What people wore to the opening of NGV’s ‘Africa Fashion’ exhibition

An explosive diversity of fashion, much like you can expect from the exhibition itself.

By this point, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has firmly cemented its status as host of some of the world’s best fashion exhibitions. It’s housed retrospectives on the work (and impact) of designers like Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, Viktor & Rolf and Alexander McQueen, imported archival works from the likes of Schiaparelli for its Triennial series,  and in a personal favourite showcase, brought together designs from dozens of local names for its 200 years of Australian Fashion showcase.

For more fashion news, shoots, articles and features, head to our Fashion section.

Yesterday saw the launch of Africa Fashion, a dynamic and comprehensive exhibition marking the largest curation of fashion from across the African continent ever mounted in Australia. It features nearly 200 works from 45 designers in over 20 African countries, celebrating the diversity and creativity of African creative talent.

Curated by Christine Checinska from London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, who took a collaborative approach to its creation, it promises to wow.

“We saw the fashion creatives included in the exhibition as part of our extended team,” she tells Fashion Journal. “[We’re] telling a story of agency, abundance, and unbounded creativity from multiple and varied African perspectives.”

Through dozens of conversations with the creatives involved, the exhibition began to take shape. The contemporary cutting-edge section, for example, is divided into five themes – Minimalist, Mixologist, Artisanal, Co-Creation, Adornment and Afrotopia.

The exhibition itself is set across two historical periods – the Cultural Renaissance period in the mid 20th Century and today – and includes fashion outfits, still photography, film, music, objects such as albums, novels and protest posters. Together, they visually map the independence and liberation decades that were foundational to the cultural renaissance.

“The variety of artworks will be eye-opening. The stories of the vanguard designers who made their names at a local and global level during the 20th Century may well surprise some visitors,” explains Christine. “[For example,] designers like Sade Thomas-Fahm who studied at Saint Martins art school in London before returning to Lagos, Nigeria to set of the first contemporary fashion boutique there.” 

The exhibition’s opening night event delivered an explosive diversity of fashion, much like you can expect from Africa Fashion itself.

Sabina McKenna and Hannah

“I was dressed by Perple, a Melbourne-based designer, and am wearing the dress with a diamond-studded bomber.” – Sabina

“Today my outfit is a full African outfit, I got it from the Astral African Market. The dress is from Asanse and I have a ring that was custom-made from my friend who does African beading, Miju Jewellery.  It was made with Batik dye, it’s all handmade and yeah, it’s a bit traditional.” – Hannah

@art_workr @hcemeagi

Bernad Ngendakumana

“Today, I’m actually wearing all thrifted pieces. I’m a big advocate for sustainable fashion. So I went for a very layered, monochromatic look. I decided to wear all black and played around with layering because the weather is very unpredictable in Melbourne… and there’s a bit of draping to allow for flow.”

@bernad_ngendakumana

Ange Yu and Emma Boseley

“I’m wearing Acne Studios boots and a Frankie Shop suit. My inspo was maybe a bit of Gomez Addams.” – Ange

“So I’m wearing Marc Jacobs heels, a vintage leather jacket, vintage suede shorts, Gentle Monster sunglasse. My inspiration was St. Vincent, her new album and her look, so that’s kind of the vibe I’m going for.” – Emma

@aplusyu @emmaboseley

Malaan Ajang

“I am wearing a Rep Kulture dress, they’re a beautiful, young African design from Perth and they were lovely enough to send me this. I’m also wearing very beautiful beads from my culture… distinctive to South Sudanese culture. I also have paired it with my Pandora jewellery. My bag is from my friend’s closet, my shoes are from Novo Shoes. I am so excited to go inside and have the best time because I love my country, I love my continent and I just want the world to celebrate African culture.”

@malaan_ajang

Nixi Killick

“I’m wearing all my own stuff from my brand, Nixi Killick. It’s all my new collection Soul Sentinels that closed the Melbourne Fashion Festival. It’s about positive transformation and change, and it pictures all sorts of colourful bugs.”

@nixikillick