Pair of Boots
1970s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These Ellesse leather boots formed part of an outfit put together by Derek Falconer of Crazy Clothes for the exhibition Streetstyle, From Sidewalk to Catwalk, 1940 to Tomorrow held at the V&A in 1994-5. The complete outfit consisted of a crocheted wool tam (hat); an army surplus camouflage jacket; a cotton shirt; a printed cotton t-shirt; army surplus wool trousers; a nylon belt; a terracotta, coconut and rubber bong; an elastic towelling sweatband and the boots. It reflected a style of dress worn by UK Rastafarians in the 1970s.
The Rastafarian movement started in Jamaica in the 1930s. Working-class Jamaicans were inspired by the anti-colonial teachings of Marcus Garvey, who sought an ‘Africa for the Africans’, and by the coronation of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari Makonnen). Followers of the movement rejected the trappings of western modernity. They wore clothes made of natural fibres and allowed their hair to form dreadlocks.
The Streetstyle outfit represented the ‘classic’ style of Rastafari at the time of its widest influence in Britain. By the 1970s Rastafarianism had become a fundamental force in the lives of many young black men and women in Britain. It encouraged them to draw strength from their African heritage in an often hostile environment.
The Rastafarian movement started in Jamaica in the 1930s. Working-class Jamaicans were inspired by the anti-colonial teachings of Marcus Garvey, who sought an ‘Africa for the Africans’, and by the coronation of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari Makonnen). Followers of the movement rejected the trappings of western modernity. They wore clothes made of natural fibres and allowed their hair to form dreadlocks.
The Streetstyle outfit represented the ‘classic’ style of Rastafari at the time of its widest influence in Britain. By the 1970s Rastafarianism had become a fundamental force in the lives of many young black men and women in Britain. It encouraged them to draw strength from their African heritage in an often hostile environment.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Leather |
| Brief description | Boots, black leather, Ellesse, Italy, 1970s |
| Physical description | Black leather boots, with leather shoelaces. |
| Object history | Registered File number 1994/113, Streetstyle exhibition 1994-1995, in the exhibition it was part of an outfit called 'Rasta UK 1970s' (includes the jacket T.74-1994, the T-shirt T.75-1994, the shirt T.76-1994, the trousers T.77-1994, the belt T.78-1994, the sweatband T.79-1994, the hat T.174-1994 and the pipes/bong T.175:1 to 3-1994). This pair of shoes was purchased as part of an ensemble from Crazy Clothes Connection, a vintage clothing shop in London's Notting Hill neighbourhood. Crazy Clothes Connection was opened in the mid-1990s by Derek Falconer and his daughter Esther. The shop specialises in women’s and men’s clothing and accessories from the 1920s to the 1970s. |
| Historical context | 'Rasta UK 1970s. Black, green, yellow and red crochet wool tam; army surplus camouflage jacket; cotton shirt; printed cotton t-shirt; army surplus wool trousers; nylon belt; terracotta coconut and rubber bong; elastic towelling sweatband; leather boots, Ellesse The dreads Rasta is more militant and this is reflected in his dress. The surplus jacket with camouflage print was overt militaristic connections. The t-shirt design features flags of African nations and African nationals to promote the desire for the repatriation of all their peoples. Ganga, otherwise known as cannabis, is an integral part of Rastafarian culture, hence the bong in his pocket. Compiled by Derek Falconer, Crazy Clothes.' |
| Summary | These Ellesse leather boots formed part of an outfit put together by Derek Falconer of Crazy Clothes for the exhibition Streetstyle, From Sidewalk to Catwalk, 1940 to Tomorrow held at the V&A in 1994-5. The complete outfit consisted of a crocheted wool tam (hat); an army surplus camouflage jacket; a cotton shirt; a printed cotton t-shirt; army surplus wool trousers; a nylon belt; a terracotta, coconut and rubber bong; an elastic towelling sweatband and the boots. It reflected a style of dress worn by UK Rastafarians in the 1970s. The Rastafarian movement started in Jamaica in the 1930s. Working-class Jamaicans were inspired by the anti-colonial teachings of Marcus Garvey, who sought an ‘Africa for the Africans’, and by the coronation of the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari Makonnen). Followers of the movement rejected the trappings of western modernity. They wore clothes made of natural fibres and allowed their hair to form dreadlocks. The Streetstyle outfit represented the ‘classic’ style of Rastafari at the time of its widest influence in Britain. By the 1970s Rastafarianism had become a fundamental force in the lives of many young black men and women in Britain. It encouraged them to draw strength from their African heritage in an often hostile environment. |
| Bibliographic reference | Surfers, Soulies, Skinheads & Skaters : Subcultural Style from the Forties to the Nineties
Described in the exhibition publication, part of an outfit called 'Rasta UK 1970s'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.80:1, 2-1994 |
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| Record created | April 11, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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