Natural Fashion of African Tribes

The urge to make oneself beautiful by make up and fashion is a pretty universal one. For his book "Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa," Hans Silvester of Rapho/Camera Press captured these stunning "haute couture" images of children of the Surma and Mursi tribes of East Africa’s Omo Valley:

Inspired by the wild trees, exotic flowers and lush vegetation of the area bordering Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan, these tribal people have created looks that put the most outlandish creations of Western catwalk couturiers to shame.

Here, a leaf or root is transformed into an accessory. Instead of a scarf, a necklace of banana leaves is draped around a neck. In place of a hat, a tuft of grass is jauntily positioned.

A garland of flowers, a veil of seed-pods, buffalo horn, a crown of melons, feathers, stems and storks – Mother Nature has provided a fully stocked wardrobe.

Like a dressing-up chest brimming over with costumes and make-up (paint created with pigments from powdered stone), the natural environment is the source for this glorious jungle pantomime.

Link – Thanks Jon Jason!