Mint Museum’s newest exhibition “African-Print Fashion Now! A Story of Taste, Globalization, and Style” tells the story of how African print and design reached international influence and the cyclical nature of fashion. It features an interactive design studio — created by the Mint’s learning and engagement team — that allows visitors to create their own version of the bold prints and go on a scavenger hunt through the exhibition.
It’s all in the details for these innovative patterns, which are encoded with images and messages. African designers often incorporate messages and symbolism in their works as direct responses to key historical events. Annie Carlano — Mint Museum’s Senior Curator of Craft, Design and Fashion — describes the curated pieces as having “variety in the vocabulary of the print” and helps explore the meaning of global fashion in the 21st century. The exhibition is organized into four sections: “It All Starts with Cloth,” “Portraits in Print,” “Regional Styles, Fashion Preferences,” and “New Directions.”
The public opening on Oct. 7 will include a light reception accompanied by a drumming performance. Two of the highlighted designers, Titi Ademola and Alexis Temomanin, will participate in a public talk from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Ademola, a Ghanian/Nigerian designer, is founder of the KIKI label, while Temomanin is the British-Ivorian founder of menswear brand Dent de Man.
The Mint is one of three venues to host the traveling exhibition organized by the Fowler Museum at UCLA. It will remain at the Mint’s Randolph location through April 28, 2019. For more details, visit mintmuseum.org.
Nakisha Washington is a style contributor who mixes prints and professionals. She’s a millennial development coach, content creator and lover of all things stylish!
