A South African e-commerce fashion retailer has received a vote of confidence from an international private equity firm, which has invested R100-million into the business.
RunwaySale, which operates out of Cape Town, received the funding from SPEAR Capital which invests in consumer-based businesses supported by the spending of the African middle class. It has offices in Scandinavia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Exclusive Online Shopping Society
RunwaySale positions itself as an ‘exclusive online shopping society’ – a members-only private online shopping club. It offers 300-plus high-end fashion brands to an exclusive community of shoppers who check the site, mobile app and social media platforms daily in order to take advantage of the latest offers.
Explaining how the Runway Sale business model works in an interview with The Money Show, co-founder and CEO Karl Hammerschmidt said: “We obviously have a lower cost base to work against, so we can pass value on to the consumer and our various brand partners… at the end of the day it helps them to earn revenue… it’s a win-win for everybody.”
Sells Designer Brands At Discounted Prices
Founded in 2012 by the husband-and-wife team of Karl and Elmien, who is now the COO, RunwaySale describes itself as South Africa’s largest such shopping club. It notes on its website that it “sells designer brands at discount prices by hosting flash events”. It claims its prices may be discounted by up to 70%.
“E-commerce accounts for one percent of all retail in South Africa and, even before the coronavirus pandemic, was set to grow exponentially,” said Karl. “The synergies between the SPEAR Capital team and our own gives us the confidence and practical support we need to develop RunwaySale into a leading player in the local and regional e-commerce market.”
Former Tj Maxx Executive Appointed As Advisor
As part of this new partnership, Christophe Gaigneux, who was online chief executive for the European division of American department store chain TJ Maxx, has been appointed to the RunwaySale advisory board.
“The potential for e-commerce to contribute meaningfully to the local economy has never been greater and RunwaySale will be key to meeting the demand we know is building up in consumers across all demographics in South Africa,” Gaigneux is quoted as saying by Business Tech.
Every so often we stumble across a particularly great fashion Instagram account before it gains traction and goes viral, and it feels like a delicious secret leading us down a rabbit hole of inspiration. Often, though, these accounts pay homage to the ’70s, ’90s and ’00s, offering us throwback photos of Jane Birkin, Kate Moss or Paris Hilton. While we relish the nostalgia hit these feeds provide, it can get a little repetitive.
That’s why, when we discovered African Style Archive with just 240 followers at the time of writing it felt like a welcome change of step. Curated by Tosin, a London-based art project assistant, the account is “an archive dedicated to fashion and style as seen through the lenses of African photographers”. Portraits of men and women dressed in the most incredible ‘fits think ’70s dagger collar blouses, ’60s wiggle dresses, dance floor-ready flared trousers and printed sun dresses – the account offers a fresh perspective on personal style.
Tosin, who has always been interested in fashion history and photography, conceived the idea after visiting her paternal grandmother’s home in Nigeria a few years ago for the first time since she was much younger. “I was immediately drawn to the many photo albums my grandma possessed. There were individual studio photographs and group shots of my grandma and her stylish friends (my grandma told me they’d put on their ‘best’ outfits to have their photo taken). I found that these photos captured so much of the elegance and sophistication that I strive for in my own personal style that they inspired me.”
Taking photos of the images on her iPhone, Tosin began sharing them on her personal Instagram account. “I got lovely responses so I knew that it wasn’t just me that loved to see these photos. I started doing more research about African studio and portrait photographers in the 20th century and discovered so many amazing artists and images, so I started collecting these photos which are now being shared on the African Style Archive page.” Now using museum and archival websites to source her photographs and amassing a growing collection of coffee table photo books by photographers such as James Barnor, Malick Sidibé and Seydou Keïta Tosin’s page is a treasure trove of slick style inspiration.
From religious to regional dress, there’s no singular definition of African sartorial style, so what does the term mean to Tosin? “I think it’s hard to define in a monolithic sense. To me, it is the presentation of style and trends interpreted with traditional and westernised influences and elements. It is clothes and accessories being worn with a unique way of being presented because of how African hair is styled and how we look.”
