African Lace: A history of trade, creativity and fashion in Nigeria

Brightly coloured industrially embroidered textiles characterize Nigerian formal attire since the 1960ies.The embroidered fabrics are a transnational creation resulting from nearly fifty years of Austro-Nigerian business relations and the concomitant cultural interaction. Known in Nigeria as Swiss, Austrian or African Lace the embroideries are produced today in Austria, Switzerland, Korea, China and as well in Nigeria. African Lace reconstructs the production and trade history of the industrial embroideries and explores their cultural and social significance in Nigeria. The catalogue also gives an overview over the development of clothing traditions in southwest Nigeria, a style chronology of the Nigerian lace fashion since the seventies and offers insight into the lively society life and vibrant fashion scene in Lagos. The story also touches sociopolitical issues related to the postcolonial history of Nigeria. The attire fashioned out of the expensive imported embroideries was an expression of the prosperity during the oil boom. Criticism on their popularity since the 1970ies became an outlet for the reconsideration of national cultural values that were expected to manifest themselves also in fabrics and dress styles. In spite of the ambivalent attitude in regard to the imported luxury fabrics they remained extremely popular and the cloths fashioned out of them are meanwhile considered as "traditional dress", worn particularly on festive occasions such as naming ceremonies, weddings or funerals. At public appearances of politicians or other persons of prominence at home and abroad the embroidery textiles are omnipresent and define the image of Nigerians worldwide. AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND GERMAN german edition 978-94-6161-001-0 Official catalogue of the exhibition in the Museum für Völkerkunde, Vienna in cooperation with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria Exhibition: 22 October 2010 - 14 February 2011