What is the history of the cowrie shell and what role does it play in contemporary African fashion design?

Tracing the cowrie shell from its’s origin in the Maldives to the coast of West Africa, author Joelle Firzli examines how the shell’s purpose transitioned from ornament to currency, and a symbol of identity formation through spirituality and adornment.

Inspiring European fashion designers, such as Yves Saint Laurent and Azzedinee Alaia The Cowrie Shell in African Fashion marks a shift in the shell’s cultural value and usage outside Africa. Subsequently reclaiming the shell and deviating from historical European appropriations, discover how African designers now use it to craft narratives that express joy, triumph, and perseverance embodying a profound connection to culture and memory in postcolonial Africa.

Highlighting how an object can act as a catalyst for change and symbol of resistance in African fashion, this book is ideal reading for students of Fashion and Personal Style Studies, Fashion Design, Design Studies, Museum and Curation Studies, History, African Studies, Postcolonial Studies, and Cultural Anthropology.

Joelle Firzli is a multicultural independent fashion scholar, and a part-time faculty at Parsons School of Design.