A new photo book by Daniele Tamagni explores the phenomenon of the African sapeurs, a clique of extraordinarily dressed dandies from the Congo. In the midst of war and abject poverty, these men dress in tailored suits, silk ties, and immaculate footwear.
Sapeur comes from la SAPE, short for Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes, or the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People. The SAPE, like any club, has rules of conduct and of dress; it’s centered around Brazzaville and Kinshasa, the adjacent capitals of the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo, respectively.
This isn’t a new subculture: the style of dress which the sapeurs imitate is that of the French and Belgian colonists who seized control over the Congo during the 1880s.
Interesting to see where Paul Smith took his inspiration for his Women Spring 2010 in London
Written by:
Cyril Style - who posted 2122 articles on Trendland.
French Trendsetter, living & working in New York : art direction, trend forecasting, styling, designing is my daily basis. ///////
ps: Sorry for my French, I don't pretend to be a writer and I know that my writing is not the best... Follow us on http://twitter.com/trend_land
December 1st, 2009 at 3:59 pm
These guys are truly men of elegance. All that funkiness in the midst of sufferation….I doff my hat to them guys.
Being a Royal Dandy is a state of mind …money cannot buy it.
All I’ll say is that they, keep on doing what they know best.
Feeling funky.
December 1st, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I agreed with you Manuel ! There’s style are amazing and money cannot buy it !
January 29th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Not all of it is french/belgian inspired after all africans have flair and a sense of couleur all on their own – they are simply using it in interpretation. I love their style !!! and you don’t have to mention things like having style “in the midst of war and abject poverty”….having a sense of style is not related to either of the issues and in many cases they are probably putting together used clothes etc similar to a person that would shop from a thrift store. Carry on ‘Gentlemen’ !! enjoy life and stay stylish !!