Maria Auxiliadora "Goya" Lopes is a talented textile designer
from Salvador, Bahia. Her fabrics and clothes feature bright colors and original
Afro-Brazilian motifs. Her patterns are clearly different from African ones, as are the
colors; Goya says she blends themes from Africa and Bahia and uses European-influenced
colors. She adds that the people from Bahia want to keep in touch with the culture of
their ancestors, but without losing sight of the contemporary. Her label - and store - is
called Didara, which means "good" in Yoruba, and includes bags, sarongs, bed
spreads, pillow covers, T-shirts and tableware.
