If there is one thing that people would, or should, know about me, it is that The Lion King has been my favorite movie since I was a child. Disney’s remake, starring Beyoncé, Donald Glover, and so many more, has drawn excitement from many people, self included. Well, Bloomingdale’s is also celebrating the movie and its afro-centric pride with “Style Kingdom,” a curated pop-up shop that explores culturally relevant themes.
The guest curator is Florence Kasumba, the German-Ugandan actress who plays the role of Shenzi the hyena. Kasumba tapped into her knowledge of the film and her love of African fashion to identify select items that capture the spirit of the savanna. The shop features brands that empower communities, items sourced from multiple regions of the African continent as well as product featuring iconic characters and themes from the film.
“Being the guest curator for the Style Kingdom in The Carousel at Bloomingdale’s is an absolute thrill because I’ve been able to combine my love of fashion and film whilst connecting back to my African heritage,” Florence Kasumba said in a press release. “I love how The Lion King can be interpreted through this new lens and connect with audiences in a unique and fresh way. I felt such a personal connection to the pieces I curated and I can’t wait for people to see the collections, and the movie!”
Bloomingdale’s is excited to leverage the story of The Lion King to give a platform to African designers whom, for many involved, Style Kingdom is their first introduction to Bloomingdale’s. THIS IS AMAZING and a great way to open the doors to new talent.
Brands such as Maxhosa and AAKS are luxury African brands shaping cultural concepts through a modern perspective. Others like Lem Lem and Studio 189 aim to empower African communities economically by working with African artisans that specialize in traditional craftsmanship.
Labels like Maxhosa -a South African knitwear brand that celebrates Xhosa beadwork aesthetics and is made with South African mohair and wool; Studio 189 – an artisan produced line made in Ghana, specializing in various traditional craftsmanship techniques and focusing on creating jobs and supporting education; and Post-Imperial – a Nigerian menswear brand with a strong sense of optimism for the future and a focus on color, pattern and a rare hand dyeing process called Adire, to name a few.
There are also brands like Fenoel, who I am happy and excited to see the growth and trajectory of. Well, the “Style Kingdom” shop will run from July 11th – September 2nd, so be sure to swing by the Bloomingdale’s at 59th Street Lexington Ave location. Also you can online shop all the goodies, but make sure you snag it before it’s all gone!
