Let me first start off by saying Happy Black History Month! ✊🏾 I’m not sure about anyone else but I have ALWAYS loved and adored African fashion. I have always loved how one-of-a-kind it has been. I will always learn and then educate when I have the opportunity, so I want to discuss African fashion origins and African-American fashion, as well.
I love African fashion due to its vibrant colors and lavishness. After researching, I found that the bright colors (and colorful clothes in general) represented wealth. This was around 1,000 B.C. during the trans-Saharan trade when traders used strip cloth as currency. Traders preferred African clothing because it was a great quality and the colors represented wealth, knowledge, and social hierarchy.
Various colors mean different things, for instance:
- white= joyous occasions
- gold= status and serenity
- yellow= fertility and vitality
- green= renewal and growth
- blue= presence of God, pure spirit
- red= passion (of political determination, struggle, and defense)
- black= seriousness and spiritual awareness
Just as certain clothing brands and materials/fabrics represent wealth and we wear particular clothing for certain events, so do Africans. They wear certain clothing/material for different ceremonial purposes, such as burials, marriage gifts, gifts for visitors, funerals, religious ceremonies, etc. This information made me feel proud in a sense. For our ancestors, clothing was very important. From African culture to the Harlem Renaissance to Black Wall Street to the Civil Rights Movement to the Black Panther Party to inaugurations. From past to present, our fashion has spoken for us. While they do not fully represent who we are, it is a representation. Not all people choose to wear clothing that screams wealth but quite honestly, I love a humble brag. I learned so much researching the history of African fashion and look forward to adding more African prints and styles to my wardrobe. I love how we have always been trendsetters and hope to visit Africa one day and buy authentic African attire.
Until next time,
Happy Black History Month (Year) ✊🏾,
The Chic Chemist