The most common misconception about African style more generally, Tosin says, is that it’s “limited to the bold and super colourful Dutch wax fabrics that we see in the media, but there is so much more to it than that. These fabrics are predominantly used to make clothing in west Africa, therefore neglecting other parts of the continent in the narrative.” Her favourite discovery so far is a sunny ’60s photo taken by J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere of a woman in thick-rimmed oval sunnies, drop earrings and a headband.
“I love her pose, how she is facing the camera, her top and particularly how she has accessorised the outfit, her sunglasses, also her hair! I think everything about this look works and it genuinely makes me curious as to what the rest of her outfit was and what her personal style was like.”
While the page remains a passion project for now, Tosin has her sights set on collaborations with historians and institutions – “I feel like African style is still underrepresented in fashion and art history” – with a photo book and exhibition a dream for the future. In the meantime, click through to see the save-worthy photographs Tosin has curated, and give African Style Archive a follow.
Turning face masks into a fashion statement in Africa, the face mask has become a global symbol in the fight against COVID-19. But for fashion designers in Africa, the masks are more than just a protective piece of cloth. Here are some of the best styles from the continent.
Who says face masks have to be bland?
In Africa, fashion designers are injecting some style into masks to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic encouraging mask use while letting people show some individuality.
Here are some face mask collection from Africa fashion designer:
Lagos style Protecting yourself and others Lagos style: Nigerian fashion influencer Angel Obasi showcases her red and white face mask with matching clothes.
Integrating each outfit For designers like Sophie Zinga, photographed here at her workshop in Dakar, the task is clear: “As a fashion designer I think we are going to have to integrate each outfit with fashion masks.”
Luxury items High-end fashion made in Africa: This mask, worn by Nigerian fashion stylist Sefiya Diejomoah, is studded with sparkling diamante jewels. “When you come out in a stylish mask, it doesn’t seem as though we’re fighting a war,” Diejomoah says.
Economic necessity For many fashion designers in Africa, creating protective gear such as mask has been a way to keep business going despite the economic downturn.
Tackling mask shortages in Rwanda Rwanda-based tailor Alexander Nshimiyimana (second from left, above) told DW he has been producing colorful masks like these because of the stock shortages in the country. Nshimiyimana has tried to keep the price of his masks as affordable as possible so that more people can get access to one. His masks sell for around 50 US cents – while those in Rwanda’s pharmacies retail for around US $2.
Stylish masks in Kenya Kenyan fashion designer David Avido (above), founder of the label ‘lookslike avido,’ poses with a mask he made, created from leftover cloth. Since the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Kenya in March, ‘lookslike avido’ has so far created and distributed more than 10,000 masks for free to communities in and around the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Cameroon sister designers do their bit Ange Goufack (left) and her sister Edmonde Kennang (right) have been producing these colorful face masks in Cameroon, with added plastic across the eyes. Since April 13, the government there has made it mandatory for people to wear face masks in public to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Donating masks to hospitals in Tunisia When the coronavirus crisis started, Tunisian designer Myriam Riza (above, adjusting a mask at the workshop of her Miss Anais label) was contacted by hospitals suffering from mask shortages. She produces the masks and distributes them to hospitals using donated fabric. To offset the cost of continuing to provide free masks to clinics, Riza decided to create masks for individual paying customers.
Masks with personality in Algeria Mounia Lazali, a designer in Algeria, has sewn and donated hundreds of masks – singer Joe Batoury models one of her designs, above. She told DW people “want to assert their culture and their tastes, so I think that the mask will not escape the fashion effect. If that can encourage people to protect themselves more, art will have succeeded in its mission by entering citizens’ everyday lives.”
Masks for the youngest
A boy in Abidjan is wearing a matching hat and mask created by Ivorian fashion designer Arthur Bella N’guessan.
Individual styles For young fashion buffs at University of Lagos like Uche Helen, wearing custom-made masks is a way to stand out.
Splashes of color in Liberia Liberia-based The Bombchel Factory is an ethical fashion company which helps its all-female staff to become self-sufficient by offering them training in making garments. It is turning unsold skirts into bright face masks like this one, above. For every purchased mask, another gets donated to someone unable to quarantine at home – because they don’t have anywhere to stay.
Donating masks Arthur Bella N’guessan also creates custom masks that match his customers’ clothes. His current daily output of masks stands at more than 1,000 a day and he gives many of them away for free.
