#04 – Notes Towards Decolonizing Fashion | Dr. Erica de Greef (AFRI)

This episode presents a keynote from Dr. Erica de Greef, who joined the 202030 Summit from South Africa. She shares her experiences in the movement of decolonial fashion, and her work at the African Fashion Research Institute. What does it mean to decolonize the fashion industry? It is so much more than a progressive buzzword – ‘decolonizing’ means giving back stolen power, land, and resources to historically colonized communities. This episode, we share a keynote from Dr. Erica De Greef, the co-founder of the African Fashion Research Institute. Her work as an active ally to the Black South African fashion community involves centering Black designers, and aiding in the celebration and education of South African fashion, both historic and contemporary. She shows us how people in the global north must listen to voices that have been silenced or exploited, and to let those communities lead the decolonization of fashion, by telling their own stories, defining their own value, and becoming globally equal. Max and Magdalena, our hosts, contribute some backgrounding to Dr. Erica De Greef’s work, and muse on what decolonial allyship means within the 202030 Summit community. Learn more about the African Fashion Research Institute, including virtual tours of past exhibits, at https://afri.digital/ 202030 – The Berlin Fashion Summit is organized by studio MM04, in cooperation with the Beneficial Design Institute. It is funded by the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Berlin and is part of the Berlin Fashion Week.