African Fashion Exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum

Throughout my life, I’ve been to a bunch of fashion shows: Dior, Carl Lagerfeld, Gilded Age… But what I had never seen before was African fashion. Of course, I had an idea of what it is, but I never knew anything about its history, development, and traditions. So when I saw that the Brooklyn Museum is hosting an exhibition on African Fashion, I decided to go. 

It was crowded! Dozens of people came to see the exhibition and learn more about African fashion. It was also beautiful! Splashes of colors, forms, silhouettes - all of it makes a very strong impression on the viewer. 

The exhibition covers African fashion, photography, and visual art after the 1950s when multiple African countries got their independence and started redefining their identities. A lot of clothes, as you will see, have portraits of political leaders or messages that symbolize the shared identity, political views, or protests of African people. That was one of my favorite parts of the exhibition. Clothes, being almost a second skin, were very important for self-identification. Not only by fabrics that would show your status but also by prints that would symbolize your thoughts and ideas to make people understand who you are and what you believe in. 

Of course, I couldn’t leave the exhibition without seeing some haute couture pieces. Those were truly magical: feminine forms achieved by softer fabrics and modern designs were merged with traditional African prints and colors. 

What was interesting for me was that many of the African designers started their journey in Europe, where they studied fashion. After gaining experience there, they either stayed and opened their own fashion houses or returned home and opened their boutiques. One of the stories that inspired me, in particular, was the one of Chris Seydou, who started his journey in Mali, where he was born, and then moved to France, where he started as an employee of French fashion houses and then opened his studio. Not only he didn’t forget his origins, but he also was one of the first to promote African fashion globally. 

And after the exhibition, you can visit a small store with books on African fashion, some interesting designs, small figurines, and even dishes like cups and plates - all representing African culture. 

There is a lot to say about the exhibition, but it’s better to go and see it with your own eyes. You will get a full dive into African fashion and maybe, like me, get inspired by it. 

Article and photos by Mary Zakharova