In a searing 2012 Guardian op-ed, Hannah Azieb Pool took Western fashion designers to task for their so-called African-inspired clothing. “Dear Fashion,” she wrote, “Africa is a continent, not a country. Can you imagine anyone describing a fashion trend as ‘European-inspired?’ Of course not. It’s meaningless.” Now, with Fashion Cities Africa, Pool aims to correct the misconceptions about African fashion, providing key context for contemporary African fashion scenes and capturing the depth and breadth of truly African fashion.
Tied to the Fashion Cities Africa exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, the book gives much needed attention to four key African fashion scenes: Nairobi, Lagos, Casablanca, and Johannesburg – one from each region of the continent. Filled with interviews with leading African fashion designers, stylists, and commentators, alongside hundreds of exclusive street-style images, Fashion Cities Africa is a landmark book that should be celebrated in fashion houses the world over.
Preview
Maki Osakwe, shot in Lagos by Lakin Ogunbanwo Maria McCloy, shot in JoBurg by Victor Dlamini Marianne Fassler, shot in JoBurg by Victor Dlamini Amine Bendrouich, shot in Casablanca by Deborah Benzaquen Thula Sindi, shot in JoBurg by Victor Dlamini Yegwa Ukpo, shot in Lagos by Lakin Ogunbanwo Nike Davies Okundaye, shot in Lagos by Lakin Ogunbanwo Adebayo Oke-Lawal, shot in Lagos by Lakin Ogunbanwo Velma Rossa and Papa Petit, aka 2ManySiblings, shot in Nairobi by Sarah Marie Waiswa