Cultural Appropriation. Valentino SS16

October 12, 2015 | Design & Culture by Ed

The main inspiration behind Valentino‘s SS16 collection was the “wild Africa”. The house, however, sparked the cultural appropriation topic following their show. “Primitive, tribal, spiritual, yet regal”, the collection was a “journey to the beginning of time & the essential of primitive nature” as the show note said. Indeed, the collection was truly beautiful, and I appreciated it because I love ethnical fashion. Associated with the continent the collection included bone necklaces, Kikuyu textiles, raffia, belts made from African beads, embellishments, fancy embroidering, feathers and fringing. But Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli missed the point at some level – the collection was presented on a majority of white models. And this just reflects one more time the major problem in fashion industry – lack of diversity. Hopefully, the brand did not have any racist intentions – but for the next time, cast more models of colour!

Kenyan Cool

January 30, 2014 | Design & Culture by Ed

Karen Walker did the most outstanding campaign of SS14 campaigns. The Visible Collection was inspired and styled by Kenyan artisans. What’s best, the eyewear is presented not on typical models, but on local, Kenyan people who really know how to wear these glasses… Matched with braids, African jewellery and colourful attitude, the collection’s sale will go on Kenyan fundaution that will help improve the schools and things needed there. I simply can’t get enough of this.

UFO Tribes. McQueen SS14

October 2, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

The Alexander McQueen Summer for 2014 was defintely out of this world. Sarah Burton changed her characteristic avant-garde style of past English Queen gowns with lace and pearls into alien costumes, dresses and trousers in grafic prints and strong colours. The collection was inspired with African tribes… but possibly coming from Mars. The plexi killer heels that really remind Alexander McQueen’s footwear when he was alive were so, so cosmic! The sexy bustiers mixed with feathers reminded of strong women wearing futuristic creations, and the gold helmets… And the last four looks are certainly this, what the techno Masais wear in the future. And possibly in very close future!

Furious. Rick Owens SS14

September 27, 2013 | Design & Culture by Ed

Nobody expect this from Rick Owens. And possibly, even Rick himself didn’t think this will happen. Well… I don’t know how to start. Surely, this is the most Insta buzzing show of the season. Models, no, women, who totally broke the rules of a normal model sizes, went down the runway. But these weren’t just normal women from streets (while it would be already shocking!) but Washington Divas, Soul Steppers, The Momentums, The Zetas where… stepping and doing Zulu on the catwalk. These strange names are their dance group names, and it’s based on African dance that shows lots of furious elements. And, the collection was called Furious after all…

I definitely can’t say I didn’t liked the collection. The clothes were unfortunately boring, it felt entertaining to watch these ladies dance in slim clothes… I think that Rick definitely feels bored with the world- after the SS14 menswear were Estonian band Winny Puhh played metallica in alien language, definitely biggest attention was on them and not on clothes… But, is that really so important? To just have a nice show? That will do controversy and will be present on every fashion blog? For now I am more excited about this model chose than the collection itself…

Tribal Tendation

July 4, 2013January 5, 2024 | Design & Culture by Ed

Dior Haute Couture by Raf Simons was inspired with ethnic cultures like Masai’s and Aborigines. Latest Givenchy collection for men was all about the face paintings influenced with African tribes. Fashion goes global and celebrates the beauty of various cultural heritages.