AFRICAN FASHION TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THE V&A

“In this exhibition we will display pieces and stories drawn from the personal archives of a selection of iconic mid-twentieth century and contemporary African fashion creatives, alongside textiles and photographs from our collection – many for the first time.”

Africa Fashion has been two years in the making. The exhibition, which opens on 11 June 2022, comprises 250 objects that encapsulate the rich style and history of the continent, from home movies to historic family portraits. Such objects will convey the eclectic atmosphere of the African fashion industry over the course of decades. The exhibition spans styles from the African liberation years to the 1950s to the mid 1990s. Designers will include an array of talent from across several African countries, including Kofi Ansah, Chris Seydou, and Alphadi. “It’s important to demonstrate that the African fashion scene didn’t appear overnight,” Checinska added. “This exhibition tells the story of the fashion scene which came out of the years of independence. It will be a game-changer, because we’ll be speaking about African fashion from an African perspective.”

A major component of the display will be copies of Drum Magazine from 1950 to 1970. The iconic family magazine was founded for Black readers, known as “the first Black lifestyle magazine in Africa''. It was particularly influential for capturing life under apartheid, thanks to trailblazing photographers such as James Barnor.