Echoes of Identity

In this blog, Seguntuyi Onakoya explains how HOUSEOFTUYI and the Wilberforce Institute redefined cultural representation at the Sound of Our Skin Festival. This pioneering arts festival celebrates the diversity of Hull’s communities, and sets an inspiring precedent for cultural representation and collaboration.

As a vibrant space for music, art, and storytelling, the festival successfully challenged discriminatory racial narratives and amplified the voices of historically marginalised communities. One of the standout collaborations of the festival was between HOUSEOFTUYI and the Wilberforce Institute, a partnership that seamlessly wove fashion, history, and social commentary into a powerful artistic expression.

Fashion as a historical and cultural archive

At the heart of the festival was HOUSEOFTUYI’s groundbreaking exhibition, Echoes of Our Heritage: How Fashion in Black Music Time Travels. This project, housed within the Wilberforce House Museum, explored the symbiotic relationship between Black music and fashion, capturing the evolution of identity and self-expression through garments.

Designer Seguntuyi Mapeganoluwa Onakoya, the creative force behind HOUSEOFTUYI, curated a series of striking outfits for Black Music Mannequins—each piece telling the story of cultural resilience, migration, and the influence of music on fashion trends across generations.

Through meticulously crafted garments inspired by legendary musicians such as Fela Kuti and contemporary icons like Burna Boy, HOUSEOFTUYI demonstrated how fashion serves as an archive of history. The designs not only celebrated Black creativity but also underscored how clothing has been used as a tool for resistance, identity assertion, and cultural pride.

This exhibition, which was installed in the Wilberforce House Museum, stands as a testament to the enduring impact of fashion as a historical medium.

The Wilberforce Institute: bridging past and present

This collaboration also initiated crucial conversations about representation in museums and galleries. The inclusion of fashion as a form of storytelling broke traditional curatorial boundaries, allowing audiences to engage with history in an immersive and visually compelling manner.

For many attendees, the exhibition served as both an educational tool and a deeply personal experience, connecting them to the histories embedded in the fabrics and silhouettes displayed.

Community engagement and lasting impact

Beyond the exhibition, HOUSEOFTUYI’s impact extended to fostering local creative talent. The brand actively involved aspiring designers, artists, and volunteers from Hull’s diverse communities, offering them opportunities to collaborate on the project.

This inclusive approach not only nurtured emerging talent but also reinforced the festival’s ethos of co-creation and shared cultural ownership. In addition, HOUSEOFTUYI’s participation in the festival solidified Hull’s position as a city that champions diversity in the arts.

By bringing together historical institutions like the Wilberforce Institute and contemporary creative voices, the Sound of Our Skin Festival set a precedent for future initiatives that prioritise inclusivity and cultural storytelling. 

A blueprint for future collaborations 

The success of HOUSEOFTUYI and the Wilberforce Institute’s collaboration serves as a model for other cultural institutions seeking to innovate their programming. It highlights the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in redefining how art, history, and fashion intersect to create meaningful dialogues on race, identity, and heritage.

As Hull continues to evolve as a hub for cultural fusion, the Sound of Our Skin Festival has laid the ground work for more projects that celebrate diversity and challenge existing narratives. With HOUSEOFTUYI at the forefront of fashion-driven cultural expression, the festival’s legacy will undoubtedly inspire further explorations into how art can be a vehicle for social change.

The Sound of Our Skin Festival was more than an event—it was a movement, a statement, and a powerful reminder that our identities are shaped by the echoes of our past, boldly reimagined for the future.