How The V&A's "Africa Fashion" Exhibition Honors the Global Influence of African Creativity

AFRICA FASHION AT THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON, 2 JULY 2022 – 16 APRIL 2023

The Africa Fashion exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, which debuted this month (2 July–16 April 2023), is a historic milestone celebrating 45 designers from more than 20 African countries. The historic exhibition, which is to date the largest in the UK of African fashion, honors the influence of modern African fashion on the entire world. It is as dynamic and diverse as the continent itself, celebrating vibrancy and creativity.

Fabrice Malard Courtesy of Imane Ayissi.

The show includes more than 250 pieces, of which about 50 are selected from the museum's own collection, including 70 recent additions. Shade Thomas-Fahm, Chris Seydou, Kofi Ansah, and Alphadi, four renowned African designers from the middle of the 20th century, are among those with a large number of their garments on display. This happens to be the first time their work will be displayed in a London museum. The exhibition also honors important modern-day African fashion designers such as; Imane Ayissi, IAMISIGO, Moshions, Thebe Magugu, and Sindiso Khumalo.