Crimes of Fashion: Free Black Women in 18th Century Cape Town

Imagine looking so good that it becomes illegal. Despite the excess of wealth, glamour and spectacle available to the settler elite in 18th century Cape Town, their biggest sartorial competition came from the 118 emancipated women of colour in the Dutch Cape Colony. In 1765, sumptuary laws were introduced, prohibiting these women from coloured silks, fine laces, adorned bonnets and even fake jewellery so that they could not visually appear equal to (or, more honestly, better than) their European counterparts. Khensani delves into the fashion policing of free women of colour in 18th century Cape Town.

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Host, researcher & writer: Khensani Mohlatlole
Producer: Bongani Maseko for The Hyve AV