About Us

Culture on the Runway is a student-led storytelling project that examines the evolution, impact, and cultural significance of Afrocentric fashion. Born from a research initiative exploring how African aesthetics have traveled from heritage to global runways, we're documenting the stories behind the garments—the artisans, the markets, the designers, and the communities that keep these traditions alive and evolving. This isn't just fashion criticism or trend forecasting. It's an investigation into identity, appropriation, resistance, and reinvention. Through photo essays, documentary film, data visualization, and long-form articles, we're creating a multimedia archive that asks difficult questions: Who gets to tell these stories? When does inspiration become exploitation? How do we honor tradition while embracing innovation?

We are a collective of six student creatives: photographers, editors, writers, web developers, and filmmakers—based in Cape Town, working at the intersection of journalism, visual arts, and cultural research. Each of us brings different perspectives and skills, but we share a common goal: to showcase Afrocentric fashion not as exotic spectacle, but as a powerful form of cultural expression with deep roots and global reach. Culture on the Runway is our attempt to document this moment—when African design is finally getting the recognition it deserves, but also facing new challenges around credit, compensation, and commodification. Consider this our contribution to the conversation.