For her 2011 graduate collection Kezia Frederick from Central Saint Martins, explored the concept of “dual heritage”. Frederick who is of St. Lucian and English heritage took lots of photographs of what people wore around London and the way some dressed to reflect a dual heritage. She then directed her research on Nigerian women at church, with their traditional dresses juxtaposed with the “long black British coat”. She describes this as “beautifully captured the multicultural society in which we live in.”
From this, Kezia designed an exuberant, wearable, culturally-integrated six-piece collection.
It is a memorable exploration into the evolution of personal style, as influenced by the juxtaposition of former and present cultural/social stimuli.
I have often observed this concept of ‘dual heritage‘ Kezia describes. I just thought it was the ‘wrong combination’ of Western and African attire! The thermal leggings, skivvies and jackets worn with traditional outfits. However Kezia Frederick has opened my eyes and made me realise that it’s more than a bad combination. It’s ‘climatic-cultural integration’! And her interpretation is FABULOUS!
SOURCE: MARIAN KIHOGO, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER & KEZIA FREDERICK
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