The 'Alien Cartoon' Universe- FASHION

The aliens have landed -- and they look rather fabulous.

Centuries rolled forward and outfits got quirkier in the heart of Dakar late last month as Senegalese fashion designer Selly Raby Kane showed off her futuristic creations for her latest collection, "Alien Cartoon."

Set in 2244, the dazzling show transformed Dakar's 100-year-old deserted train station into a whimsical space where humans co-existed alongside strange and mysterious creatures -- from alien invaders and giant metallic insects to a massive inflatable octopus whose glowing tentacles stretched throughout the historic building.

"Alien Cartoon is a story about an African invaded city where weird, fantastic and sci-fi creatures evolve among human beings," says Kane. "My collection is an answer to what the consequences of the invasion would be on women's and men's wardrobes, on music, on architecture -- what would that city look like? What would its inhabitants wear?"

The answers were both eye-catching and grandiose. More than just a fashion show, "Alien Cartoon" brought together nearly 120 models, actors, musicians and art performers who created an otherworldly experience for some 2,000 spectators.

Amid the giant installations, streams of models in translucent parkas, quilted tops, full-length jumpsuits, leather prints and LED accessories paced up and down the runway to the sound of hypnotic electronic beats. Blending urban culture with strong pop art influences, Kane's structured creations nodded to the fantasy worlds staged by directors like Tim Burton, while being firmly rooted in Dakar.

"It was important to confront the Senegalese audience with a fashion point of view that is alternative, playful and inhabited by that surreal universe," says Kane.

The talented designer is part of an exciting and ambitious generation of young Senegalese artists that want to share their creative visions both locally and internationally.