African fashion – a generic expression that can include both the actual conception/production on the continent and the Western inspiration from styles and practices of clothing in Africa – takes on a complex and growing role on the international fashion scene and is subject to various influences.

The issue 85 of Africa e Mediterraneo examines theories and practices of African fashion, offering views and perspectives from various fields: linguistics, anthropology, economics, cultural studies.

Reflecting on the social and economic impact in African countries and on the editorial implications, the articles follow the weaves of traditional cloths – recovered and/or revisited for they evoke worlds, linguistic codes, cultures – but also of second-hand clothes originally from the West, turned into raw material for new creations.

The challenge of young African talents who make their way into the world of fashion, between tradition and experimentation, refers to the masters who first succeeded in going beyond the standardized image of “ethnic” fashion.

• Sandra Federici, “Editoriale. Innovazione e sostenibilità: le sfide della moda etica”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 1-3

• Giovanna Parodi da Passano, “Agency, interazione, identità: il vestire in Africa”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 7-10

• Adwoa Owusuaa Bobie, “Unconventional Entrepreneurs: the Youth in the Ghanaian Fashion Industry”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 11-17

• Anne Grosfilley, “Quand la mode sauve le textile: l’engagement des créateurs africains”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 18-22

• Sofia Vilarinho, “Second-Hand Clothing the Cutting Edge of the New Fashion in Maputo”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol.25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 23-28

• Marina Castagneto, “La moda africana in Europa parla un’altra lingua: il caso del kanga”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 29-35

• Stefania Ragusa, “Esperienze di editoria di moda all’africana (a ogni torta la sua ciliegina)”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol.25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 36-38

• Stephanie Birch and Anne Namatsi Lutomia, “Con(Texts): Re-Examining the Social Life of Kanga Cloth”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 39-45

• Laura Soriano and Samuel Silveira Martins, “Panos Tingidos, a New West African Brand: Adding Cultural Value to the Textile Industry of Guinea Bissau”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 46-49

• Simone Cipriani, “Innovation in African Textiles: a Move Away from Ethnic Characterisations”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 50-53

• Shina Alimi and Michael Olusegun Fajuyigbe, “A Thematic and Contextual Analysis of Boko Haram in Selected Editorial Cartoons”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 54-60

• Rosario Giordano, “«De la terreur salutaire». Linguaggi e forme della violenza nel Congo di Leopoldo II (1900-1908)”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 61-64

• Mustafa Rajab Younis, “La città di Tripoli: lo sviluppo architettonico e urbanistico promosso da Balbo durante il suo governatorato in Libia (1934-1940)”, in «Africa e Mediterraneo», vol. 25, n. 85, 2016, pp. 65-68