Unlimited Resources Can Be Limiting

Photos from Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa by Hans Silvester

The people of design are not limited to professional fashion designers, architects, graphic designers, landscapers, or to design students.  They can and are the nomadic children of the Surma and Mursi tribes of the Omo Valley.  Design is none of their professions, they simply wish to express their "innate artistic sense" (Publishers Weekly, April 2009).  These photos are undeniably striking and magnificent on the eyes.  The book of images is very popular and a must-buy for many.  Why do these photos intrigue people so greatly?       

Apart of the intrigue is the creative usage of nature's materials.  Another part is being introduced to a world that many would not have known or seen otherwise.  People have seen the high fashion designs of the designer capitals trickle down into the ready-to-wear stores, where designs are becoming painfully redundant to the point where design isn't there, but rather, replication is.  Finally with the natural tribal fashions of Africa, something fresh, inventive, captivating to look at!  


It has been stressed that it is important to know the people of design. However these children are not exposed to the well-known designers who many others look to for inspiration.  They do not have museums to view the popular works of the past.  Of course they are exposed to the best creators of their own tribe but it is almost as if this limited access to these materials and sources triggers the most imaginative and resourceful designs.  The paints on their skin is from powdered volcanic rock.  Grasses, shells, horns, and much more are utilized for adornment.


This brings us to the thought that perhaps, paradoxically, unlimited parameters can be limiting.  Many resources are available to designers in developed countries.  With so many available materials, will we pick the correct materials to work with? Will we get to know the materials as well as the Surma and Mursi children understand nature's materials? As a note, I am not downplaying the tribal creations in the slightest.  Their creations are the work of genius and I am merely making an observation.


Limitation such as the one's discussed really get the mind thinking creatively so that the designer's mind can extend or erase their mind's own parameters.


To purchase the book of these gorgeous photographs, visit this link!:
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Fashion-Tribal-Decoration-Africa/dp/0500288054?ie=UTF8&tag=inforfarm-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969