African fashionistas. Fashion from Africa: street trends and fashion designers African fashion in modern magazines

24.09.2019

A traveler who happens to see residents Herero tribe, may think that he accidentally found himself in a kind of parallel reality, where time goes backwards. At the sight of men in military costumes of the First World era and women in ball gowns who live in hut houses in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, it is difficult not to get confused: the picture is too surreal. Say, it doesn't work like that? In fact, there is something to be surprised about when visiting wild African tribes!

The Herero appeared in Namibia in the 17th century, and to this day, representatives of this tribe live in the occupied territory. The history of this people turned out to be truly tragic, and today they are on the verge of extinction. The colonialists from time immemorial used the Herero slave labor for the extraction of diamonds, mercilessly destroying them. In 1903, the Herero decided on an unprecedented protest - they gathered an uprising against the oppressors. However, such a bold step had terrible consequences for them: the Herero paid for the murder of 120 Germans with their entire existence. By order of Emperor Wilhelm, the rebellious tribe was driven under shelling into the Kalahari Desert, in total about 65 thousand people were killed, only 16 thousand managed to survive.

Since then, the Herero have lived in the Kalahari. In memory of the uprising, the men of the tribe still wear German military uniforms. The costumes that have survived to this day were once removed from slain enemies; to this day, it is believed that by donning trophy clothes, Herero men gain the strength and courage of their opponents.

Women's outfits also look old fashion: their dresses come from the same early 18th century. Floor-length dresses with puffy skirts still serve the fashionistas of the desert. The only clothing attribute that the Herero women did not recognize is the corset. But they supplemented the outfit with an original headdress - a hat that resembles the horns of an animal. It is believed that the richer a woman's family, the longer the impromptu "horns" should be. Herero - cattle breeders, living creatures here are all gold in the literal sense of the word (a cow, for example, costs at least a thousand dollars), so such a cult of cattle is justified. During the rainy months, the Herero also cultivates maize and corn.

Women of the tribe are engaged in farming, men prefer an idle life for the most part. Although, of course, every Herero for his family has to build by hand a hut from cow dung. Recently, the tribe began to establish the extraction of bricks, however, only three people are engaged in this, so this type of earnings is still a single one.

The hottest and most mysterious African continent inspires many modern designers to create their own unique collections. African style of clothing conveys the identity and cultural values of this exotic world through luxurious fabrics, colorful colors, prints, various patterns and patterns.

African motives in modern clothing style

Many designers draw their ideas from folklore, elements of folk costume.

African style is the most recognizable ethnic style in clothing and accessories

Fashion shows are not complete without a collection in ethnic format.

African clothing style - bright energy of color

African style has become a bright, memorable and exotic ethno-direction. Lightweight and flying cut of fabrics with fringes, feathers and embroidery creates an exclusive and memorable image.

Ethnic style

- these are dresses and clothing sets filled with elements of national costumes of various countries and peoples of the world. The diversity of cultures entails a multitude of ethnic trends, each of which brings individuality, originality and uniqueness to the costume.

The uniqueness of women is in their versatility and incredibly bright and cheerful this versatility enlivens.

African clothing style is the most striking and recognizable among other varieties of ethnicity.

To create an image using ethno-elements, designers are inspired by exotic cultural trends:

Russian motives;
African motives;
Indian motives;
Egyptian motives;
Greek motives;
Indian motives;
Japanese motives.

The African continent presented in the spirit of a safari. The clothes amaze with their bright temperament, rich colors, stylish prints.

African style is rich colors, a combination of incongruous, catchy prints and large decorations

Elements of African ethnicity are catchy, memorable and expressive. Many fashion houses are happy to work in this direction, creating unique models.

African style of dress is dynamic and energetic

African motives that penetrate the soul of design

African style for designers is a platform for creating unique looks. They draw ideas not only from the landscape and the peculiarities of the life of individual tribes, but also from weapons, everyday life, and the animal world of Africa.

African style in modern fashion can be called the motif of African ornamentalism and primitive exotic images

Natural fabrics typical of local tribes, such as leather, linen, cotton, knitted elements are painted with geometric ornaments. They charge you with mood and energy.

The African style and its components are loved by the whole world, it is used in decor, clothing, art

African style is one of the brightest and most distinctive phenomena in fashion and style

The models have a loose fit, shoes are light, like sandals.

African style is difficult to confuse with any other due to the abundance of bright natural colors

African-style clothing is presented in a huge variety of styles and colors

We should also talk about accessories separately. Multi-colored rows of beads, amulets on leather cords, unusual pendants, leather belts, bracelets made of wood, metal from narrow to wide.

African jewelry is always very dynamic, vibrant and impulsive.

African style in jewelry is exotic, mysterious, energetic and is attracting more and more interest among active youth

All products are decorated with natural stones, animal tusks, feathers, ivory, metals such as copper, gold, silver.