Classic print In many African countries, wearing a face mask in public has been mandated by the government to fight the spread of COVID-19. Designers and tailors all over the continent have been stepping up to meet the demand.
Bright colours In the Nigerian capital Abuja the rules are simple: the brighter, the better. This woman is showcasing the pink face mask she is wearing with her hijab.
Matching mannequin A mannequin in the workshop of Ivorian designer Arthur Bella N’guessan sporting matching mask and clothing.
Lagos has more than twice the population of New York City and a robust fashion scene, where designers have long harnessed style as a tool for communication.
The city’s runways have promoted recycling, gender equality and traditional African artistry themes meant to nourish the greater good, said Omoyemi Akerele, founder of Lagos Fashion Week. Some fashion houses are consulting doctors, she said, and sourcing fabric for mask production. (The community has also donated soap to garment workers.)
“Fashion is a voice for change,” she said. “It can save lives.”
Many in Nigeria and the United States haven’t grasped the severity of the coronavirus threat. Warnings from celebrities can help. (The U.S. surgeon general urged Kylie Jenner, for instance, to inform her 167 million Instagram followers about the importance of social distancing.)
A not-for-profit fashion brand based in North Devon has donated more than £3,500 to help the fight against coronavirus in African countries.
Origin founders Alice and Tom Cracknell.
Origin, founded by Alice and Tom Cracknell from Woolacombe, is helping African communities fight the spread of Covid-19 with its Every Single Penny campaign.
Origin has always donated 100 per cent of its profits to humanitarian projects in Gambia, Ethiopia, Mali and more recently, Togo.
Some of the PPE funded by Origin arriving in Togo.
But in response to the global pandemic the husband-and-wife-team have upped their donations to include 100 per cent of all revenue from every garment sold.
The money will be donated in the form of cash grants to enable projects in each country to purchase PPE locally, provide improved sanitation and help educate communities.
Origin founders Alice and Tom Cracknell with a HIV support group in Gambia.
Origin has already donated £3,500 and counting since the beginning of April.
Alice said: “While the UK continues its lockdown, the pandemic is only touching the surface in Africa and it is a sad fact that with less resources the repercussions there will be much greater than those we face here.
“We felt it was extremely important, now more than ever, to continue in our support of communities in developing countries which is why we’ve launched Every Single Penny.
Vivo woman was founded in 2011, and is a proudly Kenyan-owned clothing brand which is designed to make women look and feel great. Vivo tapped into the need of ready-to-wear clothes that were affordable when Kenyan women had very few options to choose from.
“At Vivo, we pride ourselves in having 90% of the products we make, made in Kenya and we’re 100% dedicated to inspiring confidence in women no matter what size or shape they are! “
From a fitness wear clothing line to one of Kenya’s leading women’s clothing brand, Vivo has tapped into the need of ready-to-wear clothes that are affordable and offer a great sense of style and comfort.
With 90% of products made in Kenya, our clothes are designed to make you look and feel great as well as inspire a great deal in confidence in you no matter what size or shape you are.
The brand is known for its bright, versatile, colourful and edgy styles. Vivo clothes appeal across the board, and in particular to anyone who enjoys style and is young at heart.
Vivo’s mission is to empower and inspire women, changing the way they see themselves through fashion,Vivo, which means “alive”, invites all women to thrive in their bodies.
Shifting away from Western centric fashion industry norms, Vivo puts African women’s clothing needs and tastes first with versatile fabrics and fits, while remaining globally accommodating. Vivo customers can find casual, smart casual and activewear attire that reflects regional and community trends.
Shop Zetu is a multi-brand platform that carries products from amazing African brands from clothes, beauty, accessories, jewelry and many more made in Kenya fashion products you.
Officially launched on the 18th of December 2019, Zetu is Vivo Woman’s sister brand that aims to produce trendy and simple basics for women and men with a younger sense of fashion and style, following international and local trends.
Unlike Vivo that was created purely to cater to the female market, Zetu is a unisex brand that will carry items that cater to a more youthful, fun, hip and trendy set of clients.
Currently, Shop Zetu holds more than 11 brands as we continue to grow, namely:
Vivowoman, Zetu, Kipato Unbranded, Pauline Cosmetics, I Am Lipsticks, Ajani Handmade, Guo Studio, Nywele Chronicles, Kidosho Apparel, Shkwela and My Soul Tonic.
