African Dress In Honor Of Your Existence
African Dress is clothing created by the African people who honor through celebration and grief. Ceremonies is the back bone of African traditions and the people live their lives by them. Ceremonies have interactions with dance, chanting, story telling and a number of other activities to bond the people. They are honoring their history and a future that holds promise in harmony.
In the beginning stages of their experiments with clothing the African looked to the natural resources of their land. Nothing was left to be wasted as wasted was frowned upon. The food they ate also set to stage for what types of clothing would be worn. Everything they had access to enabled them to live, and was seen as a gift from their creator. As a result of this they found multiple purposes for the items they used; and they used it until there was nothing left of it.
Natural fibers like bark and plants became their new source of material that provided their coverage. The materials were stiff and needed to be softened in order to make them pliable. This was their first introduction to cloth like material and it proved to be the very thing they needed. The fur they wore posed to be a problem with lice and it was growing out of control and creating health issues.
Ceremonies are a time to connect with the spirit of life and ancestors through offerings. Some of those offerings are things like dance, chanting and storytelling. In short the offering is the unity of a people sharing life – the same breathe. Other reasons to celebrate are weddings, new births and rights of passage; symbolizing the closing of one chapter and a beginning of another.
The leader of a tribe is expected to present a position of authority and wealth. While custom suits are appropriate costumes for some; the appropriate appeal within an African tribes is a massive headdress adorned with feathers and shells or a crown. The rest of the attire would be vibrant and shocking. A spear and a shield are like pieces of jewelry used to solidify the attire.
The life experience held within everyday was incomplete and improper without the presence of jewelry. Jewelry represented your appreciation for the creator and the life in your lungs. It also represents your religious commitment and or the prophecies of the spiritual realm.
African infused clothing is a world wide phenomenon that can be found in a variety of places within the world. Its universal appeal has made its way into main stream society and can be experienced in the design concepts of the most famous designers. Run way models appear to be happy to embrace the vibrancy of its signature appeal. Pop culture, traditional and a number of other fashion genres welcome the worldly appeal offered by the efforts of the African culture.
African Dress was created out of the passion a people felt toward the efforts and achievements of others. It is primarily used to nourish the self esteem held in the balance of every life experience. In celebration of achievement and the grieving that comes along with joy and disappointment. Every day holds an element of success – and it begins with the air you breathe.
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