Sass, street style and the joy of fashion around the world in one photographer's study of Fashion Tribes

Street style blogs are ten a penny, but how often do you get a glimpse outside of the well-worn paths of New York, London, Paris and the other go-to spots? Not that often, that’s how much; but as photographer Daniele Tamagni knows, there’s a whole world out there away from the stomping of Adidas Superstars, artfully shorn jean hems and bare ankles on the cobbles of Columbia Road.

That’s why she’s dedicated years to scouring the globe uncovering the lesser-seen fashion subcultures of the world, the products of which are drawn togetherin her new book Fashion Tribes. Daniele is best known for her Gentlemen of Bacongo series, published in book form in 2009, which shows glorious portraits of sapeurs in the Bacongo suburb of Brazzaville in The Congo. While these images will also appear in Fashion Tribes, they’re joined by equally brilliant images taken in places including Bolivia, Cuba, Burma and Senegal.

Among the highlights of this huge body of work is a photograph of two female wrestlers in Bolivia, one delivering a Street Fighter-worthy kick while adorned in full skirts, petticoats and lace. Elsewhere we see the leathers and studs of Botswana’s heavy metal fans and the beautiful Senegalese women dubbed Dirriankhe, a term given to women in the region that possess a certain seductive beauty.

Each image emanates joy – in life, in celebrating individualism and in being unafraid of being yourself, albeit within a defined subculture of others like you. That’s what makes the huge series feel so special, and forms a celebratory testament to fashion’s capacity for fun, wherever you are in the world.

Fashion Tribes by Daniele Tamagnibrings is published by Abrams.