Six years ago in rural France Koto Bolofo discovered a treasure trove of vintage linen sheets – some from hospitals and
convents, others from the homes of peasants and aristocrats. For Bolofo, the sheets embodied the dreams and forgotten
histories of those who had once slept in them, and he was inspired to transform these materials into unique handmade
garments. The resulting creations were simple and sophisticated like the photos Bolofo then made of them; but the idea
stopped there, and the clothes were packed away for safekeeping in a trunk.
Since then Bolofo began photographing for the renowned women’s fashion and homeware brand Anthropologie, and
in 2010 the company asked Bolofo if he had a personal project he might like to develop with them. The photographer
immediately thought of his beloved garments and the rest is history: Anthropologie has now produced his collection on
a commercial scale to be launched at New York Fashion Week in spring 2012 and sold exclusively in their stores. Who
says dreams don’t come true?
Koto Bolofo was born in South Africa in 1959 and raised in Great Britain. Bolofo has photographed and made short
films for magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and GQ. He has created advertising campaigns for brands including
Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Dom Pérignon. Bolofo lives in the Vendée, France, and his books with Steidl include Venus
(2008), I Spy with My Little Eye, Something Beginning with S (2010), Vroom! Vroom! (2010), Grand Complication
(2010) and La Maison (2011).
Dreams
von Koto Bolofo
