Recently, on October 28, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in DC hosted a trunk show and forum called “Inspiring Global Fashion”. Sally Singer, Fashion News/Features Director of Vogue was the commentator of the discussion featuring Julie Ward, Gallery Asha; Brenda Winstead, Damali Afrikan Wear; G.Kofi Annan, Annansi Clothing Co.; and Korto Momolu, designer, stylist and Project Runway contestant discussing African clothing and fabrics being incorporated into Western fashion.
“There is a set day to be African… we put on our traditional African clothing for a day…” Korto stated when talking about the social disconnect associated with African clothing in American society. She continued to say “We should be able to say we are wearing a beautiful garment, and the fact that its African inspired is a cherry on top”...
Singer really exhibited her incompetence in understanding the cultural aspect of African clothing being incorporated in everyday fashion. “… Africa will never be able to compete with Milan, Paris, London and New York..” Her statement created tension in the room filled with various ethnic faces of diversity. A Ghanaian man replied to Singer’s statement saying that she was not accurate in stating that African fashion only consists of wraps and sashes. He added that all African fashion does not consist of wraps and sashes; rather there are tailored and structured garments as well. Singer with her industry experience and large accolades was silent in the exposition of her ignorance pertaining to the variety of fashions born in Africa and from African designers. However, in the conclusion of the discussion she expressed how raw and emotional African textiles are.
The Ghanian man’s statement bought attention to the fact that people of Western society do not consider nonwestern traditional garments as being anything but ‘traditional’. In other words, they have no room in the main stream fashion industry for growth. Sure you can say that Michael Kors has inspired African silhouettes and fabrics in his previous collections, but the truth of the matter is that it is still considered American fashion in the hands of an American designer. However, in the hands of a non-American person or designer, the fashion is no longer pertinent to American culture because it is too different to be accepted merely as Western fashion. The industry’s heavy hitters may not be able to understand the cultural relation with ethnic clothing.
Brenda Winstead said that she wants to “respect the fabric” that the women from West Africa spin for her. Julie Ward says that her fabric is only printed in limited quantity because of its exclusiveness and importance to its culture. G.Kofi lets out a subtle laugh when he says that he wants to convey the essence of Africa in his clothing and allowing it to be translated universally.
In my opinion African and other nonwestern clothing should and will be apart of Western fashion without having to be categorized as “African”. There is a void of mainstream ethnic fashion designers in the industry because their work is considered “other” according to the norms of Western society. Will Africa or India make it as big as Milan, Paris, London or New York? Who knows, maybe if the minds of people change and begin to realize that “other” is universal and that Western civilization and fashion is not the most supreme, but it feeds of the differences of others and later stamps it as ‘its’ own.
“There is a set day to be African… we put on our traditional African clothing for a day…” Korto stated when talking about the social disconnect associated with African clothing in American society. She continued to say “We should be able to say we are wearing a beautiful garment, and the fact that its African inspired is a cherry on top”...
Singer really exhibited her incompetence in understanding the cultural aspect of African clothing being incorporated in everyday fashion. “… Africa will never be able to compete with Milan, Paris, London and New York..” Her statement created tension in the room filled with various ethnic faces of diversity. A Ghanaian man replied to Singer’s statement saying that she was not accurate in stating that African fashion only consists of wraps and sashes. He added that all African fashion does not consist of wraps and sashes; rather there are tailored and structured garments as well. Singer with her industry experience and large accolades was silent in the exposition of her ignorance pertaining to the variety of fashions born in Africa and from African designers. However, in the conclusion of the discussion she expressed how raw and emotional African textiles are.
The Ghanian man’s statement bought attention to the fact that people of Western society do not consider nonwestern traditional garments as being anything but ‘traditional’. In other words, they have no room in the main stream fashion industry for growth. Sure you can say that Michael Kors has inspired African silhouettes and fabrics in his previous collections, but the truth of the matter is that it is still considered American fashion in the hands of an American designer. However, in the hands of a non-American person or designer, the fashion is no longer pertinent to American culture because it is too different to be accepted merely as Western fashion. The industry’s heavy hitters may not be able to understand the cultural relation with ethnic clothing.
Brenda Winstead said that she wants to “respect the fabric” that the women from West Africa spin for her. Julie Ward says that her fabric is only printed in limited quantity because of its exclusiveness and importance to its culture. G.Kofi lets out a subtle laugh when he says that he wants to convey the essence of Africa in his clothing and allowing it to be translated universally.
In my opinion African and other nonwestern clothing should and will be apart of Western fashion without having to be categorized as “African”. There is a void of mainstream ethnic fashion designers in the industry because their work is considered “other” according to the norms of Western society. Will Africa or India make it as big as Milan, Paris, London or New York? Who knows, maybe if the minds of people change and begin to realize that “other” is universal and that Western civilization and fashion is not the most supreme, but it feeds of the differences of others and later stamps it as ‘its’ own.
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