9 - Dressing Zambian

Summary

Embedded in histories of regional and international trade, colonialism and globalisation, fashion in Africa today is diverse and multidirectional, responding to and interacting with transglobal inspirations. But local design initiatives operate largely from within the continent’s informal economies with little professional and technical training and financial support. Highlighting knotty questions about the construction of ‘African’ in dress and fashion practice, including issues about cultural appropriation and authenticity, focus turns on the local meaning of the types of dress practices showcased in this book, especially chitenge fashions, and the changing place of African print fabric in fashion design and everyday dress practice in Zambia. Because the popular media frequently confuse types of printed textiles when describing African fabrics, brief overview distinctions are presented between types of printed textiles. The final discussion concerns the interaction between small-scale tailoring and the emerging fashion and design scene in Lusaka, raising questions about their future.