About Me
Hi, I am Thulani, a Fashion Business and Promotion graduate from BCU.
Thulani Bhebhe is a creative and analytical person. Whilst studying at Birmingham City University, she celebrated diversity and inclusion throughout, through contemporary methods to educate and highlight the injustices of today. Aiming to promote equality, diversity and inclusion within her work, in a celebratory manner.
Throughout my time at University, the COVID 19 pandemic brought to light the failure of society and its institutional and openly racist culture. That has been brewing to create the foundations of the BLM protest. This pushed me to expand my knowledge around black culture and heritage, this has been a topic that has interested me. Through my life experiences, being a black woman and being surrounded by black women, it has allowed me to understand the world and perspective of a minority ethnic background.
INSPIRATION
My inspiration were the people I grew up with, the culture and heritage presented to me.
Identity- 'establishing an individual by their character, background or personality'. Understanding and exploring your identity is important to have a clear understanding of who you are as a person. Being able to distinguish your differences but being confident and celebrating them, was a topic identified and explored in regards to children. Children show signs of wanting to change their hair and identity, by mimicking caucasian/ straight hair, whilst playing. This is often due to lack of representation.
It's all about hair, but it's never just about hair. People with afro hair are often ostracised and made to feel less beautiful by the texture of their hair. To progress against discrimination and prejudice, there needs to be representation for all, reinforcing a positive outlook for the represented group and empowering them. I was inspired to create this work as there is a need to celebrate differences and encourage representation for children. All children deserve to feel special, heard and seen.
MY WORK
PORTFOLIOS
Black Hair is Art
Black Artists
Know Your Hair Texture
Love Your Hair Poem
Cornrow Hairstyle step by step
Hair Like Mine
Healthy Hair Regime
SheaMoisture Hair chart
Love all hair types, textures, colours.
DETAIL
This educational hand booklet was created to celebrate all hair types.
This hand booklet was created for children with afro, curly, coily hair. In order to celebrate their texture and educate them on how to look after and maintain their hair. Created for parents and children to learn and embrace the children's hair together. This booklet came as a promotional package, as part of a marketing campaign for SheaMoisture hair products- to further implement their message of celebration and progression in the beauty industry. The campaign will educate people on diversity, educate people to increase their confidence in the ability to look after their hair and represent the minority. Throughout the campaign, there would be multiple social media platforms to reach the audience. Using a celebratory tone throughout the campaign, to highlight the issues children with curly/ afro hair face, whilst encouraging them to embrace their natural hair. The contents of the booklet ranges from poems and art to step by step tutorials on how to maintain hair and how to achieve hairstyles.
If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.- Dr Maya Angelou
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