Lashun Costor

Intro to Fashion Studies

Anya Kurennaya

April 18, 2017

Burkina Faso Fabric Prints 

To me, this museum visit was very eye opening. As a black designer myself, I found it uplifting to see the work of accomplished designers. Since cultural appropriation is the norm in high fashion. It was refreshing to see designs Inspired by designers own heritage. One designer work that caught my eye was Stella Jean. Her stood out to me more because I love African prints and it reminded me of a dress Rihanna wore a couple of years back. The colors and patterns are bold with a modern twist on African culture traditional wear. By adding the man’s collar and long sleeves gives it enough edge for high fashion. Her work is well known and has been worn by not only people of color but a scope of different nationalities. Jean seeks inspiration from her cultural identity and uses sustainably sourced fabrics to ensure that she is giving back to her homeland. In last week readings Gone Global: Fashion as Art? Suzy Menkes stated “The explosion of museum exhibitions is only a mirror image of what has happened to fashion itself” I agree with her views because over the years fashion is opening up to change meaning the stigma of being labeled the black fashion designer might change. The ultimate goal of this exhibition is to help normalize the work of black fashion designers. They should not be a label black designer but just designers because at the end of the day they are just fashion designers. Hopefully, this exhibition is a step in the right direction.  

 

Menkes Suzy. “Gone Global: Fashion as Art?” The New York Times. July 04, 2011. Accessed April 18, 2017. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/fashion/is-fashion-really-museum-art.html.