FMP | Development sketches

I did some quick illustrations of my friends, towards my development. They will also be a part of the final outcome and be part of the shoot wearing dashikis also. I am not too good at drawing noses and hands so I did struggle getting these precise to how the person looks like.

 

FMP | Basic research and findings

In making a start in terms of RESEARCH for my FMP. I looked at West and Central African clothing.

To get a further insight into African fashion styles I looked at this youtube video. Mainly just focusing on the West and Central African clothing within the video shown below.

The number one spot from the video was the ‘Dashiki’ which is said to be worn all over Africa, but it originates from the Gambia.

Towards the end of the 60s when it became popular among white counterculture groups, whose adoption of the garment—based primarily on its aesthetic appeal—undermined its status as a sign of Black identity. Retailers began to import dashikis made in India, Bangladesh and Thailand in large numbers. These versions, often featured the East African-associated Kanga print, commonly worn as wrappers by women in Kenya and Tanzania.

The word “dashiki” comes from the Yoruba word ‘danshiki’, used to refer to the loose-fitting pullover which originated in West Africa as a functional work tunic for men, comfortable enough to wear in the heat.

A Black Dashiki is appropriate to wear to a funeral in Nigeria unless otherwise stated. Many West African cultures adopt this convention as well. In Ghana, Red is worn by the immediate family and Black by friends. Black is worn to mourn the death of young people. White with a touch of Black is worn when the deceased lived a long life. Black Dashikis can also be worn to celebrations, weddings, religious occasions, special events, casual events and more. Black Dashikis/Clothing are not only worn to funerals.

Purple and Gold is generally a celebratory combination of colors in many African cultures. The combination is considered regal and can be worn to weddings, special events, and more. White and Gold is another popular combination for weddings, birth ceremonies, religious events and more.There are other popular combinations — Brown and Gold, Blue and Silver and many other combinations.

All shades of colors are generally worn all year round in Africa contrary to the perception of wearing certain colors of Dashikis during particular seasons. Colors range from Gold, Black, Purple, Pink, Lime Green, Dark Green, Yellow, Blue, white, red and more. These colors are worn by Women, Men and children irrespective of the Hue.

FMP | Hassan Hajjaj

 

Born in Larache, Morocco, in 1961, Hassan Hajjaj left Morocco for London at an early age. Heavily influence by the club, hip-hop, and reggae scenes of London as well as by his North African heritage, Hajjaj is a self-taught and thoroughly versatile artist whose work includes portraiture, installation, performance, fashion, and interior design, including furniture made from recycled utilitarian objects from North Africa, such as upturned Coca-Cola crates as stools and aluminium cans turned into lamps.

Turning to photography in the late 80s, Hajjaj is a master portraitist, taking studio portraits of friends, musicians, and artists, as well as strangers from the streets of Marrakech, often wearing clothes designed by the artist. These colourful and engaging portraits combine the visual vocabulary of contemporary fashion photography and pop art, as well as the studio photography of African artist Malick Sidibe, in an intelligent commentary on the influences of tradition in the interpretations of high and low branding and the effects of global capitalism.

Extraordinary and out-of-the-box, Hassan Hajjaj’s studio’s portrait show a clash of cultures, art forms, and expressions of creativity.

FMP | African fashion

African fashion has always been a big part of iconic fashion.

Here are a few fashion brands that have used African print, which are also my favourite throughout researching for these fashion clothing lines.

MAISON CHATEAU ROUGE

The co-founder of the brand of MAISON CHATEAU ROUGE (Youssouf Fofana) has said that in making this clothing line it is an “opportunity to share his culture and his relationship with Africa”. Which is translated through fashion.

ÒKUN Beachwear

Òkun is a celebration of inspiration and design, quality, creativity and heritage, traversing the entire continent for the world beyond.

 

DE LA SÉBURE

JEKKAH

JEKKAH is the ethical brand born in The Gambia, based in London. Designing and producing African Inspired Streetwear in The Gambia.

FMP | Introduction

A slight change in my dissertation lead to me changing my initial FMP proposal.

My FMP represents ‘how African clothing influences Known brands’, particularly looking at how people in today’s society wear their traditional dress and bring African print to modern clothing E.g prints on hoodies, bags etc.

I am very passionate about culture and love learning about cultures and traditions of others. Throughout this brief I will be looking at West and Central Africa in particular.

I will be developing a final outcome by using illustration, colour and photography. In doing this I hope to show the importance of being proud and representing ones cultural clothing. Also showing how African clothing has influenced our clothing industry, whether it be brands such as Nike and Adidas to Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.