French cycling apparel company Café du Cycliste continues to surprise and impress. They’ve been particular busy this year introducing a raft of new garments and designs. This week, they rode all the way to Africa for some inspired and colorful jerseys.
The mix of France and Africa is always one that fascinates me. Ever since I read Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger, that part of the world has had a mysterious hold on my imagination. The rocky, desolate beaches, the erotic music and markets, the striking architecture, all the influences of France on culture and food. Who isn’t immediately drawn to the seductive music played by the word Marrakesh?
I’m not 100% sure if I just like or absolutely love the jersey but what I do 100% love is the bold concept and execution and the wildly distinctive and unique attitude. I’m impressed and I’m also excited by watching this brand spread its wings, chart fresh roads and also bring some much needed humor and playfulness to cycling apparel. The photo shoot looked like it was a hell of a lot of fun.
French awesome sauce
The Zahira Fleur and Diamant jerseys make me want to put on some of Hector Zazou’s brilliant fusion of African music and Western electronica. Zazou was born in Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria in 1948, then moved to Marseille, France and studied music composition.
To quote Wikipedia, “His groundbreaking 1983 album Noir et blanc (recorded with Congolese singer Bony Bikaye) garnered a lot of international attention, and is widely recognized as one of the earliest and most impressive experiments in fusing African and electronic music.” (Click the pics below to launch the music.)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gMmnDljeco[/youtube]
My personal favorite from Zazou was Sahara Blue, based on the poems of Arthur Rimbaud and featuring guest vocals from Gérard Depardieu and music by Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance, Tim Simenon, and David Sylvian. (Also not to be missed, is Songs from the Cold Seas, vocals by pop and rock artists such as Björk, Suzanne Vega, John Cale, Värttina, Jane Siberry, and Siouxsie Sioux and incantations and lullabies from Ainu, Nanai, Inuit, and Yakut singers. Zazou was nothing if not eclectic.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8k3OEMsJFk[/youtube]
In any case, we’re pretty confident that if Albert Camus and Hector Zazou were alive today and riding their bikes, they’d be wearing the new Cafe du Cycliste Zahira Fleur and Diamant jerseys.
Africa, out of saddle
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