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Zoot Suite (pun on Tout de Suite), the DRC champion in my OC Punch-Out female league. Hailing from Kinshasa (site of the Rumble in the Jungle), she’s inspired by the Congo’s La Sape subculture, those train tracks even being inspired by a La Sape photo.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency:

'Not everyone walks the #MetGala red carpet.

Some walk the streets of Brazzaville, turning heads, telling stories and transforming survival into art.

Francis Mbéré, a refugee from the Central African Republic, is a proud member of Brazzaville’s vibrant Sapeur scene. After fleeing violence in Bangui with his family, he found safety, community and self-expression in La Sape.

La Sape, short for La Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes, is a Congolese movement of dandyism born from colonial resistance and cultural pride. Rising to prominence in the 1960s, it blends bold fashion with even bolder spirit. Rooted in dignity, elegance and joy.

For Francis, suiting up isn’t just a look.

It’s his legacy and one he plans passing on to his son.'

© UNHCR/Hélène Caux

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