Black Panther’s success inspired the designer to blaze on.
Fresh off the success of Black Panther, costume designer Ruth E. Carter is looking forward to new opportunities especially after winning recent awards and even an Academy Award nomination. Success has come to her after years of hard work and sweat. She hopes many young people will feel inspired by her story to enter the field and be proud of their ethnic identity.
When the film released almost a year back it created a big buzz with youngsters flocking to costume and jewellery stores for the latest African inspired fashions. It seems that the latest fashion trend is here to stay. Even though the initial euphoria has abated, there is still considerable interest in Hollywood inspired trends.
Tanisha Ford, who teaches African studies to university students, explains that such interest predates Black Panther and has been pretty active on social media. She also feels that this is an apt time for this trend, especially given the issues of violence and discrimination that the Black community has been facing in recent years. This trend is basically a reminder of African glory.
Bia Marantha is a trendy clothing store in California. The owner Briget Anyaji observes that people have acquired a greater interest in African clothing after the success of Black Panther. There was interest in African fashion motifs and designs before the movie but not to the same level as it is now. People now seem to have developed an aesthetic for African garments and jewellery the way it has been shown in the movie.
Young African Americans seem to have embraced their African roots and identity with great zeal, and their eyes have opened to the beauty of African culture. As wearing Wakanda - A year after 'Black Panther', fashionistas still rocking African attire - has become a matter of personal and collective pride for the community. All of this has become possible with the success of Black Panther.
Of course, Ruth Carter has had a big contribution to the success of the costumes.
Ruth's inspiration behind the costume was a remaining of the African world as virgin territory, one that has never been touched by European influence. Wakanda was the world that the characters inhabited and the costumes epitomized a cultural expression that might have been. It was also important for her to keep it believable and real.
Appreciation has come from other quarters too. Reuben Reuel, an ace designer, appreciates the coming of age of African fashion. Reuel, who is no stranger to popularizing ethnic fashion is the brains behind the kimono becoming a fashion rage not too many years ago.
Angela Bassett, who acted in Black Panther, says that the movie has helped African Americans to connect to their history while appreciating their present.
The popularity of African prints is also testified by Ana Tomer, a popular designer of plus size garments. She also agrees that customers are steadily increasing purchases of these designs. What’s more, the trend has slowly become part of high-end fashion since the release of the film.
According to Aggie Ngria, the popularity of African fashion coincided with the popularity of the film and Black History Month. It has been a means to demonstrate unity. It is practically a rebirth of the community and a revisioning of their culture as a unified entity. According to her, this is a sign of interest in African culture beyond a single movie or fashion trend. It is her dream to see the interest in African culture to become more popular.
The interest in African fashion has also been seen in accessories and grooming. A range of African hairstyles has been in demand mainly because of the popularity of the film.
It is not just the aesthetic appeal of the looks that have been a major draw for the audiences. More than that it is the fact that the viewers have been able to relate to the characters and storyline and find them as a source of inspiration. It is this strong association with the characters which has driven people to recreate the looks shown on the screen be it through clothes, accessories and hairstyles.
Not only is this trend a reflection of Black identity, but is part of a wider change in outlook that emphasizes the natural look. The audience has been exposed to such ideas over the past few decades and is now showing that it truly embraces the natural look instead of seeking to conceal it to fit in. It has dawned on the audiences that being unique and authentic is the way forward.
There are signs that the African trend will last as more films on similar themes are released and experience success. Let us wait and watch the direction in which this new trend takes us.
More info: ru-cet.com
Wearing Wakanda: A year after 'Black Panther', fashionistas still rocking African attire
