Documenting changing fashion in Africa post-1960
This pair of sandals are made entirely from recycled car tyres. In Kenya, and many other countries in Africa, the practice of making leather sandals has a very long history. Since the arrival of cars, makers have adapted their leather working skills and utilised rubber from car tyres. People found that the rubber from car Read More …
This blouse and skirt outfit features puff sleeves and a peplum waist which were typical elements of 1980s style. The wax print fabric features sunflower, butterflies, and drooping lily motifs. This outfit was given to Fashioning Africa collecting panel member Lou Taylor by a Kenyan student of hers. Taylor is a dress historian and used Read More …
This pair of kangas from Nairobi, Kenya, was made to promote the political party Jubilee in a 2017 election. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and one as a top, shawl, or headcovering. They usually feature a slogan which is used to make a statement, Read More …
This pair of unseparated kangas feature a red, black and white design depicting the Kenyan flag. Traditional kanga designs are inspired by guineafowl, a speckled bird found across sub-Saharan Africa, – ‘kanga’ is the Kiswahili word for guineafoul. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and Read More …
This pair of kangas from Nairobi, Kenya, depicts the former US President Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and one as a top, shawl or headcovering. They usually feature a slogan which is used to make a statement, whether Read More …
This single kanga celebrates the Pope’s visit to Kenya in November 2015. It features a blue and white design, a floral border, and an image of Pope Francis. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and one as a top, shawl or headcovering. They usually feature Read More …
Traditional kanga designs are inspired by guineafowl, a speckled bird found across sub-Saharan Africa, – ‘kanga’ is the Kiswahili word for guineafoul. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and one as a top, shawl or headcovering. They usually feature a slogan which is used to Read More …
This kanga was created by Kawira Mwirichia as part of the ‘To Revolutionary Type Love’ project. With this project, Mwirichia sought to acknowledge and celebrate queer love. Kangas were designed to illuminate the triumphs and revolutionary histories of the queer movement in each of the world’s countries. Love quotes from the Kenyan queer community were Read More …
This pair of unseparated kangas was made in Mombasa, Kenya from machine-printed cotton in 2017. Traditional kanga designs are inspired by guineafowl, a speckled bird found across sub-Saharan Africa, – ‘kanga’ is the Kiswahili word for guineafoul. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and one Read More …
This pair of unseparated kangas was made in Kenya from machine-printed cotton in 2017. This is a traditional kanga design, inspired by guineafowl, a speckled bird found across sub-Saharan Africa, – ‘kanga’ is the Kiswahili word for guineafoul. Kangas are bought in pairs and worn as an outfit with one wrapped as a skirt and Read More …