Yesterday in my introduction to this year’s exploration of menswear around the world, I made mention to one of Africa’s most acclaimed designers, Salah Barka.The 35-year-old Tunisian designer hails from a city in southern Tunisia, Gabès, which is situated in the territory of Carthage.
Although Salah worked first as a costume designer before he entered the world of fashion in 1998, he is totally self taught, having studied fashion from perusing the web!
Salah creates fashion-forward collections that span the 3,000-year history of his homeland, as he references the styles, fabrics, jewelry, and garments of the ancient Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Berbers, Ottomans, and Arabs.
Typical of the collections are the fez hats and hooded cloaks of North Africa, the equestrian pants of West Africa, and the Tunisian-style pants that slim at the calves.
Winner of the Silver Thread Prize, Salah Barka presents his collections regularly at Tunisia Fashion Week.
I am very excited to become acquainted with this exquisite designer and, hopefully, to learn more about Tunisian menswear from the Tuniversity of Salah Barka!
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