Pair of Shoes
1994 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These velvet, plastic and jewelled shoes by Sabiba were displayed with a pink linen and sheer polyester suit trimmed with gold braid (by designer Andrew Dunbar) in the exhibition Streetstyle, From Sidewalk to Catwalk, 1940 to Tomorrow held at the V&A in 1994-5. The outfit reflected a style of ‘Ragga’ dress worn by some black British women in the 1990s.
‘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 celebration of individual wealth and success and displays of flamboyant dress. Ragga outfits frequently used layered textures – velvet, lace, fishnet, applique, leather, suede, brocade, Lycra, ruffles and different shades of denim – to make a strong visual impact.
‘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 celebration of individual wealth and success and displays of flamboyant dress. Ragga outfits frequently used layered textures – velvet, lace, fishnet, applique, leather, suede, brocade, Lycra, ruffles and different shades of denim – to make a strong visual impact.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Plastic and velvet |
| Brief description | Shoes, velvet and plastic, Sabiba, Great Britain, 1994 |
| Physical description | Pair of sandals, velvet and PVC with acrylic gems, marked 'EXCELLENCE'. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'EXCELLENCE' (Marked, sold (designed?) by Sabiba (79 Ridley Road, Dalston, E8 2NR).) |
| Object history | Registered File number 1994/2067, Streetstyle exhibition 1994-1995, in the exhibition it was part of an outfit called 'Ragga UK 1994' (inlcudes the suit: jacket T.156-1995 and trousers T.157-1995). |
| Historical context | 'Ragga UK 1994. Pink linen and sheer polyester suit with gold braid, Andrew Dunbar; velvet, plastic and jewelled shoes, Sabiba. Andrew Dunbar is a Jamaican designer based in London. His use of brilliant colour and gold and sheer fabrics is a classic Ragga feature. This suit is flamboyant and revealing without hugging the body.' |
| Summary | These velvet, plastic and jewelled shoes by Sabiba were displayed with a pink linen and sheer polyester suit trimmed with gold braid (by designer Andrew Dunbar) in the exhibition Streetstyle, From Sidewalk to Catwalk, 1940 to Tomorrow held at the V&A in 1994-5. The outfit reflected a style of ‘Ragga’ dress worn by some black British women in the 1990s. ‘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 celebration of individual wealth and success and displays of flamboyant dress. Ragga outfits frequently used layered textures – velvet, lace, fishnet, applique, leather, suede, brocade, Lycra, ruffles and different shades of denim – to make a strong visual impact. |
| 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.158:1, 2-1995 |
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| Record created | April 11, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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