Matthew Williamson’s 2008 Spring Summer Collection was clearly influenced by Africa. The main print blue wax block print seen in the images below is a modernised version of an old-school print my Mum bought over 20 years ago. Some of the designs from this collection upset the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office because they considered the designs to be replicas of their traditional dress (in particular 5th image below). The Ethiopian government even launched an investigation into how to protect their national costume. Williamson came out with a statement saying that his work collection was based on the modern girl global traveller who’s style incorporated many cultures and traditions. And this collection was inspired by the idea of modernizing and celebrating certain traditional African fabrics.
Below, Australian model Miranda Kerr is wearing a modified version of third image. I remember seeing Miranda in this outfit for the first time in 2008 in a magazine. My mouth dropped because number one, it was African and number two, I had never seen her in anything as daring. All the clothes I had seen her in, seemed to be safe in some way.
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