Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-21
: Why African!
Fashions Battle
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American
with accepted styles particularly by the feminine
population. And they how freak styles at times have
vogue, recalling with bit Of embarrassment perhapsr
the suit" which draped the frames country
male rug-cuters through the last year
But with knowledge they're stumped by the
African fashions in clothing ornament they've
the theater They have found that
the average African native likes innovations well
Americans do, and when new bit or the White mans
apparel is introduced. he adopts readily but
which astolnds the visiting soldiers and sailors from
the Western Hemisphere.
Time was when the African natives used different
coored cays 10 emhroder fantastic symbols 4PeIl their
and called being dressed up But those days
gone Too many Of the natives, from isolated
inland points have seen the movies and now clothes
demand.
Recent allied military travellers in the Belgian Congo
reported chieftains wearing
for gloves The chiefs complained that the socks nterfeed
with the of movements Of their fingers and admitted
that they knew the white wore the socks the feet
But 10 them and TO their people the sock gloves provided
added sign of authortyso the chiefs wore them
way-and kept fumblng
Natives Congo also partial those od-fash-
toned shirt-seeve garters, the demand for which has
slipped peceptibly America The aborgincs these
carriers only their bare and thighs but also
around their heads and nccks, half-choiung q
penalty for this particular vanity
Many outmoded garments go into Africa for there q
big market dressing gowns thu
elaborate the better frenzied demand chiefs
with large and small authority And gay and giddy
window Grapes have been utilized robes for ceremonial
occasions
One chief reported caused a Juror among the
400" of his tribe by appearing union-su made
probably ii took bit OF patriotic forude TO
under the hot African
her book -Four Years Paradise" Mrs
Osa Johnson wife partner the famous explorer
photographer Martin Johnson, told the peculiar
sights she personally observed in East Central British
Africa
Most of the women Of the Kenya districts RendiIle
tribe, whom Mrs. Johnson met their hair fan
shaped coiffures long. rcdmud plastered brads
embeshed with oil that ured every fly miles
around. Such fashions, Of course, centuries old
The African males in general enthusiastic
American about the dodads with which 20 orna'
ment their persons But they're not so particular about
garments that them up lon cloth is sufficient
for ordinary wear-but it can be as gay Balnese
sports blouse.
These chieftans however go in for considerably more
clothes gmmicks and bit of hpstick and rouge
times In British East Africa robe made from the soft
common And similar garments made Of COW skins for
certain chieftains.
But they are home-g grown stuff do carry the
distinction that comes with imported articles One en-
sembe that knocked their eyes out to speak this
sandals golf and fffront,
white shirt with winged collar but neckc trans
parent raifrcoat bright sunny weather topped Off
the costume
eadgear probably is the most important to an African
native of rank discarded American British top hat,
opera hat lends grandeur that easily recognized
Paper party caps also get heavy play And tribe Of
kenya has adopted heavy WOODEN caps Of the type used
Arctic exploration, worn with ear-muffs and chin flaps
regardless Afrcas These lend distinction 10 the
tribesmen generate temperature that isn't frigd
But these times-probably because of the military
frenzy which has swept most of the wordcastoff uni
tops in African modes The New Orleans Mard
Gras and the Philadelphia Mummers', Parade show
costumes which baffle description But they're
nothing to some concocted by proud Africans who
intent upon mpressng the world with their Importance.
The epauetted Of a New York hotel doorman
plug hat; fancy britches and Russian boots
probably would create a riot among them.
Probably piece Of apparel in all Africa
is the simple blanket draped or less toga fashion
about the body course for those prosac people
who care little missing tabeclOh. especially
patterned bright hues generally be traced 20
the body native who has taken fancy 10 it.