Fashion in Africa is often reduced to stereotypes, such as wax prints and beaded necklaces. It’s also rarely separated by nation. Instead, the continent’s 54 vastly different countries get clumped into one “African fashion.” But in South Africa, there’s a new wave of designers challenging these preconceptions and finding their place in the global fashion industry, with their own e-commerce sites and online retailers such as 24S and Koibird allowing them a wider distribution than local sales. “The digital age and social media have put the power back in the hands of the makers,” says Johannesburg-based designer Tiaan Nagel,...

Source: Wall Street Journal September 03, 2020 12:33 UTC