Light Bulb - Long Dress
Measured online, handmade in Lagos · 15-minute video Fit Session within 1 business day · At your door in about 14 days · Ankara Holland Fit Guarantee
An African fashion heritage inspired dress crafted from high quality Vilsco Fabrics, the Light Bulb Long Dress combines traditional design elements with contemporary style.
This elegant piece features premium fabric that drapes beautifully, making it perfect for both casual and formal occasions. The thoughtful construction and vibrant aesthetic celebrate African heritage while offering versatility for any wardrobe.
Handmade in Africa
Original Vlisco™ Fabric
100% Premium Cotton
FIND YOUR STARTING SIZE
This table helps you choose a starting size. Your dress is then cut to your own measurements during your Fit Session, so you do not have to get this exactly right.
| Starting size | US | UK | EU | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 4–6 | 8–10 | 36–38 | 35–36" | 27–28" | 38–39" |
| M | 8–10 | 12–14 | 40–42 | 37–38" | 29–30" | 40–41" |
| L | 12–14 | 16–18 | 44–46 | 40–41" | 32–33" | 43–44" |
| XL | 16 | 20 | 48 | 43" | 35" | 46" |
| 1X | 18 | 22 | 50 | 46" | 38" | 49" |
| 2X | 20–22 | 24–26 | 52–54 | 48–50" | 40–42" | 51–53" |
| 3X | 24–26 | 28–30 | 56–58 | 52–54" | 44–46" | 55–57" |
Measurements are body measurements in inches, not garment measurements. Between two sizes? Choose the larger one — we adjust everything at your Fit Session.
Nothing is cut until you approve your measurements — free cancellation until then.
Because your dress is then made to your size, the usual 14-day right to change your mind does not apply; our Fit Guarantee does, including 14-day money-back on your first order.
Product Information
This dress is cut from authentic Vlisco™ fabric — a textile that carries nearly two centuries of craft, storytelling and cultural memory in every yard. Before this fabric ever reached our atelier in Lagos, it passed through dozens of hands in Vlisco's production process: designers who hand-draw each motif, masters who have trained for years to perfect their technique, and a printing method so particular that it leaves its own signature — subtle crackles and traces unique to each length of cloth.
No two yards are identical. That is not a flaw. It is a mark of authenticity.
HOW YOUR DRESS IS MADE
1. You order and choose a starting size, length and any options.
2. Within one business day Vera or Faith messages you on WhatsApp to book your Fit Session: 15 minutes on a video call, ten measurements — a tape measure and a mirror is all you need. Prefer not to be on camera? Measure a dress that fits you perfectly and send us the numbers instead.
3. You receive your Fit Sheet and a short clip of your fabric. Reply "Yes, make it" and the atelier starts. Until then you can cancel free of charge.
4. Your dress is cut and sewn in our atelier in Lagos in 3–5 business days. You get a photo of it before it leaves.
5. DHL Express brings it to your door in 3–5 business days, with tracking.
Most dresses arrive within 14 days of your Fit Sheet confirmation. Your measurements stay on file, so your next dress is ordered in two minutes.
NOT SURE ABOUT THE FABRIC OR COLOUR?
Screens flatter and distort. Ask us on WhatsApp for a video of this print in daylight, filmed on the actual bolt in Lagos — you will see the true colour, the weight and how the fabric moves. Usually the same day. And before we cut, you always get a clip of your own fabric.
Shipping Info
We ship by DHL Express with tracking. EU & UK: free delivery, VAT and import duties included, nothing to pay at the door. Nigeria: free delivery. Rest of the world: €35 (free above €500); local duties and taxes may be charged by the carrier — see our Import duties & taxes page.
Most dresses arrive within 14 days of your Fit Sheet confirmation.
WHAT IF IT DOESN'T FIT?
It will, because we measure you before we cut and the atelier checks every Fit Sheet before your fabric is touched. If a detail still needs adjusting when the dress arrives, take it to any local tailor and we refund the bill up to €50 (UK £45), for six months after delivery. If a local alteration cannot fix it, we remake the dress free of charge within 30 days. And on your first order you have 14 days to send it back unworn for a full refund, with a prepaid label in the EU and UK. That is the Ankara Holland Fit Guarantee.
Care instructions
Vlisco fabrics are 100% cotton wax-print textiles, so care instructions follow premium cotton guidelines with a few brand-specific considerations:
Washing
- Hand wash preferred, especially for the first few washes — cold to lukewarm water (30°C max)
- If machine washing, use a gentle/delicate cycle at 30°C
- Wash dark or vibrant colorways separately the first time, as wax-print dyes can bleed slightly initially
- Use a mild detergent without bleach or optical brighteners — these strip the wax coating and dull the colors
Drying
- Do not tumble dry — the heat degrades the wax finish and can cause shrinkage
- Lay flat or hang to dry in the shade; direct sunlight fades the print over time
- Reshape while damp if needed
Ironing
- Iron inside-out on a medium-hot cotton setting while slightly damp
- The wax coating gives Vlisco its characteristic sheen — ironing directly on the print can flatten or transfer the wax
- Avoid steam directly on the print face
Choose options
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Crafted with a 130-Year Legacy
Our Dutch wax prints trace their roots to 1895, brought to West Africa by Ebenezer Brown Fleming. Today, each piece is handmade in Africa by skilled artisans using authentic Vlisco™ fabric from Helmond, Netherlands.