In the long run we hope that Shop Zetu will be a one stop shop where our clients can find products for everyone, Kids, Women, Men, Teenagers and perhaps even some bespoke collections from some of our partners.
OUR MISSION:
Shop Zetu is to provide a platform for African brands that produce trendy, quality products as well as organize the fast fashion sector and create a best-in-class fashion centered multi-brand online platform.
OUR VISION:
To bring the value currently lost in the fashion retail value by supporting the local industry & community.
In an effort to further curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Kenyan government has directed all citizens to wear masks when in public spaces.
On March 30th, Kenya Fashion Council put out an appeal on social media, requesting designers and fashion industry members to share information on their capacity to produce face masks and PPEs.
Within 24 hours, the Kenya Fashion Council had received more than 800 emails from individuals and businesses. By the following day, there were 1,520 emails in total. KFCO also went ahead and created a manual for public use on the creation of a reusable cloth face mask. The same was shared with designers and tailors, enabling them to continue with a form of production and income generation in a time of crisis.
Kenya Fashion Council is working with all the relevant stakeholders to not only provide safe masks for the population but income generation strategies for its designers and tailors whose businesses have been hit hard during this pandemic.
Sterilization Centre – The Safe Masks For All Initiative Kenya Fashion Council has created an opportunity for its members to produce safe masks for the public by partnering with a sterilization centre. This partnership allows members to drop their cloth face masks at the centre where quality check is performed before sterilization, packaging and labeling.
The already tested, state of the art sterilization centre is well equipped and has the capacity 10 sterilize 4,800 face masks per day.
A customer in receipt of the KE-2 mask can rest assured that it is safe for use and free from contaminants. Designers who would like to use the sterilization centre should have the capacity to deliver a minimum of 120 labeled masks. The quality assurance step ensures that only quality masks are accepted for this process, upholding excellence in production.
The masks produced illustrate the KFCO spirit of innovation and excellence as every mask is individually sterilized, packaged and labeled. KFCO has partnered with Brand Kenya and these high quality, safe, reusable cloth face masks are proof that as Kenyans, we are more than capable of impacting, innovating and producing quality goods! We have the answer to our problems and creative strategies are within.
Get Your Ke-2 Face Mask Delivered To You! The Kenya Fashion Council team has been working day and night to not only coordinate production efforts of face masks but also seek distribution channels to ease accessibility of the same. Kenyans can now conveniently place an order online via JUMIA Kenya and receive the high quality KE-2 masks at their doorstep.
The council has negotiated rates for its members with JUMIA Kenya , which means Kenya Fashion Council Members can now set up shop and sell their masks online, automatically increasing their customer reach. KFCO is working towards multiple distribution channels to ensure Kenyans have access to quality reusable cloth face masks.
Kenya fashion council mask available here on Jumia link
Are You A Member? Due to the current global situation as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Kenya Fashion Council has extended its introductory offer on 90% off membership till 31st May 7020! Membership registration starts from as little as KES 2,500. As a member you can access the great rates KFCO has negotiated with JUMIA Kenya and reach your customers online with just a few steps!
SIGN UP TODAY Website: kenyafashioncouncil.co.ke to access discounted membership and join the family! Begin your journey to your online store!
Join The Fight Kenya Fashion Council is committed to reach every comer of society and provide safe masks to all Kenyans. We have partnered with NYS to enable mass face mask production. NYS engaged a total of 53 tailors from Jericho, Ngara, Taveta court, Kibra and Nairobi Textile.
The work commenced on 28th of April and as at 4th of May 16, 122 masks had been produced. We are looking into further developing patterns for other PPEs as well. The community spirit has been strong and a good example of this is David Juma, pictured below.
Mr Juma received support from the Kenya Fashion Council family who donated cloth and elastic materials totaling 30 meters. Mr Juma also received the KFCO manual which has guidelines on face mask creation and uses this to train others.
Get in touch if you would like to join us in our community efforts! Lets join hands and fight this pandemic together. We are stronger together.
Hanifa’s 3D digital fashion show just changed the fashion game, The designer has been using 3D mockups for a while to convey ideas to her team during sample-making, but says “designing content using 3D models and now an entire collection has been a complete game changer for Hanifa.
