African fashion is having its (long-awaited) moment in the sun. A broad term, African fashion encapsulates threads of creativity and storytellers from all walks of life and paths on our continent, who have found and created their medium in fashion, unifying them in celebration.
We often hear stories of African fashion designers, movers and shakers individualistically, or through the Western lens. However, as of this weekend, the exploration into an often overlooked series of worlds finds a prestigious home.
The V&A Museum (unfortunately not located in the V&A Waterfront, eager Capetonians) is launching its African Fashion Exhibition on Saturday, 2 July until 16 April 2023.
While many of us may be plane trips away, we can still relish in the news that many of our own will be celebrated in the first African fashion exhibition for the museum. It only took 170 years.
A cumulation of two years, an intergenerational community panel and designers’ creative input all went in to get the show on the road, notes The Guardian. The display will stand in a highly-anticipated move toward progression for the museum, which has long held a legacy of colonialism.
Vogue has already set the stage for some of the coolest designers whose designs will be featured. Amongst them stand Johannesburg gems and Capetonian creatives.
Thebe Magugu, based in Joburg will naturally be featured. Magugu, who is originally from Kimberly, has shaken up the fashion world and is no stranger to accolades. He was the first African designer to be crowned with the LVMH prize in 2019 and has dressed everyone from Zozi Tunzi to Miley Cyrus, Kylie Jenner and Rihanna.
From Cape Town, Sindiso Khumalo reigns in sustainability, aesthetics, and integration of Zulu culture in her works. African history has always played its part in her design, and her architectural background has certainly seen an influence on the construct of her designs. She has spoken at the United Nations and European development Forum, and her work has graced many spots from Zeitz MOCCA to the Smithsonian. Khumalo also won the LVHM prize shared amongst other finalists in 2020.
Another Cape-Town-based designer, Lukhanyo Mdingi will also feature. As Vogue puts it, Mdingi is part of the “unmistakable rise of a young generation who are representing the expansive creative energies of Africa.” Mdingi studied at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for Fashion Design but his works would grace prestigious wearers and runways across the world. This year, his imaginings ventured to Paris for the Fall 2022 Menswear runway shows, and was awarded the LVMH Prize as a joint-winner in 2021. Mdingi’s work is a bespoke celebration of craft, modernism and the artisanal eye.
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Picture: @kitsokgori