Pagne at Home

Founded by Stelly Tchana, Pagne At Home is a concept boutique located on St. Paul Street West in Montreal’s Old Port. It offers clothing, accessories, books, home décor and beauty products from African and diasporic designers, artists and brands from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Canada and France, amongst others.

Pagne at Home aims to highlight African creativity, artisanship and style at accessible prices and, according to the company’s Website, enable shoppers to “discover in one place the beauty of an entire continent.” The vast array of products Stelly stocks for Pagne at Home are modern and stylish, yet with deep cultural roots that celebrate African savoir-faire.

Stelly was born in France to Cameroonian parents. Her mother worked as a diplomat and dressed in luxurious traditional fashion, including brightly coloured Kaba’Ngondo, amply cut dresses worn by Sawa women in southern Cameroon, which made a strong impact on the young Stelly.

She has worked in both the French and Quebec fashion industries for more than a decade as a buyer.

Inspired by the vast creativity and savoir-faire of African design, and to counter the lack of visibility for African and Afro-descendant designers, Stelly founded her company in 2015, first as an e-commerce business before opening her brick-and-mortar store in Montreal.

At Pagne At Home, Stelly organizes workshops, cultural events, art exhibitions and film screenings, as well as having a dedicated space for podcasts with the intention of building a dynamic community around the boutique and enriching the customer experience.

In August 2024, Pagne at Home hosted African Fashion Week Montreal, bringing together local designers, influencers, media and buyers to celebrate the diversity of African and diasporic fashion and style. Stelly collaborates regularly with local artist and stylist Marième Yumböe, influencer Agnès Kiese and art director Adja Diagne to promote and support the Pagne at Home mission.