The influence of American blacks on Western wear fashion

It is known that American blacks have had an impact on many branches of art in the west as a result of their production in many creative fields, especially music. Fashion, which is always up to date and reflects its era, is one of these areas of interaction. The purpose of this study is to research, compile and present the effects of American blacks on western fashion. Among the great cultural influence created by American blacks, the most prominent are clothing and their production in the field of music, which has a great impact on the formation and spread of clothing, have been examined. Originating from the African continent, American blacks settled in various parts of the USA from the seventeenth century onwards. In some places, they have largely assimilated; in some places they were able to continue their culture; in some places, they have merged with the local culture and formed a hybrid culture. It has been observed that they have carried with them many local cultural elements such as traditional beadwork, basket weaving and hair styling and have continued to use some of them under the conditions of their new continent. It is seen that they have mostly synthesized these with everyday fashion elements; it is seen that they combine haute couture and street wear and use a number of dress codes that reflect socio political meanings regarding the racial exclusion of American blacks. It can be said that they had an impact on the clothing of the period during the Harlem Renaissance, when their artistic production rose and the ongoing civil rights quest. Especially in the eighties, blacks, who made great cultural strides; spread black culture, hip hop music and culture on a global scale and created important innovations in dress codes. In the past, young black people wore clothes that were too big for their bodies due to poverty, which in time provided them with a comfortable range of motion for their dynamic dances and as hip hop spread, it became a popular clothing style. This clothing style includes oversized t-shirts, wideleg pants, hooded tops and sneakers, which are the first elements that come to mind for the concept of street fashion. After the eighties, hip hop artists who were gradually able to achieve wealth showed a tendency towards symbolic jewelry and ornaments with their names written on them in order to increase their own recognition and they had an effect on the further popularization of brand and logo addiction. During this period, rappers included the names of brands such as Adidas and Nike in their lyrics; they frequently wore the brands mentioned; and thus, they played the most important role in the popularity of sneaker culture. It can be said that black artists who have produced valuable works in many branches of music, especially within the framework of hip hop music, which is a part of popular culture, are more prominent; they are recognized by large masses and the artists in this field have a greater impact on fashion and visual culture. It can be said that the artists mentioned in the study sometimes wear costumes that emphasize their African origins; sometimes, they prefer designs that represent their identities in collaboration with fast fashion or haute couture brands; sometimes, they wear clothes that contain references and symbolic meanings from other cultures. The mutual nourishment of clothing and music, which are among the most important elements of popular culture, leads to the emergence of very diverse and original creations and ensures the visibility and acceptance of these creations on a global scale.