Creative Senegalese designer Diarra Bousso is making waves in the African fashion industry by merging her passion for mathematics with her artistic Senegalese cultural heritage. Born in Dakar but raised in Norway, the fashionista later moved to the US, where she studied and initially pursued a career in finance before finding her true calling in fashion. In 2013, the fashion-loving mathematician left finance to pursue fashion full-time.
“I didn’t intend to be in the fashion industry. I started my career on Wall Street in my early 20s. I was obsessed with being rich. I preferred Fashion brands that supported my wasteful shopping habits. But in July 2012, after a life-threatening accident that left me in a coma, everything changed. I no longer saw life as a way just to accumulate things; I became interested in impact. I got the opportunity to start afresh,”- Diarra Bousso shares.
Now, she blends mathematical expertise with her cultural Senegalese roots, which birthed her brainchild, DIARRABLU—a fashion brand that celebrates African artistry through algorithm-based designs and sustainable practices.
From Wall Street to Fashion
After studying mathematics and economics, Bousso began her career in finance, briefly working on Wall Street, the financial district of Lower Manhattan in New York City. However, she felt unfulfilled in the corporate world and longed to be in a field where she could express her love for art, fashion, and mathematics creatively.
Bousso’s background in mathematics heavily influences her designs. She sees fashion as an art form and science and uses complex mathematical concepts, algorithms and geometric principles to create visually captivating, versatile patterns. The algorithm designs are based on modular patterns and symmetry that can be scaled or manipulated to create multiple variations within a garment.
“Math allows me to create designs faster at a fraction of the cost. So instead of sketching a flower, I draft a flower with equations,” she shares.
Her designs celebrate African heritage, drawing inspiration from Senegalese art, textiles, and traditions. This unique perspective has brought a new depth to African fashion, combining art, science, and the Senegalese fashion culture she learned from her Grandma.
“My grandmother was one of the greatest craftspersons in her community and passed that on to her children.”
Sustainable and Responsible Fashion
Diarra Bousso believes fashion should be responsible and beautiful, so she creates designs that prioritise quality and longevity over fleeting trends. She focuses on creating timeless pieces that can be worn in multiple ways. This encourages her consumers to invest in fewer, more meaningful garments that can withstand the test of time.
To ensure sustainability in her production processes, Bousso uses eco-friendly materials, including organic cotton and recycled fabrics. Her manufacturing practices also emphasise zero-waste techniques, where leftover materials from one design are used to create new products, minimising waste.
“In my culture, clothing was made to last. Imagine my grandma wearing the same outfit she wore at 15 when she was 103 years old – the outfit was styled differently, of course,” Bousso says.
The brand focuses on ethical production and centres its production process in Senegal, where it employs local artisans at different production levels.
The founder has spotlighted DIARRABLU, drawing attention to the potential and creativity inherent in African fashion. Through her unique fashion tech company, she encourages the fashion industry to recognise different ways to approach modern fashion.
