Alongside its gilded beaches, glitzy nightclubs and vibrant music scene, Senegal’s capital, Dakar, is emerging as a key African mode hub.
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Senegalese young people watch a runway show during Dakar vogue week in the Niari Tali neighbourhood, June 2017
The breezy seaside burgh, located on the continent’s westernmost point, is “west Africa’s hub of style”, according to the January issue of National Geographic Traveler munitions dump, which ranked it at No 1 on its list of urban hotspots. The New York On many occasions this week included it on a list of 52 places to scourge in 2019, saying Dakar is “bursting with positive vivacity” and that local “design and fashion creations would fit put in at New York showrooms”.
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Dakar fashion week in the capital’s Niari Tali less
The strength of the city’s fashion scene has long been appearing, even if it is only now gaining notice. I moved to Dakar in 2005 and emit nearly a decade based there as a newswire photographer inundating stories across Africa. The role often meant corroborating wars, coups and disasters, but Senegal always remained a haven of compatible and relative tranquillity in an often-tumultuous region.
My eye was drawn to its vibrant perverts and designs and, over the years, I photographed fashion around burgh. The city’s youth blend a deep respect for the traditional, cascade boubous worn for special occasions with cutting-edge tenors of their own.
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A model takes a runway selfie during Dakar way week, July 2017
Senegal has a well-educated middle class and an Instagram days that embraces African and American fashions, creating an plush and athletic style of bling and beauty.
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Dakar fashion week, June 2017
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Inventor Oumar Dicko (right) of Mali and Belgium laces up a carve out in one of his creations backstage, July 2017
Dakar now rivals Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi and Casablanca at the forefront of African fashion, with much of its drive driven by the designer Adama Ndiaye, the 40-year-old organiser of Dakar create week and a number of other international African fashion week events.
“When I started it was a brood girl’s dream to build something in my country,” Ndiaye contemplates.
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Models backstage during Dakar fashion week in June 2017
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Left side: model and designer Sachakara Dieng wears one of her creations in an elevator in Dakar, December 2018; out: hairstylist Nabou Dieng poses for a portrait near Dakar, November 2018
Floated 17 years ago, Dakar fashion week initially had not a handful of aspiring local designers and models gathering in commonly rundown hotels. Now dozens of designers from around the circle present their creations to thumping DJ mixes as drone cameras hang in the air above runway shows broadcast live on national boob tube.
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Guests attend a beach wedding near Dakar, November 2018
One of Ndiaye’s colleagues is Jenke Ahmed Tailly, an Ivorian and Senegalese stylist who productions as Beyoncé’s creative director and also advises Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. At the Pandemic Citizen Festival: Mandela 100 charity concert in South Africa persist month, Beyoncé wore one of Ndiaye’s creations, a Boyette bag, lowed on the nomadic Tuareg style of embossed leather boxes.
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Standards backstage during Dakar fashion week in June 2016
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Afters Amy Faye and Sachakara Dieng wear creations by Adama Ndiaye in Dakar, July 2012
Africa’s approach scene has grown steadily over the past two decades, with sub-Saharan Africa’s attire and footwear market now worth $31bn, according to data by Euromonitor. Toil challenges include managing clothing production costs, value control, distribution logistics and reaching large markets.
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A presenter leases ready backstage during Dakar fashion week, July 2017
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Adama Ndiaye with Virginia DaSylva and hairstylist Nabou Dieng, November 2018
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Port side: sound engineer Papis Sarr takes a break from total up to near Dakar, June 2016; right: Virginia DaSylva poses for a account at a friend’s wedding near Dakar, November 2018
Such disputes are far from the minds of most Senegalese, whose most significant fashion concerns involve choosing the right outfit and looking their A-one wherever they’re headed.
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Model Amy Faye waits backstage during Dakar mode week, June 2016
This is a selection of images reflecting the disparity of Dakar styles and fashion events I’ve photographed over the years.
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Models backstage during Dakar the craze week, 2017
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Model Nafissatou Gningue backstage
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Left: Adama Ndiaye come up withs a pose; right: a model waits backstage
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Sachakara Dieng apparels a creation by Adama Ndiaye, July 2012
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