Black, British and Fashionable: The 2006 Mayor of London's Kulture To Couture Show
Fashion. Clothing. Style. What we wear and how we wear it are important signifiers and expressions of our identity, character, culture, heritage, beliefs, community, individuality and sense of time or place. More than any other creative sector, the fashion industry has always looked to the past to inform the present and forge the future.
In the past, designers such as Dolce and Gabbana, Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier have all drawn inspiration from Africa and the Caribbean to influence their collections.
In Europe, the Paris Fashion Week has been leading the way with African-inspired designs, prints, accessories and detailing leaving an indelible imprint on the season.
Although these illustrate recent design trend developments in the industry, the significant contribution being made by African and Caribbean culture, communities and designers is not new. A recent exhibition at the Victorian and Albert Museum, ‘Black British Style’, provided an overview of how black communities have reshaped the visual landscape of Britain over the last 50 years.
As the newest addition to London’s dynamic fashion industry calendar, KULTURE2COUTURE is a unique and high profile platform for acknowledging, showcasing and promoting black British designers as the originators and innovators of culturally significant and stylish trends.
With thanks to Index Photo and Greater London Authority
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