Africa Fashion at NGV International

A celebration of the most influential African designers since the mid-20th century comes to the National Gallery of Victoria, all the way from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.

The exhibition showcases almost 200 works from more than 20 countries and regions, and spans couture, bespoke and ready-to-wear fashion and body adornments, mostly from the V&A’s collection. There will also be pieces from the NGV Collection and the personal archives of the designers themselves. These works – as well as textiles, film, music and photography – reveal a dynamic fashion culture that’s as diverse as the African continent itself.

The exhibition is split into two parts. The first explores the impact of fashion in the cultural renaissance of the 1950s and ’60s, during the African independence movement and the liberation years. It features iconic 20th-century designers such as Shade Thomas-Fahm, Chris Seydou and Kofi Ansah.

The second part focuses on a new generation of pioneering designers, collectives, stylists and fashion photographers, including IAMISIGO, Moshions and Thebe Magugu. There will also be exclusive new works from Imane Ayissi and Lagos Space Programme, as well as personal insights, sketches, editorial spreads and catwalk footage from participating artists and designers.

There’s also a dedicated look at photographic portraiture and a section exploring how the digital world has accelerated the expansion of Africa’s fashion industry.

As part of the exhibition, the NGV invitied members of Australia’s African diaspora to submit personal photographs from the independence and liberation period. A selection of the images are on display in the landmark show.

Africa Fashion is showing at NGV International from May 31 to October 6, 2024. Tickets are available now.

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