Entangled Pasts, 1768–now

Presenting works by leading contemporary British artists of the African, Caribbean and South Asian diasporas such as Sonia Boyce, Frank Bowling, Mohini Chandra and Isaac Julien alongside that of Joshua Reynolds, J.M.W. Turner and John Singleton Copley, the Royal Academy of Arts’ 2024 exhibition ‘Entangled Pasts, 1768–now’ sought to create connections across time and explore questions of power, representation and history.

As part of our ongoing work with the institution, we collaborated with their development team to establish new audiences, and introduce new partnerships with Black-owned brands AAKS and Afro Pop Socks to the institution’s retail space.

AAKS was founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi to introduce the world to her favourite weaving techniques by the women of Ghana. The brand aims to increase awareness around ethical production processes and encourage sustainable consumption in the fashion world. Through its efforts, the company highlights the key ways we can preserve histories and equitably continue legacies.

Afro Pop Socks was created in London by designers with African heritage as a way to celebrate their culture with an everyday item for every occasion, Afropopsocks highlights the importance of diasporic communities coming together to share, support and shape.