African Fashion show at V&A in London marks museum’s push to reverse its exclusion and misrepresentation of continent’s creativity

‘Racist assumptions’ kept museum’s focus away from African creativity, curator says, and Africa Fashion exhibition is part of efforts to reverse that

Displays explore the work of African fashion designers and its ‘glamour and politics’ in the context of history, sustainability, sex and race

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Moroccan fashion designer Artsi Ifrach poses for a photograph next to his creation “A Dialogue Between Cultures” at the Victoria and Albert museum in London on June, 27, 2022. Photo: AFP

Published: 4:15pm, 30 Jun 2022

Britain’s most extensive exhibition of African fashion is set to open in London, showcasing designers past and present, as well as the continent’s diverse heritage and cultures.

“Africa Fashion”, at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum from July 2, is also the country’s first exhibition dedicated to the medium.

Project curator Elisabeth Murray said the show would provide a “glimpse into the glamour and politics of the fashion scene”.

“We wanted to celebrate the amazing African fashion scene today. So the creativity of all the designers, stylists, photographers, and looking at the inspiration behind that,” she said.

A Dress of Onder Die Invloed designed in 2018 is displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London on June, 27, 2022. Photo: AFP

Included in the exhibition are objects, sketches, photos and film from across the continent, starting from the African liberation years in the 1950s to 1980s to up-and-coming contemporary designers.