Connecting Threads Africa Fashion in Chicago
Final Days At The Field Museum

This past year has been nothing short of extraordinary.

As we approach the final days of Connecting Threads: African Fashion in Chicago, we invite you and your family to join us February 28 through March 1, 2026, for the official Closing Days celebration of our inaugural co-curated exhibition at the Field Museum.

What began as a vision—to honor African textiles and the designers shaping Chicago’s fashion narrative—became a living archive of culture, craftsmanship, and community.

The Black Fashion Week (BFW) exhibition spotlighted designers whose work sits at the forefront of African fashion in Chicago:

Anzhelika Crochet
Akese Stylines
Dream Designs
Dressmaker by Olivia
Khoi
Robert Earl Paige
Stephane St. Jaymes
Theresa Fe Fe Designs

Each designer was thoughtfully integrated into the exhibition experience—through portrait installations, mannequins, video presentations, curated display cases, and immersive wall features. Every placement was intentional and thoughtfully correlated with the Field Museum’s African Artifacts on Display within the exhibit.

A defining visual and conceptual anchor of the exhibition was the work of Robert Earl Paige, whose textile patterns stretched across the Chicago skyline installation and bordered the exhibit walls. His presence grounded the space—connecting heritage, abstraction, and modern design.

In the spirit of Black History Month, we pause to honor Robert Earl Paige, a true pioneer of African textile design.

Two years ago, I had the honor of visiting his exhibition, United Colors of Robert Earl Paige, in Chicago on my birthday. Experiencing his work in person changed my perspective. When researching for Connecting Threads, I immediately knew his designs were essential. There was no exhibition without him.

Paige became the symbolic bridge between past and future—embodying the meaning of the Sankofa Adinkra symbol: “Learn from the past.” That philosophy shaped the foundation of BFW wall display within the exhibition.

Photo courtesy of Hyde Park Art Center

Born and raised in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Robert Earl Paige emerged during the Black Arts Movement and became a member of AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists)—a collective that redefined Black aesthetics in Chicago and beyond. The group centered unapologetic Black identity, vibrant color theory, and community representation at a time when mainstream art institutions excluded those narratives.

Paige helped shape what we now recognize as contemporary Black art.

Formally trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, his professional career included work with:Skidmore, Owings & MerrillSears, Roebuck & Company and Fiorio Milano design house in Italy

In 1973, Paige was invited to West Africa by Sears, Roebuck & Company to design what would become one of his most iconic textile collections: The Dakkabar Collection, inspired by Dakar, Senegal. The collection—featuring African-inspired fabrics and home furnishings—was distributed to 126 Sears stores across 56 U.S. cities.

This was more than design—it was cultural strategy. Sears sought to connect with African American consumers by incorporating Black cultural aesthetics into mainstream retail environments. Paige’s work stood at the center of that shift.

Today, at 90 years old, Paige continues to mentor and teach emerging artists in Chicago. His residencies at the Hyde Park Art Center and the DuSable Museum of African American History reflect his enduring commitment to education and cultural preservation.

Connecting Threads was more than a fashion exhibition. It was a declaration that African textiles are foundational to global fashion, Chicago designers are shaping contemporary African aesthetics and that honoring the past is essential to designing the future.

From Adinkra symbolism to modern silhouettes, from archival textile language to forward-thinking design, this exhibition bridged generations.

Without African fashion, there would be no celebration of Black fashion in America—yet alone a Black Fashion Week.

As we close this historic chapter, we invite you to:

Mix and mingle with fellow creatives
Take photos in our immersive booth
Celebrate African roots in fashion
Experience the exhibition one last time
BFW will be there today between 10 am and 3 pm to greet all patrons

This is more than a closing—it’s a cultural milestone.

Happy Closing Days of Connecting Threads: African Fashion in Chicago and Happy Black History Month 2026.

With gratitude,
Melody Boykin
Founder, Black Fashion Week

Follow Black Fashion Week USA for exclusive designer features, runway coverage, and year-round Black fashion trends.