For the Best Festival Fashion, Look No Further Than AFROPUNK
The AFROPUNK Fest held in Brooklyn last weekend was a joyful, stunning and politically charged celebration of black beauty, fashion, music and heritage. An official statement from the festival's website claims "AFROPUNK is defining culture by the collective creative actions of the individual and the group. It is a safe place, a blank space to freak out in, to construct a new reality, to live your life as you see fit, while making sense of the world around you."
All above images via NBCNews
A desire to express and pay homage to the diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds of those in attendance was on full display, from kaleidoscopic Kenté cloth tunics, to elaborate body art, looks no doubt inspired by the Lemonade visual album, and natural hair peppered with flower crowns, daisy chains and more.
An article on Teen Vogue notes the meteoric rise of the festival in just twelve short years, and its corresponding social and political relevance over time; "[AFROPUNK] started as a gathering for black people with a love for punk music, and it still remains a safe space where we can sing, dance, revel in our heritage, and celebrate our culture." This years' festival fashions felt particularly on par with the current political and racial climate, showcasing T-shirts with slogans such as "F--- Alt Right" and Colin Kaepernick jerseys.
All above gallery images via Man Repeller
The festival has grown to encompass much more than an initial celebration of alternative black music, becoming an important collective representation of black culture, empowerment and defiance, as well as the social and political movements concert-goers care most about. In an interview with NBCNews, one attendee explains "we're literally wearing our movements on our chest." From the magnificent array of artistic and sartorial statements made both on and off the stage, it's safe to say the festival and those in attendance have fully embodied this mission.
All above gallery images via GQ
Feature image via Man Repeller
