SIKA by Phyllis Taylor

When London-based designer Phyllis Taylor launched her first collection in 2003, she bestowed it with a name, SIKA, that holds double significance: Sika is Phyllis’s mother’s name, and it also means gold in her family’s native language. “The name SIKA derives from the Akan tribe in Ghana, West Africa,” Phyllis tells us. “I called my label SIKA as my brand is gold.”

For the craftspeople in Ghana who cut and stitch each garment, it’s more than gold. It’s a hopeful, dignified livelihood, and a way to share the beautiful traditions of Ghanaian culture with others. “SIKA injects a new stream of employment and business into Ghanaian communities,” says Phyllis, who was born in London but visits her parents’ home country often. “That means paying fair wages, creating jobs, and making a meaningful difference in the communities.”

From a very young age, she says, Phyllis loved fashion, fabrics, and colors. After studying dressmaking and pattern cutting at the London College of Fashion, she began designing for SIKA. “I design every piece in the collection,” she says.

Those pieces are made one by one, thoughtfully and ethically, using slow-fashion techniques and heritage motifs to create chic, modern interpretations. Phyllis’s love for color and print – and for Ghana – come through in every silhouette.

“Most African fabrics as a whole have a story and name behind each design,” explains Phyllis. “Some prints date way back to my grandmother’s time and likely before. They are designed to mirror various cultures and traditions; some portray an event or a proverb.”

All of SIKA’s prints – often striking, always stunning – are originals. Drawing on the colors, shapes, and significance of Ghanaian textiles, Phyllis and her in-house print team create their own patterns to that define her dresses, separates, outerwear, swimsuits, and more.

We’re so excited to team up with Phyllis this summer for an exclusive SIKA x Anthropologie collaboration featuring dresses, skirts, a romper, and a ruffled top that just might steal the show. Each piece is crafted in Ghana with care, using natural fabrics and fair-trade practices.

We think they tell a beautiful story: of cultures coming together, and of one designer’s vision for a brighter, kinder world.