AFRICA IS THE LATEST MUSE FOR FASHION AND ART

Fashion designers and retailers are looking to Africa for inspiration and exoticism. Although riddled with societal ills, Africa still holds an esteemed place in the global and psychological stratosphere.

According to the New York Times, African jungles, deserts and plains have a near-mystical allure. “Africa has never become quantifiable or entirely knowable,” said Rick Carter, the production designer for “Avatar.”

According to Carter, Africa has a romance and a sense of the abundance. In the fashion world, Kenya, Nigeria or Senegal are inspiring designers to create prints and styling of African descent.

“London is awash with African influences,” said Ed Burstell, of Liberty of London, that sells Masai-inspired wooden bangles, horn cuffs and hammered metal collars. “They want items today that don’t seem slick and polished.”

African culture is also showing up in clubs and on Broadway (in a show called “Fela!”) with African music by Fela Kuti, the Nigerian father of Afrobeat.

Marc Jacobs is giving a nod to Africa in his new line and at the Malcolm Shabazz Market on West 116th Street in Harlem there are fabrics in indigo mud cloth from Mali and woven raffia Kuba cloth.

People are buying fabrics to use as belts, handkerchiefs, bow ties and cummerbunds,” said Mr. Diouf, who is Senegalese. “They want to mix them up with American designs.”

The Afro-centric tunics and dresses of another Nigerian, Deola Sagoe, will be shown Fashion Week in New York this year.

Mr. Osterweis of Suno, who creates clothing from sarong-like kangas, said the number of stores selling his designs had tripled in the last year. His line was created to convey a social message as well.

“I started it as a direct reaction to the post-election violence that took place in Kenya two years ago,” Mr. Osterweis said. “I decided that by creating jobs and developing skills in Kenya at a time when it really needed support, I could do some good.” Michelle Obama has worn Mr. Osterweis’s eye-popping prints.