Of Another Fashion

This is a photo of my mother in 1987 as a college student in Kiev. A global nomad, she grew up in Nepal, lived in Russia and other parts of Europe before settling down and raising a family in the U.S. (where she moved in 1989). Her unique style has always involved clothing and accesories she collected from traveling.

In this picture, she is wearing a thick handwoven sweater from Nepal, the kind sold by locals for the Himalayan climate, but it definitely served its purpose in the Russian winter! The shoes are from Berlin, the red cotton scarf is Tibetan, and the pants are also from Nepal. As a college student with a tight budget, she managed to be resourceful and fashionable at once, adapting cheap items she could buy back home for western styles (i.e. the classic tight pants/baggy sweater 80s trend in this picture). Her style has always been unique yet comfortable and practical, as you can see with this outfit.

Submitted by Rebecca John (Ithaca, NY).

1 year ago 376 notes

Tagged with: #1980s #South Asian American

Of Another Fashion

An alternative archive of the not-quite-hidden but too often ignored fashion histories of U.S. women of color