1984V’s “Global Affair” Collection Celebrates Love, Unity + Diversity

Since the birth of globalization, with every passing century, the world has metaphorically become smaller and smaller. 

Today, we don’t need to travel to the ends of the earth to see how the clashing of cultures, customs, and traditions shapes our perspectives and sensibilities. 

Nowhere is this better reflected, than in the world of fashion, particularly vintage. Like many art forms, style often reflects back the mixing and mingling of lifestyles and heritages.

Artists, like vintage fashion purveyor Tiara Chameleon, are modern explorers and connoisseurs, in every sense. They constantly investigate, internalize, and are creatively awakened by their environment. 

This is the essence of Chameleon’s latest collection, “Global Affair,” which officially launched on August 22 and is presented by her brand 1984V. The collection will be released in several rounds, with the first round featuring mainly women’s styles. Future rounds will explore men’s and possibly children’s fashion. 

The genesis of the collection began nearly 8,000 miles from D.C. in South Africa, where Chameleon spent 12 days this summer immersing herself in the country — a place that she regularly seeks out for enlightenment. 

“When I got back, I knew I wanted to do a collection,” Chameleon says. “I didn’t know the name [or context]. I wanted it to hit me organically.”

Chameleon dove into a weeklong process of finding and curating pieces. But something was different this time. She was drawn to what she describes as distinctive “global pieces”: Indian tunics, Japanese kimonos, Chinese dresses and African garbs. 

The spectrum of bold colors, prints and textures speak the universal language of fashion, which she frames as a celebration and representation of love, unity, differences, tradition, style and culture. 

“My juxtaposition within this collection is taking traditional clothing and making it modern, funky and stylish,” Chameleon says, emphasizing the need to do so without appropriating and with a deep appreciation for diversity. 

Through “Global Affair,” Chameleon pushes back against the empty consumption of fashion that plagues the industry while paying homage to her roots. Chameleon’s heritage is foundational to the collection’s ethos; African, Japanese, Polish, and Mexican ethnicities are all represented in her bloodline.

Through her collection, Chameleon aims to empower consumers through knowledge — making terms like kaftan, kurti, dashiki, and Ankara skirt commonplace and cultivating an intelligence for correctly identifying traditional styles that major fashion houses often replicate and mass produce. 

Vintage brands like 1984V can fill the knowledge gap that exists within major labels by showing patrons how to wear, appreciate new styles and have fun learning about them. 

“People perish for lack of knowledge,” Chameleon asserts. “Fashion 100% is a language that needs to be thoroughly and clearly communicated. I want to educate you on what “is” so that when you are out shopping and want to find things and celebrate other cultures, you’ll be knowledgeable and approach with confidence.” 

Through 1984V, Chameleon has consistently looked to elevate others’ attitudes about fashion and the cultural messages we too often ignore. The “Global Affair” is a vessel for breaking down cultural barriers.

“I love celebrating all cultures,” Chameleon shares “My love has no color. I love all people. I’m here for everyone. I don’t just think that, feel that and live that, I show it with my clothing. I love cultures, and I’m leading by example with my brand and with this collection.”

To learn more about the 1984V vintage brand, visit 1984v.co and follow them on Instagram @1984vconceptstore.

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Andrew J. Williams III