In the last decade, there have been an emergent of fashion designers who aren’t just queer but have aligned their fashion vision with their identity, creating demystifying collections and criss-crossing their concepts and ideologies to represent the inscape of non-conformity, fluidity, queerness and androgyny, these designers never forget to tell stories that align with them, especially those that resonate with queer people in queer unfriendly countries. South African designer Rich Mnisi is part of a new wave of designers putting African stories on the global map. Emerie Udiahgebi’s fashion concept is extremely bold, fierce, and unconventional. Founded in 2018, Lagos Space Programme is a gender-neutral fashion brand that enveloped aesthetic designs using local craftsmanship. Founded in 2016, Muyishime is a Kenyan fashion label that introduces conversations surrounding androgynous and explores aesthetically fabric inventions that commands fluidity, feminine wiles and constructive elegance. Bola Taofeek Yahaya’s fashion label aligns thought provoking pieces that elevate the discusses around queer representation, sexuality, and femininity. Founded by South African designer Nao Serati Mofammere in 2014, the fashion brand Nao Serati explores the versatility of gender and the fine margin of sexuality. Lolu Vangei has different recipes to gender fluidity, and she has used fashion to express that. Founded in 2020, Mayetobs’ eccentric approach in reinstating androgynous norms is interesting.
SOURCE: OKAYAFRICA