Ngoma 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

We named this dress ‘ngoma’ because it is the Shona name for African drum or ‘djembe’ as shown below:

The djembe drum is said to have been invented in the 12th Century and has a very unique and distinctive design, which is fundamental to its versatile sound. The head of the drum is traditionally made from goat skin, providing the djembe with piercing high-pitched tone and slap sounds (struck by the hand near the edge of the drum). The pattern on the Ngoma African Ankara print shift dress is reminiscent of a well-used drumhead:

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!