Acknowledgements

The development of this exhibition and its accompanying website has been the work of a whole team of people. None of this would have been possible without the curatorial work and coordination by Allana Finley in South Africa and Lynette Diergaardt in Namibia. From the selection of designers to the acquisition and shipment of pieces, these two women played essential roles in the ultimate success of this exhibition. The initial research as well as much of the development of the website was conducted by the students in the Curatorial Perspectives on Fashion Exhibition Design: Trey Gehring, Allison Smith, Chloe Wingard, Jasmine Kornel, Callie Surrarrer, Calvin Brant, Minh Phuong, and Madison Schott.

The entire staff of the Kent State University Museum has worked tirelessly to bring this exhibition to reality. Jean Druesedow deserves particular thanks for her support and assistance; Jim Williams for the exhibit design; Joanne Fenn, for her proofreading and invaluable assistance with coordinating the shipping and loans; and Mary Gilbert, for making sure all the bills get paid and coordination of all of the associated events. A special thanks goes to the student assistants who worked on the project: first and foremost Lindsey James who put together the website, slideshow and the mannequins; Larry Staats for his work on the installation and Chloe Wingard who deserves a second thanks for her help tracking the loans and donations. All of our volunteers provide invaluable service particularly Marilyn Lown, Millie Chrin, Jan Butler, Susan Griffin, Jean Giulitto, Laurie Howell, Susan Laubach, Judy Jerkich, and Ruth Krause.

I would like to extend a thank you to all of the designers who lent or donated their pieces to the exhibition: Thabo Makhetha, Marianne Fassler and François de Villiers at Leopard Frock, Celeste Lee Arendse, Rich Mnisi, Khosi Nkosi, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Melinda Shaw, Thula Sindi, Jenevieve Lyons, Craig Jacobs, Shaldon Kopman, Lihle Ngxokolo at Maxhosa by Laduma, Jaimee-Lee Diergaardt, Maria Caley, Melisa Poulton, and Quin-Leigh Hammond. I am also grateful for the permission from the following photographers and bloggers to include their work: Anthony Bila, Simon Deiner, Lourens “Loux” Gebhardt, Harness Hamese, Lukas Amakali, Papamoshe, Tonyshouz, Jeff Rikhotso, and Cedric Nzaka.

The funding for the project came in part from the Catalyst Interdisciplinary Project Grant from the College of the Arts. The exhibition is part of a larger series of events in partnership with the Department of Pan-African Studies and the Fashion School thanks to the coordination of Dr. Amoaba Gooden, Chairperson of the Department of Pan-African Studies and Harriet Mcleod, Assistant Professor of Fashion Design and Merchandising. The research trip to South Africa and Namibia was funded through a Professional Development Excellence Pool grant.

Sara Hume