Description:
The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of West African influence on apparel textiles in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s and whether the concept of cultural authentication could be applied to the borrowing of West African textiles for use in the United States. A small number of West African and West‐African‐influenced apparel textiles were found. More illustrations of these textiles were found in Ebony in the 1960s than in other magazines, whereas Mademoiselle had slightly more illustrations in the 1970s. West African textiles were some‐times used in fashionable U.S. garments, an example of selection, one stage of cultural authentication. No evidence of characterization or incorporation was discovered. Illustrations were found of contemporary U.S. styles made from textiles inspired by West African textiles; this may be the fourth stage of cultural authentication, transformation where an original idea has been transformed into a new product.