Designers do not recreate traditional African tribal costumes, but use separate details or colors.

African clothing style is original, bright and distinctive

Outfits with glitter of gold and bronze appear on the catwalks, mini-dresses in tones typical of indigenous tribes, light floor-length dresses and straight sundresses painted with geometric patterns or animalistic motifs.

African style is the most recognizable ethnic style in clothing now it is very popular and reads in a new way, in a modern interpretation

Chunky knit cardigans paired with chiffon tunics embroidered with traditional African patterns.

African style of dress is different in that it is cheerful and quite comfortable.

Handbags and handmade shoes complete the look.

African style handbags are the perfect accessory for a vibrant look

Characteristics of the African style

Modern women of fashion intelligently fill their wardrobe with ethnic outfits, trying not to overload their image.

African style - colorful color combinations and patterns

And if you are one of these fashionistas, and you like the African style of clothing, then pay attention to what diversifies your wardrobe in this particular direction:

Clothes are made from fabrics that reflect the culture and traditions of the people. Elements of the costume or its design often reflect the nature of the savannah, contain ornaments used by tribes to decorate their clothes, dishes and household products.
The predominance of natural fabrics, finishing with materials of natural origin. This can be the furs of animals living in Africa (bison, leopards, lions, gazelles), their tusks, decorative stones, bird feathers, etc. Modern technologies allow you to purchase jewelry made of synthetic materials that are similar to natural and practically indistinguishable from them ... · Characteristic African prints.
Sensual images will be emphasized by a catchy scarf with a leopard pattern or a flowing dress similarly painted. But these details need to be balanced with calmer techniques. For example, wear classic shoes, metal bracelets without fancy trim, etc.
The African style is suitable for all types of appearance, you just have to choose your own colors, shapes and size of the picture.

Ethnic fabric prints

Ethnic style involves the use of natural fabrics. African clothing is dresses, tunics, trousers, skirts, vests and other types of clothing, mainly made of cotton, linen, silk, leather and their combinations. The predominant colors are sand, coffee, and azure. Painting the fabric with a memorable ornament or print with the nature and animals of Africa.

A characteristic feature of African-style clothing is the use of numerous prints, the absence of monochromatic things

African style means spring / summer fashion. The pattern on the fabric in everyday life stands out for its uniqueness. What are the ornaments of local tribes, made in bright colors?

African style is motives brought by the wind of hot countries

Products infused with African influences stand out on the catwalks at almost every show. Prints are used both blurry and with scrupulous drawing of details. These can be large drawings in the form of savannah landscapes, animal outlines, painting with plant elements, abstraction and geometric shapes, as well as small sketches.

African style is loved by the world's leading fashion designers

African style elements in modern fashion

African style fills the owners with energy, recklessness, mystery and seductive appeal. Women and girls who have fallen under the charm of African motives create magnificent ethno-images. Using ethnic African motives, you should know when to stop so as not to be vulgar and clumsy dressed.

The African style of clothing attracts many women with its exoticism and originality, as well as a variety of variations.

The easiest way to add an African touch to your look is with jewelry and accessories. These items will suit almost every type of clothing - from jeans and T-shirts to evening wear.

African style is one of the most colorful, distinctive and bizarre styles in modern fashion.

Use massive necklaces and earrings made of metal, wooden and copper bracelets, pendants and amulets from claws and fangs, feathers, stones and beads. The simplicity of the style allows you to use its elements in the office and casual version of the dress.

It will be interesting to look at a sheath dress in brown or pastel shades with a modest African pattern trim.

An African-style dress will give you confidence

Trousers in combination with a silk feminine blouse, decorated with a floral pattern in soothing tones, will hide figure flaws.

Africa is bright colors

When going on vacation, it is convenient to take clothes in African ethnic style. Tops, sundresses, dresses, long skirts with colorful prints, shorts and sweaters for excursions, flat sandals.

African fashion - bright ornaments, tropical motifs, light silhouettes

In the off-season, prints with the nature of the hot continent will warm you with summer memories. Here, denser fabrics are used - wool, linen, leather, knitted elements, fur. Designers offer spectacular ethnic-style fur coats with a leopard pattern, decorated with huge collars, furs, and a fur cut.

African menswear trends

Although modern men are much less likely than women to wear ethnic-style costumes, you can also find unique things in their wardrobe. These can be shirts, shorts, ties, blazers and jackets.

Men's African fashion - unusual and extravagant

There is also bijouterie. The fabric pattern and decoration in the men's suit are much more modest than in the women's, and the colors are more muted. But despite this, African motives no less effectively convey ethnic mood, masculinity and identity to the stronger sex.

