How the 80s Buffalo Movement Changed Fashion Forever

"Buffalo. The name alone conjures a near-mythical creature whose presence commands respect. Moving as a group with a distinctive blend of power and grace, the buffalo was nearly driven to extinction by the US government in order to subjugate Native Americans. It would ultimately prevail and become a symbol of freedom, inspiring visionaries like Bob Marley, Malcolm McLaren - and Ray Petri, the man widely considered to be the first modern fashion stylist."

"Although Petri's name may be unfamiliar, and his life was cut short by AIDS in 1989 at the age of 41, his work has become a blueprint for our present age. More than a look, Buffalo was a movement across fashion, music, art, magazines and nightlife that took root in early 1980s London among a collective of young photographers, models, stylists and designers, and was later popularised by Neneh Cherry's hit song, Buffalo Stance."

"Buffalo, Petri explained, was "a Caribbean expression to describe people who are rude boys or rebels. Not necessarily tough, but hard style taken from the street ... a functional and stylish look; non-fashion with a hard attitude." Blending sportswear, fine tailoring, street casting, inclusivity and gender fluidity to reimagine the modern dandy as street aristocrat, Buffalo was ten-year-old Felix Howard"

Buffalo emerged in early 1980s London as a cross-disciplinary movement across fashion, music, art, magazines and nightlife. Ray Petri led a collective of young photographers, models, stylists and designers who fused sportswear with fine tailoring, street casting, inclusivity and gender fluidity. The term 'Buffalo' derived from a Caribbean expression describing rude boys or rebels and signified a functional, stylish, non-fashion attitude. Visuals such as the March 1985 Face cover featuring ten-year-old Felix Howard with 'KILLER' on his hat exemplified the aesthetic. Neneh Cherry's 'Buffalo Stance' helped popularise the movement. Unseen contact sheets and iconic cover stories document the era.

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