African Prints, Jumpsuits And Funk Describe Xuly Bët’s SS21 Paris Fashion Week Show

Malian – Senegalese fashion designer Lamine Badian Kouyaté produced a collection through his brand Xuly Bët that demonstrated resilience and positivity, something that the world and fashion needs at the moment. A collection with African prints but one of multicultural dynamism, and diversity for the Paris week slate of shows is needed more in the City of Lights.

Held at Paris’ l’Aiguillage, an old SNCF train station that has been reconverted into artist residencies and photo studios, held more symbolism than one would imagine. More on that in a moment.

Menswear and womenswear looks ranged from lively African prints on dresses to pants suits. Printed messages across pants can be seen, to gold metallic jumpsuits, to even auto-mechanic inspired blue collared shirts and work jumpsuits.

Casual blazers and pants fill the collection, and shorter hem lines can be found for women’s eveningwear.

It was Xuly Bët’s family and friends that modeled the 44 looks from rapper Kalash, former Miss France Flora Coquere, Brazilian singer Flavia Coelho and comedian Ayoub Layoussifi. The music was handled by Honey Dijon, Neneh Cherry and Robyn.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGA1mW_AuDt/?utm_source=ig_embed

And the location’s name “aiguilles,” meaning ‘guided’ fits perfectly as 2020 is a year that is guiding humanity into hope amid confusion.

Opening the show with the words of writer and social activist Michaela Angela Davis, Kouyaté and Rodrigo Martinez, the brand’s CEO wanted to honor Davis, as a sort of representation of the times the world is now in. “2020 is not a more difficult year than the others,” writes Davis.

“Times are not harder. It’s just that today, and finally, we open our eyes to society’s dysfunctions, the poverty that always existed, the racial crimes that surround us without ever being mentioned, this colonization that we are paying the price of today. Nevertheless, I remain an eternal optimist. Everything will change.”

Written by Allyson Portee

Content courtesy of Forbes Magazine & Nairobi fashion hub