If it’s not Playboi Carti for Givenchy, then it’s Tyler the Creator for Louis Vuitton, or even Travis Scott for Dior Homme — the list could go on and on. But is there anything else you notice within these listed rapper meets brand collaborations, aside from the fact that the world’s biggest luxury fashion houses are…
“My ethos as a designer is so heavily influenced by my upbringing and the Tsonga community. They celebrate themselves through the textures and colours of their clothes and are very proud of who they are.” — Rich Mnisi for Paper Having recently concluded his residency — Nyoka — at Southern Guild, Rich Mnisi collaborates with…
Since December — after my brother and I attempted to attend an event thrown by a youth culture/street culture group in collaboration with a youth centred media organisation — I have been replaying and rehashing a certain situation in my mind. The youth/street cultural group claims to represent the youth/streets — it’s run by the…
Somewhere in Kilimani, a district located on the outskirts of Nairobi, an unsuspecting studio hides within the city’s concrete jungle. Here you’ll find Studio18, a design hub that’s blossomed into the heart of Kenyan streetwear. The creative space serves as the workshop, office and chillspot for the four fashion entrepreneurs behind the popular streetwear brands…
In kilt with Black History Month in America, the month of February ushered in the New York Fashion Week Autumn-Winter 2022 season — with a mixed batch of digital and live shows taking place all over the city. With the return of Black creative mavens such as Shayne Oliver and LaQuan Smith to the NYFW…
Mijo is a modern interpretation of the age-old story of King Midas. King Midas was a wealthy king who had everything he could possibly want. In greed, when offered to be granted one wish by Dionysus, he wishes that everything he touches turn to gold — an impending recipe for disaster. As promised, everything he…
*This essay forms part of Bubblegum’s Collaboration with Bag Factory and their visiting curator from Uganda, EM Mirembe. Aiduke is a pop-up clothing shop that opened on 4th December 2021 in Muyenga, one of the more well-off neighbourhoods in Kampala. For now it lives in an innocuous room at the entrance of Tank Hill Park, an airy wood-roofed…
In every industry, there are many contributors whose labour goes un/under recognised. It’s not until very recently that I started to notice the incredible and inspiring work that stylists contribute (Thank you Styling Hollywood). Unlike the designer — whose name is often directly linked to the garments and fashion houses — the work of the…
The vision of the brand is purely rooted in the creation of distinctive views as well as opening the eyes of the generations that come after us, hence “ShwelaBana” which translates to “Die for the kids”. This is not a direct and literal statement, but simply put, means our struggles should build stable foundations for…
The concept of the brand came about due to a lack of representation of Islamic heritage within the South African creative landscape, particularly within fashion. The manifesto of the brand serves as an ode to previous generations’ role in dismantling systems of oppression, recalibrating systems to allow for the progress of future generations. Imran Mohamed,…
It’s not difficult to tie the ethos and the stories individual brands speak to when developing their identities, nor is it difficult to gather the similarities of these local stories as we move between the brands and the cultures linked to them. It seems there is a lot more power in consciously interacting with one…
“Ultimately, I take pride in being a Black designer, and my goal is to open the door for more Black designers and people of color, women of color, so that in a year’s time or multiple years’ time, they don’t have to mention that they’re a Black designer.” Virgil Abloh, 2020. “Do Not Go Gentle…
