The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s misfortunes have often eclipsed its good news, with ongoing armed conflicts and most recently an Ebola outbreak. Much of the world knows little of the country’s vibrant arts scene, and last weekend in the capital, Kinshasa, models showed off daring new looks dreamed up by local designers on the catwalk. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)

Participants get ready ahead of a fashion show organized by Daspu, a fashion house founded and run by prostitutes, during the Women of the World (WOW) festival, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil November 18, 2018. (Photo by Pilar Olivares/Reuters)

A model displays a collection by graduates of the British Higher School of Art & Design during the Fashion Week at Zaryadye Park near Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Friday, June 24, 2022. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo)

Model presents a creation from the Amir Slama collection during Sao Paulo Fashion Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil August 30, 2017. (Photo by Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)

A model poses prior the Etam show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 26, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

A model presents a creation of YUKIHERO PRO-WRESTLING by designer Yukihiro Teshima from his Autumn/Winter 2018 collection during Fashion Week Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan March 20, 2018. (Photo by Issei Kato/Reuters)

Fashion from the Phuong My bridal collection is modeled, Thursday April 11, 2019 in New York. (Photo by Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo)

Model Irina Shayk wears a creation as part of the Versace men's Spring-Summer 2020 collection, unveiled during the fashion week, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, June 15, 2019. (Photo by Luca Bruno/AP Photo)