Men's African fusion style

For the correct perception, the designers in the men's ethnic suit set the following accents:

shades of beige - from sand and coffee, to ashy, khaki and olive, as the basis for African motives;
azure blue - a shade that emphasizes masculinity, tan, and also this color is combined with most saturated colors;
white classic - fills the image with freshness and facilitates the perception of other tones, diluting them;
deep red as the color of images on the main fabric;
sunny yellow - completes the motives of the drawing, placing bright spots that complete its perception as a whole;
colors such as grass green, purple, orange, lime green, pink, lobster, turquoise, blue, and deep black are also used.

In everyday life, not every man will use African motifs in clothes, but for men in trouser suits, designers dilute formality with ornaments on jackets, stylish ties, and small patterns on shirts.

Modern creative men choose a discreet African style

Afro look from braids to sandals

When creating a complete ethno-image, you should decide in the direction of style, because in different regions of Africa there are huge differences in costume.

Modern African fashion borrows a lot from its traditions, but takes global trends from the catwalk into account

Study the traditions of the selected region and select those materials that most accurately reflect them. For example, a leopard skin can be replaced with a cloth with a similar pattern.
Note for yourself what and how residents wear. Whether they prefer capes or loincloths.
The classic Afro hairstyles are braids, dreadlocks and small curls. You can also wind a bright piece of fabric in the form of a turban around your head.
On the hands - bracelets and baubles, on the ears - large designer earrings in the form of fangs, bones, feathers of animals and birds. Around the neck there are several threads of bright large beads or a necklace in the form of welded rings.
For parties - beautify your body with abstract designs in vibrant colors.
Shoes are flat. It can be sandals and sandals made of leather with an abundance of straps, fringes, beading and beading.

African clothing and its motives fit perfectly into modern world fashion

Seeing the colorful makeup of bright yellow, dazzling white and rich reds, seeing lush accessories and extraordinary jewelry, you can take this riot of colors for the feverish fantasy of one of the trendsetters. But in fact, all this splendor has nothing to do with the catwalks of New York, London or Paris, being the handiwork of the East African tribes Surma and Mursi.

Nomadic tribes do not have architecture or crafts to pursue their artistic tastes. For this purpose, only their own faces and bodies remain, and I must say that this is already a lot: inspired by wild plants, exotic flowers and lush greenery of places located on the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan, fashionistas from African tribes create images that are not inferior in entertainment and creativity to the creations of Western fashion designers.

For example, leaves or roots become fashion accessories. Instead of a scarf, a bunch of bananas is wrapped around the neck, and a bunch of grass takes the place of the hat with casual grace. Garlands of flowers, horns of bison, wreaths of feathers, fruits, branches - Mother Nature on the African continent takes care of satisfying the tastes of the most capricious fashionista.

Once the main purpose of applying bright colors to the body and using jewelry was the desire to frighten the enemy. But now, looking at the faces of African women from these tribes, it seems that they decorate themselves in this way solely for their own aesthetic pleasure.

All of these photographs, taken by German photographer Hans Silvester and later published in Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa, prove that African fashion shows are unlike any other in the world. It is a hymn to the magnificent nature of the tropics and is another confirmation of the fact that Africa knows how to delight and surprise. Including in fashion.

Recently, the fashion blogosphere has been actively developing in Africa, its own fashion designers and fashionable life have appeared. Those who still think that Africa is only palm trees and monkeys will be greatly disappointed. Fashionable life in Africa is independent and distinctive, women of fashion follow European fashion with might and main, but dress completely differently, designers adhere to the same trends as their European colleagues, but sew completely differently. So, let's try to figure out what the magic of Africa is, what kind of African designer he is and what the fashionable bloggers of this country breathe.

The collections of African fashion designers were not easy to find. There are many names, but the photographs are just a disaster. Fortunately, one of the most interesting brands in Africa, the Tai Adeboyeku Collection, has a Facebook page and photos of the latest spring / summer 2014 collection are in the public domain.

To be honest, this was not what I expected to see. Classic dresses, strict lines, restrained colors. And no African motives, variegation, large decorations. Everything is restrained ... but still different. You can feel lightness and sunshine even in these simple lines. The images themselves are somewhat reminiscent of retro and 20th century fashion.

Clothes from Wambui Mukenyi are more African. And again - no shocking or frankness. Classic dresses, discreet makeup, modest jewelry. This is how it is, the true fashion of Africa.

These clothes are designed not only for thin models, but also for the average African woman.

And now, from theory to practice. Street fashion in Africa.

Let's start with one of the most popular fashionistas in South Africa - Amy. First of all, she is a talented photographer and just a bright and interesting personality. Her blog fancypantstheblog.com is about beautiful photographs, fashionable images, and just a girl's dreams of travel and adventure.

The girl prefers well-known European brands, casual style and loves taking pictures of her home country. We must pay tribute to her, it is simply impossible to tear yourself away from these photos.

