Expanding on Monica L. Miller’s Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the book that inspired the 2025 Met Gala theme and exhibition, we co-curated a panel and co-published an article that foregrounded African history and featured African designers whose work resonates with and was included in the themes of Superfine. Monica’s book traces the evolution of the Black dandy from 18th-century Europe to contemporary style.
In conjunction with the exhibition Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, Guzangs reflects and expands upon the rich relationship between sartorial expression and ancestral legacies across the African continent through the work of trailblazing contemporary designers through a co-published article
The Continental Swagger panel, presented by The Met’s Costume Institute, brought together three uncompromising voices — Adeju Thompson (Lagos Space Programme, Nigeria), Wanda Lephoto (South Africa), and Imane Ayissi (Cameroon/France) for an unflinching, deeply personal conversation on heritage, innovation, and the politics of where a designer chooses to stand. Moderated by Monica L. Miller, Guest Curator of Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
