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Not currently on display at the V&A

Jacket

1993 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This jacket formed part of an outfit created and worn by Oz (Against All Oz) in 1994 and displayed in the exhibition Streetstyle, From Sidewalk to Catwalk, 1940 to Tomorrow held at the V&A in 1994-5. The complete outfit consisted of this purple/orange two-tone crushed velvet jacket with gold braid trim, black/red two-tone crushed velvet trousers (both by Against All Oz) and Bally leather shoes.

‘Ragga’ derives from the word ‘Raggamuffin’, originally a derogatory term for delinquent Jamaican youths. Ragga began in the mid-1980s in Jamaican dancehalls before spreading throughout the African diaspora. It marked a stark contrast with Rastafarianism through its flamboyant dress and celebration of individual wealth and success. Ragga outfits frequently use layered textures and colour to make a strong visual impact.

“I made [a suit] for myself and then everyone kept asking about it and I ended up making ten more. It’s for the evening – I'd wear it to a blues or a dance, but I have worn it during the day, when I've rolled up the trousers, tucked in the shirt and worn it with trainers. In the evening I'd wear it with a pair of Italian cut shoes’ (Oz).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Crushed velvet
Brief description
Jacket, crushed velvet, Against All Oz, London, Great Britain, 1993
Physical description
Purple/orange two-tone crushed velvet jacket with gold braid trim.
Object history
Registered File number 1994/206, Streetstyle exhibition 1994-1995, in the exhibition it was part of an outfit called 'Ragga UK 1994' (includes the trousers T.158-1994 and the shoes T.658-1995).
Summary
This jacket formed part of an outfit created and worn by Oz (Against All Oz) in 1994 and displayed in the exhibition Streetstyle, From Sidewalk to Catwalk, 1940 to Tomorrow held at the V&A in 1994-5. The complete outfit consisted of this purple/orange two-tone crushed velvet jacket with gold braid trim, black/red two-tone crushed velvet trousers (both by Against All Oz) and Bally leather shoes.

‘Ragga’ derives from the word ‘Raggamuffin’, originally a derogatory term for delinquent Jamaican youths. Ragga began in the mid-1980s in Jamaican dancehalls before spreading throughout the African diaspora. It marked a stark contrast with Rastafarianism through its flamboyant dress and celebration of individual wealth and success. Ragga outfits frequently use layered textures and colour to make a strong visual impact.

“I made [a suit] for myself and then everyone kept asking about it and I ended up making ten more. It’s for the evening – I'd wear it to a blues or a dance, but I have worn it during the day, when I've rolled up the trousers, tucked in the shirt and worn it with trainers. In the evening I'd wear it with a pair of Italian cut shoes’ (Oz).
Bibliographic reference
Surfers, Soulies, Skinheads & Skaters : Subcultural Style from the Forties to the Nineties Described in the exhibition publication, part of an outfit called 'Ragga UK 1994'.
Collection
Accession number
T.157-1994

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Record createdMay 22, 2007
Record URL
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