Trousers
1993 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These trousers 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 a purple/orange two-tone crushed velvet jacket with gold braid trim, these 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).
‘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 | Trousers, crushed velvet, Against All Oz, London, Great Britain, 1993 |
| Physical description | Black/red two-tone crushed velvet trousers. |
| 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 jacket T.157-1994 and the shoes T.658-1995). |
| Historical context | 'Purple/orange two-tone crushed velvet jacket, with gold braid trim, black/red two-tone crushed velvet trousers, Against All Oz; leather shoes, Bally. “I made one 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). Worn by Oz.' |
| Summary | These trousers 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 a purple/orange two-tone crushed velvet jacket with gold braid trim, these 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.158-1994 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 14, 2007 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