Motel Rocks dress | Vanessa mooney bracelet

Zara crop jumper | Beginning Boutique lace shorts | Topshop bag | Rayban Clubmasters via Sunglass Hut | RVCA hat

Nadja Seale has already appeared in my fashion reviews, on the topic of the most romantic and delicate images. Almost all of Nadezhda's outfits are designed in such a light, airy, slightly fabulous style. It is felt that the girl has great taste and her own style.

Light dresses and floral wreaths are a must for every look. It turns out very feminine and gentle.

Some more European brands and trends from South Africa, Cape Town.

Mr. Price Heels, Adidas Stella Mc Cartney, Sissy Boy Skinny Jeans

Beanie, Jacket, Zara Pants, Jimmy Choo Heels, French Toy Poodle Milla

Beanie, Levi's 501 Jeans, Old Khaki Army Jacket, Marines

This is with regard to the current trends and sentiments of young people. But true African fashion, although gradually disappearing from the streets and fashion catwalks, still exists. This is a riot of colors, colorful motives ... a fashion that cannot be confused with anything. As elsewhere, in Africa there are true adherents of their native motives, most often in small towns.

Black doll, model and stylist from Nigeria, 22 years old.

The girl is very fond of large gold jewelry, costume jewelry, high heels, and, of course, African motifs in clothes. The girl considers herself a real patriot, and always emphasizes how proud she is of her country.

Summing up, we can divide all fashion bloggers in Africa into 2 camps: those who remain faithful to their traditions and motives in clothes, and those who look like ordinary fashionistas from America or Europe. The latter are wealthy girls, most often students from big cities. The same goes for fashion designers. Those who make clothes for the general public are not chasing European fashion, and clothes for fashion shows, of course, match those of other, more developed countries. Nevertheless, one can call a common feature of all fashion designers - this is a desire for retro, monotony, a minimum amount of details and simplicity of cut.

Class

Considering dark-skinned women of fashion, I very often catch myself thinking - how beautiful they are! Perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that opposites attract (like negative and positive charges in physics). So naturally light Slavs like the exotic beauty of dark-skinned women.

But I am attracted not only by the natural beauty of African women, but also by their ability to dress. The African style is very bright and distinctive. It reflects the ancient culture of Africa, its customs and traditions. This style inspires many talented people. In particular, the legendary French couturier Yves Saint Laurent was the first to draw attention to the African style and in 1967 released his collection dedicated to Africa, using straw, linen, palm fibers as the main materials, and decorating the models with wooden beads. It is logical that the girls of the model themselves were dark-skinned, but in those days their participation in the show was a novelty.

Modern African fashion borrows a lot from its traditions, but takes global trends from the runway into account. As for the dark-skinned women of fashion, they dress in such a way that sometimes they cannot be distinguished from the inhabitants of the USA or Europe. However, this may be due to the fact that many of them receive education abroad, and subsequently remain to live there, adopting another culture.

However, there is something that unites these fashionistas in the way they dress. These similarities are present in most black girls, suggesting that African roots are making their way out even through the fashionable gloss of other cultures.

1. Bright colors

The clothes of dark-skinned women of fashion are replete with bright colors. Yellow, orange, red, pink, bright green, ultramarine blue. All juicy saturated shades can be found in the wardrobes of these girls. They often use color blocking. These colors attract attention, charge with energy and good mood. Thanks to this, the images are more dynamic and memorable.

2. Clothes for a figure

As a rule, dark-skinned beauties have appetizing forms, which they do not hesitate to demonstrate in all available ways. First, choosing clothes that fit your figure. These are all kinds of sheath dresses (showing smooth curves of the body), pencil skirts (almost every one has a leather pencil skirt), skinny pants and leggings. Stretch fabrics that stretch well. Short dresses, skirts, shorts showing endless legs.

3. Bright prints

In addition to bright colors, dark-skinned women of fashion love bright prints. Cells, stripes, peas, flowers, abstraction - it's all the same, as long as it is bright. Very often, girls choose a mix of different prints. This is a rather bold decision, and for many, this technique causes conflicting feelings, but the African exotic type of appearance draws out these controversial ensembles.

4. Animal prints

Separately, I would like to say about animal prints: tiger, leopard, zebra python, etc. Apparently, dark-skinned beauties love them in their blood since the times when their ancestors hunted wild animals using their skins instead of clothes. Girls use them both extensively and dosed, in the form of accessories (bags, belts, shoes).

5. Large decorations

Large earrings, rings, massive necklaces, multiple bracelets - all this modern African women of fashion try on with pleasure. In ancient times, their ancestors used jewelry as a way to demonstrate their belonging to a particular tribe. Ornaments were also used to emphasize the rank of their wearer. Now women of fashion try on such jewelry exclusively as decorative elements.

Thank you for attention.