From the editorial: The ZMJ 9.2 issue—edited by Wessie Ling, Mariella Lorusso, and Simona Segre Reinach, is devoted to the analysis of different aspects of fashion globalization in our time. Globalization presents ambiguities and contradictions, especially evident when it comes to fashion, an area in which the interplay between global and local is particularly intense. The issue includes nine contributions …

“Lesotho Rodeo” is a visual story about modern African cowboys introducing Chulaap’s Spring Summer 2020. Chulaap debuted in 2015 with prints inspired by South African street styles and patterns. The brand has since consolidated its message of elevating local cultures through a daring use of colour and forms. Founder Chu Suwannapha, who designs the brand’s signature joyful prints, describes the …

The Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) has named the six African designers that will participate in its acceleration programme. EFI is a programme of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation, and a partner of EuropeAid providing artisans from the South access to the international fashion market. EFI promotes fair labour conditions …

Altreafriche is an online community that gathers vetted news to expand the knowledge and depth of focus on Africa for Italian readers. I met virtually with the founder, Andrea Marozzi, to discuss a collaboration and we decided to kick it off doing a short interview. In our exchange, I introduce the blog and talk about my future projects and what …

Last week dr. Erica de Greef, fashion scholar, curator, and co-founder of the African Fashion Research Institute with Lesiba Mabitsela, delivered a keynote speech on sustainability and decoloniality at The Future of Fashion. The symposium, organised by Rewoven South Africa and held in Johannesburg, aimed at facilitating the development of the national sustainable fashion industry and included another keynote by …

Saturday 16 November I attended “L’Etica Indosso”, an event on fair fashion organised by CEFA Onlus in collaboration with the Municipality of Bologna. CEFA – Il seme della solidarietà is a human rights NGO that works to alleviate poverty in African rural areas through sustainable agriculture projects and other activities that create opportunities of work and entrepreneurship across the continent. …

arteBOTANICA launched early this month in Johannesburg to send a message of social responsibility in the setting of the Cradle of Humankind, at Nirox Sculpture Park. Creative director Manthe Ribane, of Dear Ribane collective, chose ethical fashion as the inaugural theme of this annual event that promises to “reveal the exuberant aesthetics and joie de vivre of contemporary Africa”. Ribane lined up some …

On 5 October I was at MACRO Asilo, Museum of Contemporary Art, Rome, for “B&W – Black & White: The Migrant Trend”. This four-week intercultural laboratory (sponsored by Progetto Agata Smeralda Onlus, technical sponsor Puntoseta) was directed by Caterina Pecchioli (Nation25) in collaboration with A.I. Artisanal Intelligence and FUM Studio. B&W is a collaborative project that promotes a “migrant trend” …

In an old post I anticipated that I would take part in a conversation on African fashion at Centro Internazionale di Quartiere (C.I.Q.) in Milan, where, on 29 September, I attended the art + fashion performance “DEI”, organized by Antonella Rizzo of HubWax and the Ecole de Couture AEFIJ, Guediawaye-Dakar. Antonella is an independent researcher/school counselor/artist. Above all, she is …

Vusie Shabalala (@vusieshabba), the Soweto-based stylist whom I wrote about in July, has just released the first part of a new visual project entitled “Skin color matters” on Instagram. Vusie anticipated it to me in August and I’m happy to share a sneak peek on Afrosartorialism. Racism and colorism are a topic that the 25-year old stylist feels strongly about. …