Elie, 45-year-old taxi owner and sapeur for 35 years, in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. He wears suit by Rubens, shirt by Avenue, tie by Ron Robinson, tie clip by Baglette, belt by Vera Pelle, glasses by Cazal, watch by Mercedes, pocket watch by Geneva, cigar by Marcanudo, lighter by Playboy, walking cane by Louis Vuitton, bag by Ganni and shoes by JM Weston.

La Sape, Socíet́e des Ambianceurs et des Personnes ́Eĺegantes (Society of Ambiance-Makers & Elegant People). Its followers are known as »Sapeurs« (»Sapeuses« for women). Most have ordinary day jobs as taxi-drivers, tailors and gardeners, but as soon as they clock out they transform themselves into debonair dandies. Sashaying through the streets they are treated like rock stars – turning heads, bringing ‘joie de vivre’ to their communities and defying their circumstances.