The Missing Thread (Paperback)

The Missing Thread Exhibition Publication accompanies the groundbreaking exhibition at Somerset House exploring the rich, complex, and often undocumented contributions of Black British culture to the British. Built around the archive of the late Joe Casely-Hayford this powerful publication rethreads fashion history from the 1970’s to the present through the lens of Black creativity, resistance, and cultural expression. Edited by exhibition co-curators Harris Elliott Andrew Ibi and Jason Jules, of the BOLD Agency (Black Oriented Legacy Development), the book features striking visuals, archival materials, and new writing from designers, artists, and cultural commentators. Through its pages the publication unpicks how Black style has shaped mainstream fashion, even as the industry has historically excluded or appropriated its influences. With essays, interviews, and photography covering themes of tailoring, performance, music, and nightlife, The Missing Thread offers a fresh and urgent reappraisal of British fashion history. More than a catalogue, it’s a vibrant cultural document, giving space to voices that have long been silenced or sidelined. This is essential reading for anyone interested in the intersection of style, identity, and social change.