About the Project

Connecting Threads: Africa Fashion in Chicago

For the Connecting Threads: Africa Fashion in Chicago exhibition at the Field Museum, I developed a multimedia fashion video featuring designer Jennifer Akese-Burney. The exhibition sought to highlight how contemporary African designers draw from cultural heritage while creating work that resonates today. The curatorial team wanted a dynamic storytelling element to help visitors connect artifacts from the museum’s Africa collection with modern fashion.

The exhibition sought to highlight how contemporary African designers draw from cultural heritage while creating work that resonates today. The curatorial team wanted a dynamic storytelling element to help visitors connect artifacts from the museum’s Africa collection with modern fashion. I produced, filmed, and edited the video, collaborating closely with Akese-Burney to showcase her garments and creative process. The goal was to visually bridge the museum’s historic artifacts with her contemporary designs, emphasizing the ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation.

Through cinematic visuals and narrative sequencing, the video highlights Akese-Burney’s pieces alongside inspiration drawn from the museum’s collection. By pairing artifact detail shots with her fashion designs, the piece creates a layered conversation between past and present.

The finished video served as a centerpiece of the exhibition’s multimedia experience, engaging audiences of all ages. It provided visitors with a fresh lens on African heritage, demonstrating how cultural artistry continues to inform and inspire modern design.

Photos by Isi Akahome, Fashion Photographer