Ex-Cirque star develops COVID-19 fashion line
Pandemic fashions are a snap for Wassa Coulibaly.
The Baobab Stage proprietor and former “Zumanity” artist has launched a new line of COVID-19 pieces. They feature hooded dresses with face covers, which are fitted with snaps so you can cover your face in public.
“You can wear these in a variety of ways,” Coulibaly says. “You can even wear them after the pandemic is over.”
Coulibaly, who is originally from Dakar, Senegal, immigrated to the United States as a teenager and earned a role in Cirque du Soleil’s “Zumanity” as the show opened in August 2003. She left the cast in October 2013, devoting all of her time and energy to Baobab Stage at Town Square.
Coulibaly has presented shows in the theater, opened a cafe and sells her fashions from an adjoining shop.
She came up with the idea when she walked into a market last month and was reminded to cover her face. Coulibaly pulled her hood across her head. That day, she was working on the fashion line.
Find Coulibaly’s work at wassaboutique.com, where you can order and then pick up the items curbside. You can also have your order delivered.
Her business temporarily shut down by COVID-19, Coulibaly has spent most of her downtime with her daughter, Mariam, who turns 3 in May. As the artist says, “We are having fun gardening, planting trees, hiking and creating.”
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