*Africa Fashion* traced the history of African fashion from the mid-twentieth century to the present—from the wave of independence movements across the continent beginning in the 1950s through to contemporary designers working today. More than 300 objects: garments, textiles, jewelry, photography, film, music, books, and magazines, drawn from the Museum's collection and beyond. The exhibition opened with a timeline of African independence movements and the flags of all 54 nations, establishing the political context before moving into the work itself. Galleries moved through decades and themes—early post-independence designers reclaiming local textiles and traditions, studio photography and the performance of identity, Pan-African cultural movements, and a large final room of contemporary haute couture and ready-to-wear. The North American debut of an exhibition that originated at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and the largest presentation of the subject ever mounted in North America.
Year: 2023
Clients: Brooklyn Museum
Category: Exhibition