Black Femininity

I created a collection based on exploring both the strength and femininity of black women. The media often portray black women in a negative light, derived from racial stereotypes and preconceived ideas about the role of black women in society. They are often categorised as the ‘Angry Black Women’, seen as masculine or hyper-sexualised. I believe that this is not an accurate portrayal of black women and they should be able to express their different traits and characteristics without being generalised. ​ The aim my collection is to change the narrative on how black women are shown in society. My design process utilises a variety of floral cut outs as key motifs representing the feminine beauty of black women. I have explored gender stereotypical male and female silhouettes in the collection to demonstrate a more masculine powerful representation of black women. I have also incorporated painted portraits of black women, self-portraits and my friends into the design work.