The Kent State University Museum has opened “A Meeting of Cultures: Fashioning North Africa,” an exhibition of works by 25 contemporary designers and artists from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt. The show, which the museum describes as the first exhibition in the world focused on contemporary fashion from the region, runs in the Broadbent Gallery through May 10, 2026.

The exhibition includes more than 40 ensembles and accessories alongside photography, art installations, and videos. It is the second in a series examining fashion on the African continent; the first, “Fashions of Southern Africa,” was presented in 2016. Curator Sara Hume and co-curator Nada Koreish organized the works around three themes: “Disruptors,” examining streetwear brands that depart from convention; “Threads,” focusing on regional materials and inherited craft techniques; and “Our Land,” exploring how designers draw from the architecture and landscape of North Africa.

A 150-page catalogue will be published by Hirmer Verlag. Featured designers include Said Mahrouf, Karim Chater, Anissa Aida, and Boauna, among others. Museum Director Sarah Spinner Liska said the exhibition reflects the museum’s “commitment to sharing new perspectives, advancing scholarship and fostering dialogue.”

Source: https://www.kent.edu/museum/news/kent-state-university-museum-announces-its-fall-exhibition-meeting-cultures-fashioning