Sub Culture: HERERO VICTORIAN
Country of Origin: NAMIBIA
Since 1904 during the Herero-German war where almost 70% of the population died, the Herero women have favoured a style of dress that reflects the German missionary style gowns of the 19th Century and adopted more print work to the design. It served as a permanent reminder of the scars in the tribe’s history whereby they were almost completely exterminated.
Whenever a warrior would kill their enemy in battle, they would wear their uniform as a mark of honour and ‘taking up’ their powers. This is reflected in the military-style uniforms the men wear during ceremonial occasions.
The most distinctive feature of Herero women's dress is their horizontal horned headdress, the ‘Otjikaiva’, which is a symbol of respect, worn to pay homage to the cows that have historically sustained the Herero