My research delves into the politics of identity and deeper truths of racism in Britain today. I explore my identity being Black and British. The collection is a representation of how I’ve embraced the UK through music, football, and streetwear. It embodies elements of Traditional Zanzibar dress to represent my dual identity.
My grandad owned a second hand clothes shop in Tanzania during the late 70s -80s. Clothes from the US and the UK would make their way to Tanzania to be sold. The youth would wear western clothes and the elders would merge western clothes with their traditional dress, even today second hand garments dominate the Tanzanian clothes market. I upcycle football shirts and marge traditional silhouettes with western silhouettes.
INSPIRATION
My experience with racism has often been covert, I used to question my racial encounters because of this. I use football as symbolism to represent racism within my collection because racism within football culture is very apparent even today. Black football players face regular overt racial abuse from football crowds and on social media, which brings to light how embedded racism is within British society when it is given a platform.
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DETAIL
Beaded shin pads & patchwork shorts