The hands and faces behind kokoso
Doris Margel
I am an artist of German origin, trained at the Berlin University of the Arts.
My work has primarily focused on printmaking techniques, and I have exhibited on numerous occasions in Germany and Switzerland.
In 2008, my encounter with African dance in Geneva connected me to Bobo-Dioulasso, in Burkina Faso, where I forged ties with Burkinabe musicians and dancers.
From then on, inspired first by "African" printed fabrics, and later, through my various stays, by the living craft of weaving and dyeing in Bobo-Dioulasso, I developed my brand, kokoso.
My expertise in printing techniques, stemming from my experience as a printmaking artist, fuels my passion for textile creation. I design unique bags that reflect my journey and the people I have met in Bobo-Dioulasso.
Zoumana Sanou
Zoumana Sanou, master tailor in Bobo-Dioulasso, has been working with me since 2020 on creating kokoso collections, and today he is the tailor who handles all production.
Everything begins with sending drawings and measurements, from which Zoumana brings the first samples to life. Then, we continue the prototypes on-site in Bobo using the patterns I make from cardboard.
Over the course of my visits and our almost daily exchanges, even from a distance, our working relationship has grown into a true friendship. Zoumana has an eye for color that I appreciate, and his calm way of working—as precise as it is patient—speaks volumes about his expertise. I also know his daughters, who are as lively as their father is composed, and a bit of his family too. That is often how things are in Bobo-Dioulasso; work and friendship go hand in hand, with neither taking precedence over the other.
Today, thanks to kokoso, Zoumana works from his workshop in the Dogona neighborhood, equipped with an industrial sewing machine I was able to fund for him, since the machine he had before could not handle the work I require.
The other couturiers who built the Kokoso brand with me
Moussa Issa Dembele
Moussa worked on and crafted a large portion of the kokoso designs before Zoumana
He is from the Bwaba ethnic group and joined kokoso in 2016. His workshop is located near Doris's host family, where fabrics and equipment are stored. Coming from a tradition where craftsmanship and music are linked, he contributes to the making of the bags with expertise and cultural grounding.
Drissa Dao
Drissa Dao, a musician from Bobo-Dioulasso and a tailor by trade, met Doris Margel while searching for a music teacher for his niece. A passionate fashion designer, he participated in a fashion show at the Institut Français featuring his own creations. Since 2011, he has been a loyal collaborator with kokoso, making his first fabric bags alongside Doris. Dedicated and persevering, he does not hesitate to work day and night to finalize designs, while experimenting with her on new techniques to strengthen the durability and shape of the bags.
It was Drissa Dao who allowed me to discover the secrets of bag making.
Issiaka Diarra
Issiaka Diarra is a talented tailor from Bobo-Dioulasso, specializing in making custom bags from GAFREH fabrics and recycled plastic bags.
It was with him that I started developing kokoso
He made his mark on kokoso's history as early as 2009 by producing the very first small batch of bags. In addition to his trade, Issiaka takes on an important social role as a griot, actively participating in community life, particularly during ceremonies such as funerals. The eldest of his family, he thrives in an artistic environment, surrounded by musical relatives who have even toured in Europe.
His family resides in Dogona, where two small sewing workshops have been set up, serving as spaces for creation and the transmission of craftsmanship.
