The Hilltop
the
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Culture
it a point to infuse their culture into their everyday outfits.
Sarai Abdul-Malik, 20, Willingboro, New Jersey, Junior, Jazz Studies major Sarai’s style: My style is completely improvisational because I dress in whatever mood I’m in. My body is definitely my canvas. You wouldn’t limit what an artist puts on a canvas so I don’t limit myself either. The importance of ethnic clothing: My mother is a storyteller so African clothing has always been in my household and wardrobe. Clothes are transformative and I want what I wear to reflect me as a person. It’s important to incorporate ethnic and cultural pieces because they help shape an accurate identity concerning me. Necessary pieces: I love jewelry! I never really take off my necklaces and bracelets since they’ve become a permanent fixture in how I reflect my Africanness in what I wear. On her transformation: My environment, social circles, how I was raised and the people I’ve been exposed to have all empowered and strengthened me and the way I dress. I find common intellectual and spiritual grounds in all of these areas.
Jenn X Nkiru, 23, Peckham, South London, UK by way of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 2nd year grad student Film program
Sawdayah Brownlee, 21, Pontiac, Michigan, Senior, African Studies major Sawdayah’s style: My style is composed of comfort and what appeals to me. I find that I am most inspired by the musicians I listen to and how Blacks dressed in the 40s through the 60s. I believe those decades were the pinnacle for how Blacks in the Western hemisphere dressed—their style was unbelievable.
On her personal style: I am both Nigerian and Black British. As an artist, my clothing reflects how I feel and my style is definitely reflective of where I’m from. In London we take a “do what you want” approach to how we dress and that’s what I love about it. We’re quite expressive when it comes to fashion and no one judges you.
Significance of cultural pieces: Fashion is a manifestation of identity whether you chose it, was born with it or revised it. Aside from my like for certain cuts, colors and patterns, I believe clothing can be representative to your ancestors and help you stay close to them—this is another reason why my culture is seen in what I wear.
On wearing ethnic pieces: I’ve always been known for my headwraps and just recently started wearing my hair out. Headwraps are definitely big in Nigerian history and it was passed down to me from the women in my family. When you incorporate ethnic pieces in your wardrobe, it means you acknowledge where you come from and it shows that you have pride within who you are. In other ways, it symbolizes paying homage to those who came before us. It is very powerful to have that attached to you on a daily basis.
Sawdayah’s must-haves: I never take my brass bangles off. In Ifa tradition, bangles represent good luck. Each one I have is adorned with Adinkra symbols that has its own meaning and is highly important to me. When I was 17, I got my nose pierced. In the Badarian culture of Egypt, nose rings were symbols of beauty. For women in the Indian Ayurvedic community, nose piercing is similar to acupuncture because it helps certain functions in the body.
Wardrobe staples: I absolutely cannot live without my hair pins and my vintage Casio watch that I wear all the time. Besides these items, I always dress with confidence and so should others. It’s necessary if you want to look and feel good.
The meaning of cultural clothing: Everyone should strive to be their own person. In terms of someone wanting to experiment or find a new style, I believe it’s very important for them to do as much research as possible. You shouldn’t wear something and not know about where it comes from or who it is made for. You should seek to embrace a certain culture, not mock it.
-compiled by Zaria Poem, contributing writer
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