Fashion designer Anifa Mvuemba, founder Hanifa planned the groundbreaking digital show before the coronavirus pandemic made it essential.
#PinkLabelCongo
This pandemic has left the fashion industry distressed. Powerhouses like J.Crew and Neiman Marcus are filing bankruptcy and summer menswear and couture shows have been “postponed.” Over the last few months, think pieces and extrinsic deep dives have been discharged along with the question, “Where is the fashion industry going?”
Mvuemba is founder of the luxury label Hanifa. Her clothes have been worn by Kelly Rowland, Ciara, and Vanessa Simmons to name a few. Since Covid-19, the designer has premiered 3D Models in replacement of real models to correlate with the time period we’re in. Due to stay-at-home orders and social distancing, this came as an innovative and safe way to showcase her pieces.
To take it up notch, Mvuemba presented her Pink Label Congo collection on Instagram live Friday evening through a digital experience. After a few technical difficulties, the show kicked off on the @hanifabridal channel. “We create for women without limitations, I found that the 3D world gave me a place to innovate,” Mvuemba tells ESSENCE. “It’s important to believe in yourself, love what you do, and let the passion inspire you.”
Anifa Mvuemba, Pink Label Congo Collection. (An African woman, a black woman, setting new fashion industry standards) pic.twitter.com/CPpSx3ZoC5
The show started with the designers speaking about her journey from Hanifa’s official launch in 2012. Mvuemba exclaimed how the brand has given her validation. “Growing up I always felt like an outcast. I always felt like I wanted to be “in” or be apart of something and I find that I actually have a voice in Hanifa. That’s what fueled the passion” she says.
The designer goes on to explain how Africa stood as an influence for her latest project. “This is the right time to do a collection inspired by Congo. I’ve heard so many stories about the coltan and the mining issues.” Mvuemba expands on the controversy around the mining practices and how 60 -70% of the world’s source comes from this country. “I wanted this collection to support the families that were affected and the organizations that are doing the ground work,” she concludes.
Considering African fashion is eclectic, Mvuemba took those traditions and incorporated century long nuances within the continent like bold prints and bright colors into her collection. Sending pieces down the runway like the Kinshasa Backless Mini Dress that features the colors of the Congo flag or the Mái maxi dress and mini skirt that resembles the Congo skyline.
“Every single color palette we used in this collection has meaning to it,” said Mvuemba. The collection also features the Pink Label Congo Colette T-Shirt in partnership with the Responsible Sourcing Network. 20% of this classic summer tee will support Congolese families against illegal Colton mining in the DRC.
The South African fashion industry is devastated and in shock after the passing of leading South African designer Coenraad de Mol.
De Mol passed away on Tuesday.
“Coenraad was a highly gifted and knowledgeable industry leader who derived great joy from the creative process which he expressed in his cutting-edge De Mil menswear label which was most recently seen at the Cape Wools and Mohair SA Designer Challenge show at SA Fashion Week in October 2019,” said Lucilla Booyzen, director of the South African Fashion Week.
“He was a perfectionist, exceptionally generous with his expertise and took great delight in his role as design and production technology tutor of SAFW’s 21 Steps to Retail Designer Programme”, she added.
De Mil was established in 1997 and moved into male-inspired, gender-neutral clothing in 2007. The designer said he did not regard gender neutrality as just a theme but “It’s what I do,” he would say.
His designs catered to those who don’t have a place as well as those who choose not to be boxed-in by societal norms or conventions.
Photographer Eunice Driver expressed her sadness on SA Fashion Week’s Instagram post saying: “What a loss for humanity and SA fashion”.
While Paul Tilsley took to Twitter to pay his respects, “Devastated. It turns out this was his final bow. Cenraad de Mol, known for his label DE MIL, at @safashionweek AW20. Coenraad passed on last night. A real friend, gone. A real creative force, lost to this world.”
Renowned South African Designer, Coenraad de Mol, Passes Away
The passing away of leading South African designer, Coenraad de Mol on Tuesday 19 May 2020, has left the local fashion industry devasted, says Lucilla Booyzen, director of the South African Fashion Week. pic.twitter.com/WY3dalsKba
Moulaye Taboure, founder of Afrikrea, a e-commerce marketplace for African fashion designers. Even though the platform predominantly services clients in Europe and the US, Taboure says orders from customers on the continent tripled on the platform over the past two months.
