Sapeurs in Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo

KINSHASA, DRC - JULY 18: Sapeurs led by Papa Griffe walks on the catwalk at Kinshasa Fashion Week on July 18, 2014, at Shark club in Kinshasa, DRC. Local and invited foreign-based designers showed their collections during the second edition of Kinshasa Fashion week. in Kinshasa, DRC. The word Sapeur comes from SAPE, a French acronym for Société des Ambianceurs et Persons Élégants or Society of Revellers and Elegant People and it also means, to dress with elegance and style. Most of the young Sapeurs are unemployed, poor and live in harsh conditions in Kinshasa, a city of about 10 million people. For many of them being a Sapeur means they can escape their daily struggles and dress like fashionable Europeans. Many hustle to build up their expensive collections. Most Sapeurs could never afford to visit Paris, and usually relatives send or bring clothes back to Kinshasa. (Photo by Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)