Fashion brand Lolo Andoche modernizes traditional Beninese Kanvô cloth

Charlemagne Andoche Amoussou, founder of the Lolo Andoche fashion house, is transforming Kanvô, a handwoven textile traditionally associated with the royal court of Abomey, into modern ready-to-wear clothing and interior decor in Benin.

By combining this heritage fabric with linen and silk, the brand creates locally made alternatives to imported fashion. The company operates a workshop in Cotonou where workers use traditional craftsmanship to produce garments for local boutiques and international markets in Africa and France.

The production process relies on sourcing locally grown cotton from weavers in Tori-Bossito, a town about 45 km from Cotonou. Because an artisan takes a full day to weave barely one meter of the fabric, Amoussou emphasizes the handmade nature of the material as a form of luxury. The workshop employs around 100 workers who perform tasks such as cutting, sewing, and quality checks.

To maintain production value within Benin, the brand uses locally produced threads, buttons, and zippers alongside the handwoven cloth. While Kanvô was historically a ceremonial cloth, its stiffness posed challenges for modern fashion. Amoussou and his team addressed these issues by improving dyeing techniques to ensure colors remain stable after washing and by designing fluid cuts that make the fabric more comfortable for everyday wear. Beyond clothing, interior designer Mélia Adjovi uses the textile for furniture and lighting fixtures.

The brand aims to turn the cultural heritage of the cloth into a sustainable economic driver for Beninese artisans and designers.