In a cultural moment where heritage meets creativity, Vlisco unveils the second chapter of “Icons Last Forever”, bringing together Sarah Diouf and Trevor Stuurman to honour Seydou Keïta’s timeless vision.
Vlisco proudly announces the second chapter of the “Icons Last Forever” campaign — a new visual dialogue that brought together fashion designer Sarah Diouf and photographer Trevor Stuurman. In this collaboration, they honour the late Malian portraitist Seydou Keïta (1921–2001), whose photographs from the 1940s to the 1960s transformed ordinary lives into icons, and often featured Vlisco’s vibrant fabrics as symbols of pride, identity, and belonging.
In this “Icons Last Forever” campaign, Vlisco, the Dutch heritage brand known for its bold wax prints, invites Diouf and Stuurman to reinterpret Keïta’s legacy through photography, film, and fashion. The result is a powerful homage that transforms fabric into language, image into memory, and tradition into a bold visual dialogue.
“Vlisco has always stood at the crossroads of design, colour, and storytelling. With Icons Last Forever, we celebrate the dialogue between history and innovation, creating images that speak to identity, pride, and the limitless power of imagination,” Perry Oosting, CEO, Vlisco Group, says.
A legacy reimagined
Keïta’s portraits remain some of the most celebrated in African visual history, influencing how Diouf and Stuurman approach storytelling today. At the Alliance Française de Kaolack in Senegal, an architectural landmark and Aga Khan Award winner, they set the stage to reimagine Keïta’s iconic visual codes.
Diouf designed all the silhouettes for the campaign, weaving together traditional West African forms with contemporary flair. “My love story with Seydou Keïta started in the early 2000s… it was a new vibration, a new energy,” she recalls. On the other hand, Stuurman, widely acclaimed as one of Africa’s leading visual artists, brought his signature style behind the lens. Known for creating immersive visual worlds that celebrate culture and identity, he infused Keïta’s timeless language with bold colour and vitality. “Africa is no longer waiting to be seen. We are leading the way,” he says.
A dialogue across generations
For both Diouf and Stuurman, the campaign is deeply personal. Having grown up surrounded by Vlisco fabrics, “Icons Last Forever” feels like a return to their roots. The prints featured are part of Vlisco’s newest collection, reflecting the brand’s enduring dialogue between heritage and modernity. “Vlisco speaks a language that all Africans understand,” says Diouf. Stuurman adds, “Each print tells a different story to each person.” Through their vision, Keïta’s photographic legacy becomes more than memory; it is a living, breathing identity, reframed for a new generation.
The visionaries behind the second chapter of “Icons Last Forever”
About Sarah Diouf
Sarah Diouf is a renowned Senegalese fashion entrepreneur and creative director. She is the founder of Tongoro Studio — a womenswear brand proudly made in Africa. Celebrated for its contemporary silhouettes and global cultural impact, Tongoro reflects Diouf’s vision of uniting tradition and innovation to create modern expressions of African identity that resonate worldwide.
About Trevor Stuurman
Trevor Stuurman is a South African visual artist and photographer celebrated for his powerful portraits and fashion imagery. Rooted in African traditions attuned to global aesthetics, his work reimagines identity and pushes the boundaries of contemporary photography.
About Vlisco
Vlisco is renowned for its distinctive printed fabrics, crafted with time-honoured techniques inspired by Indonesian wax batik. Founded in 1846 in the Netherlands, the brand has created more than 350,000 original designs — many of which have become cultural icons, embraced and redefined by African women across West and Central Africa. Today, Vlisco’s heritage of craftsmanship, bold design, and vibrant colour continues to inspire identity, storytelling, and cross-cultural creativity, with every print remaining one of a kind.
To learn more, please visit www.vlisco.com
