Man's ensemble
Brand
Olubiyi Thomas
Spring 2023
Wool, viscose, and cotton
Museum purchase
Object number2023.40.1
Born in Lagos and raised in Glasgow, the London-based Olubiyi Thomas uses sustainable fabrics to speak to his multiculturalism and to “reimagine the linkages between British Post- Colonialism and African cultural history.” This ensemble contrasts deconstructed British tailoring with trousers made from hand-printed bògòlanfini (mud cloth) from Mali. Thomas recognizes how his personal explorations through design expose his liminal diasporic position, “Someone might typecast me and say, ‘He’s an African designer, so obviously we expect this from him … from the Nigerian perspective, someone might think, ‘He was raised in Scotland, so why is he using our fabrics? How many times has he been to Nigeria?’”
DescriptionBrown woven cotton button front jacket with patch pockets, two button cuffs, raw edges; coordinating black sleeveless top with brown corduroy center panel with three asymmetric button front, raw hem; coordinating brown and off white mud cloth drawstring waist pants, seam pockets, back patch pocketExhibitions