Afro Goth: Subculture and Fashion

For a lot of people, when they talk about the goth community, they're talking about white teenagers. This is partly because of the focus on Victorian era culture and fashion, but also partly because of the images we saw of goth people who, over time, were predominantly young and white .

Unfortunately, this stereotype ignores extremely important members of the goth community. From musicians, writers, actors, or other creatives of color producing amazing gothic content to individuals and communities of color living authentically gothic lives, there are thousands of people of color who embody the spirit of gothic.

What is Afro Goth?

According to Afritorial.com , Afro Goth is a subculture of dark-skinned African men and women who are passionate about gothic fashion, music and lifestyles. This includes people who wear traditional Gothic style clothing and makeup, but also those who combine their customs, styles, and fashions with the world of Gothic, creating an incredible new twist on Gothic culture.

Combining Gothic style and accessories with African headwear, taqiyah, Habesha kemis, and other traditional clothing and fashions has produced a unique approach to Gothic culture that embraces the best aspects of both worlds.

Afro Goth Designers, Artists and Creators

There are incredibly talented people creating Afro-goth fashion, makeup, design, music and media across the world. Whether you're looking for jewelry, clothing, music, or something else to feed the dark side of your soul, there is something truly amazing being created by people of color in every corner of the goth genre.

Shanice Wadell

Shanice L. Wadell is a graphic designer, illustrator, and special effects makeup artist from Scranton, PA. She recently worked on an optical illusion collaboration with several of the top 30 contestants from the 2018 NYX Face Awards, creating grotesque and exciting three-dimensional looks using nothing more than a makeup palette and her own natural talent.

Dilara Findikoglu

Fashion designer Dilara Findikoglu is a London-based designer who has been fully immersed in the world of gothic fashion for many years. She uses her designs as a form of social commentary, using historical flashbacks and exquisite tailoring to challenge social norms and embrace Gothic culture and style.

Her portfolio uses models from a variety of cultures, genders, and ethnicities, proving that she uses her talent to empower all goths, but especially goths of color.

Bianca Xunise

Designer and illustrator, Bianca Xunise is, among other things, a gothic writer and a comic artist . You can read some of his many fabulous comics on his website . Her work is about the highs and lows of Gothic art, but she is also very political and talks about how she felt voting in the 2016 election and her experiences interacting with police as a woman black.

Venus

When it comes to music and personal style, Venus X, a DJ in NYC, is widely considered the creator of Ghetto Goth , a mix of goth and grunge . Her SoundCloud GHE20G0G0TH1K offers many examples of her work, showcasing a style so stunning that it was adopted by Rhianna a few years ago. Rhianna 's adoption of Venus Fabulous goth in New York City.

Brotha Lynch Hung

Born Kevin Mann, Sacramento producer and rapper Brotha Lynch Hung is considered one of the progenitors of Horrorcore , a blend of rap and traditionally gothic themes like the supernatural and extreme, morbid violence. An innovative independent artist, he has worked with labels like Strange Music and Siccmade to release 15 different projects since the 1990s.

Mori Darkmoss

Although perhaps less well known than the others on this list, Mori Darkmoss is a stunning goth who should definitely be on your radar. Writer and YouTube creator Mori has tons of fabulous YouTube videos, blog posts, Instagram stories, and other goth-related content. His videos on being a goth at work, the impact being goth has on relationships, and creating a goth wardrobe speak to the daily lives of goth people across the country.

These are just some of the amazing members of the Afro Goth community who create extraordinary content designed to speak to the scariest corners of your soul. Who are your favorite Afro Gothic designers?