with full colour African inspired patterns. For that extra va-va-voom, pair this dress with a matching headwrap/scarf (available for you as an add-on to your purchase).

Design features

• 100% cotton – comfy and breathable
• Beautiful and unique fabric pattern
• Sleeveless – perfect for warm weather and layering
• Round neckline with yoke detail
• Back slit for free leg movement
• Near the knee length – depending on your height

Fabric inspiration

Carrying on the head is common in many parts of the world and in most cases, only a simple length of cloth shaped into a ring or ball is needed to carry a load. The shaped ball or ring is called ‘hata’ in Shona and it cushions the skull from the strain of a heavy load and acts to evenly distribute the weight on the head as shown below:

Images courtesy of Pinterest

Head pads can be made from different materials ranging from vegetable fibre (bark, straw, banana leaves) to rolled-up cloth. The pattern on the Hata African Ankara print shift dress is reminiscent of a ‘hata’ made from a rolled-up length of cloth:

What is a shift dress?

Not to be confused with a sheath dress, the shift dress is a simple, short, above-the-knee dress designed in the 1920s as an alternative to the stiff, heavily corseted Edwardian dresses. The advent of this dress style was indeed a breath of fresh air as it made it easier and more comfortable for women to ‘shift’ or move around freely without the constraints of a corset. hence the name.  The name also signified a shift in culture and the dress represented the youthful, free and revolutionary attitudes of that time.

In terms of construction, the bust is fitted with darts, and the skirt is either cut straight or with a narrow A-line. The dress typically hangs from the shoulders and the neckline is a high scoop neck or boatneck. While shift dresses were originally sleeveless, short-sleeve and long-sleeve versions have become popular.

Typically, the shift dress is minimalist in its detailing but for the GAVASTIE Collection, we’ve gone bold on colour and patterns to give the icon African print look. How will you ’shift’ in this dress?? You decide!