REDEFINING MASCULINITY AND TRADITION THROUGH MEN’S FASHION IN ZAMBIA

ABSTRACT

Men’s fashion in Zambia presents an intriguing compromise between the origin of cultural heritage and contemporary global fashion. Zambian men embrace a wide range of clothing choices, but ethnic and cultural wear like the Bemba siziba and Lozi musisi are still taken seriously. Outside of cultural wear, Zambian men wear many Western-adapted clothing styles such as suits, shirts, and trousers for work and even casual wear. This paper examines chosen Zambian men’s wear as a means to convey identity, professionalism, and social affiliations to audiences. This paper will also review whether globalisation, second-hand markets selling used clothing, and local design initiatives have impacted local men’s fashion representations in Zambia and the opportunities and constraints for Zambia’s fast-evolving fashion industry.

INTRODUCTION

Fashion in Zambia has always had a social weight attached to it, representing more than just style, but identity or belonging choice. For men, clothing represents other values, such as respectability, authority, and pride in community. While many Zambian men may practice a Western-style of dress in their daily lives, traditional clothing is an important article of clothing for many men to wear during some ceremonies, national or other political functions, or festivals of culture. Globalization and digital media have played an important role in men’s fashion, such as creative hybrid styles of chitenge and modern tailoring.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Research on Zambian menswear demonstrates the cultural representation of traditional clothing. Hansen (2013) argues that clothing often conveys one’s ethnic group, socio-economic status, or life cycle stage.

Allman (2004) has shown that there is a political dimension to fashion in Africa as fashion can symbolise power, masculinity, and authority. More recent research, such as Musonda (2020), is more hopeful and talks of a new phenomenon whereby designers are repurposing cultural textiles into contemporary menswear and placing Zambian menswear in the context of Africa’s creative economy. Nevertheless, few developments have arisen from salaula, or used clothing, which continues to define buying and consumer behaviour, as well as industrial growth.

OBJECTIVES

• To examine the evolution of men’s fashion in Zambia from traditional to modern forms.
• To analyse the cultural significance of men’s attire in Zambian society.
• To assess the role of globalization and second-hand clothing in influencing men’s fashion.
• To explore the opportunities and challenges facing Zambian men’s fashion designers.

METHODOLOGY

The secondary research included in this piece came from company reports, scholarly studies, and cultural evaluations. Trends are demonstrated by examples of menswear, both classic and modern. The results are also influenced by observations of fashion events and social media.

RESULTS

Research indicates that the fashion of Zambian men demonstrates a coexistence of tradition and modernity. Traditional clothing is still a significant element of identity, and is traditionally worn at known formal occasions, i.e., ceremonies, weddings, and cultural events. Men in Zambia increasingly have Chitenge fabric incorporated into shirts, jackets, and accessories, promoting the mix of cultural pride and modern style. Otherwise, Zambian men generally defer to Western suits or casual wear for their outfitting, especially in showing their cosmopolitanism and professionalism in urban centres.

Markets for used clothing (salaula) are another finding that emphasizes their significance. Cheap imports from North America and Europe predominate in men’s daily wear, influencing fashion choices while also endangering the development of regional designers. Young designers, however, are coming up with inventive ways to revive traditional fashion by creating menswear based on Chitenge that appeals to both indigenous and diasporic consumers.

Lastly, the results indicate the growing importance of digital spaces. Zambian creativity is now put in the spotlight due to sites like Facebook and Instagram, where designers and tailors market men’s clothes. Although there are systemic challenges, Zambian menswear is starting to find a place in the overall African fashion space.

DISCUSSION

The evolution of men’s fashion in Zambia is a component of a larger social and cultural struggle between modernity and historical customs. Western attire is more common in daily activities. Whereas traditional clothing continues to signify explicit masculinity and cultural pride, specifically with important events. This duality indicates how Zambian men use fashion as a social language, a projection of authority, respectability, and belongingness. However, there continue to be obstacles for men’s fashion in Zambia from second-hand imports. These current obstacles and challenges relate to the progression of a strong local manufacturing industry, along with the need for government policy support and consumers to recognize the value of local fashion. Nevertheless, fusion styles from young designers are exciting because they provide a pathway to a new design culture of men’s fashion in Zambia that reflects ideas that could resonate on a global scale.

CONCLUSION

In Zambia, men’s style is fluid, a collection of traditions evolving under the influence of global modernity, yet still rooted in tradition. Traditional garments maintain their symbolic capital as modern menswear fares as professionalism and identification. Local designers are also injecting hybrid fashion states that emphasize individual creativity, expression of heritage, and innovation. While the menswear landscape is saturated with second-hand imports, there is an immense opportunity in looking at male fashion as an avenue for cultural preservation and economic impact.

FURTHER STUDY

Future studies could emphasize various cultural manifestations by comparing men’s apparel throughout Zambia’s ethnic groups. Research could also look at how Zambian men’s fashion practices are influenced by sustainability and the effects of laws governing second-hand goods on the sector.