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Identity Building Through Mediation by African Tailors

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  • Sofia Vilarinho
  • Henri Christiaans

Abstract

In contemporary African cities, dressing well and wearing exclusive garments has become crucial for people in search of identity, distinction and individuality. The research presented in this article, situated at disciplinary intersections of cultural studies, fashion practices and sustainability, provides a case study of African tailors conducted in Maputo and Lisbon, with a special focus on identity building of African immigrants in Portugal. However, the role of tailors in this acculturation process has been ignored in the consumption approach to creative cities. This study is therefore also a reaction to the mainly Western world of regular couture, and to ‘creative city materials’ that focus on consumption. Instead, we emphasize the importance of African tailors who de facto shape urban experiences—visually incrementing practices—that are fundamental to the comprehension of sartorial culture, while we also allude to the complex intersections between local and global markets. In the first part of this article we describe a semi‐ethnographic study among tailors in Maputo and Lisbon. The second part presents a participatory action approach that entailed developing an educational programme for African tailors where culture and creativity meet. This programme empowered tailors to tap into their cultural knowledge on tailoring and their awareness of community identity. In our study we argue that the idea of creative cities and their creative economy should be approached from a cultural perspective, by building awareness of the importance of local creative classes instead of focusing on importing those classes.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Vilarinho & Henri Christiaans, 2020. "Identity Building Through Mediation by African Tailors," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(5), pages 841-856, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:ijurrs:v:44:y:2020:i:5:p:841-856
    DOI: 10.1111/1468-2427.12893
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andy C. Pratt, 2008. "Cultural Commodity Chains, Cultural Clusters, or Cultural Production Chains?," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(1), pages 95-103, March.
    2. Pratt, Andy C., 2008. "Cultural commodity chains, cultural clusters, or cultural production chains?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 20713, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jenny Mbaye & ANDY C. PRATT, 2020. "Cities, Creativities and Urban Creative Economies: Re‐descriptions and Make+Shifts from Sub‐Saharan Africa," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(5), pages 781-792, September.

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