Ruth Carter’s Wakanda Wonderland

When I went to see Marvel’s Black Panther  movie, I went with a mission…. to see and be inspired by Ruth Carter’s creative manifestation of  Marvel Studio’s  artistic concepts in all its masterful glory.  I was not disappointed. From the alluring grandiosity of Zulu-inspired headpieces worn by Wakanda’s queen mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and the eye-poppingly ornate armor adorned with chevron print worn by the all-female based warriors, to Nakia’s (Lupita Nyongo) sumptuously textured, kente cloth-inspired green gown that seemed to mold to her form, the creative collaboration of both visionaries left theater goers in awe and aspiring designers wanting more from Ruth.

The Many Faces of Japanese Fashion

From avant garde designer Issey Miyake  and the beautiful traditionally inspired oriental fabrics, to fashion textile deconstructionist Rei Kawakubo of Comme de Garcons and the use of monochromatic dress fabrics, the Japanese have made their mark and pushed the limits of the imagination with their degree of talent, skill, and courage over the decades; attributes Japanese based designers and will have to pull on now more than ever in light of the recent atrocities suffered on multiple levels, and a rather uncertain future since the devastating earthquake almost a month ago.