Further, Taboure says more designers in African cities with tougher movement restrictions are now signing up to the platform.
“This is definitely a game changer in Africa,” says the founder of Afrikrea, a fashion e-commerce marketplace in Abidjan.
Much of the demand shift is due to lockdown restrictions which have left brick and mortar retail outlets closed as governments attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19. In addition, reduced vehicular traffic also means deliveries can happen much faster in cities known for notorious traffic jams a boon for customer retention.
Put together, these coronavirus induced effects are “already positively impacting” e-commerce players in Africa, says Maxime Bayen, company builder at startup investment firm, GreenTec Capital. “The companies we are talking with in that space have seen their sales gone up clearly.”
It’s an effect that plays out even for business-to-business (B2B) enterprises. Sokowatch, which operates in in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda and supplies informal shops and kiosks in low-income communities with products, is signing up more shop partners and reporting a higher share of stock in local shops compared to traditional suppliers. “We are a technology-enabled supplier that provides same day delivery to their shop, it’s not an option that they have with traditional suppliers to the store,” says Sokowatch founder Daniel Yu.
Taking advantage
The dominant view among e-commerce players on the continent is the boon will last a while longer even after lockdown measures are eased. With physical distancing measures likely to remain in place in different forms, there’s a strong possibility of a drop in foot traffic at normally crowded shopping malls and stores. Taboure says Afrikrea is already tweaking its model to make it cheaper for designers based in Africa to sign up so as to cater for an expected growth in orders from across the continent.
And he’s not the only betting on riding the wave, Only the flexible will survive. Every business has to learn how to do things very differently.”
Pan-African payments giant Flutterwave has set up an e-commerce portal that allows merchants set up online shops that it will power payments for. Essentially, Flutterwave is positioning to facilitate and take advantage of any recourse to e-commerce by offline stores and merchants.
In Kenya, Twiga Foods, a marketplace which supplies retailers with fresh produce from farms, has partnered with Jumia to widen the scope of its reach, allowing households order and receive foodstuff without visiting supermarkets.
Similarly, FarmCrowdy, a Nigerian agri-tech platform that allows people invest in existing farms for a share of profits, has also launched a e-commerce platform for fresh produce. In addition to expanding the scope of market access for farmers within its network, the platform is also an obvious play to provide middle-class Nigerians with an alternative to crowded open-air markets that are likely viewed as high-risk for Covid-19 infections.
Established traditional businesses are also turning to e-commerce out of necessity. Eko Hotel, arguably the biggest hotel brand in Nigeria, has launched an online food delivery service, ostensibly to shore up revenue deficits given the impact of the pandemic on hospitality businesses.
“Only the flexible will survive,” says Victor Asemota, veteran tech investor. “Every business has to learn how to do things very differently. Those who have gained will want to sustain the momentum and those who have lost will die if they don’t change drastically.”
It’s not entirely a home-run for e-commerce businesses though. Supply chain disruptions could yet result in an inability to fulfill orders, especially in countries with strict lockdown measures. For instance, Jumia suspended delivery of all fashion items in South Africa last month. Poignonnec has also admitted to challenges being faced with fulfilling orders particularly for products sourced from China.
Then there are also concerns over the sustainability of the company’s reliance on groceries as an anchor for sales. “It’s not a very profitable vertical for a general merchandise e-commerce platform without specialized value chain for groceries,” says Laolu Sameul-Biyi, former financial analyst at Jumia. For his part, Poignonnec hopes that ongoing consumer adoption amid the outbreak “will accelerate the long-term shift to e-commerce” among local users.
Given the short-term boon amid a lack of options for customers, “the main question is whether or not this trend will stick in a post-COVID era,” Bayen says. For Taboure however, it’s up to e-commerce companies to ensure that answer is affirmative by solving problems around ease of use and building trust. “If it’s not easy to buy online [then] we need to find solutions,” he says.
The documentary gives insight into the four-year journey of her Dakar-based label Tongoro and highlights the importance of local craftsmanship on the continent.
In her new documentary, Made In Africa, designer and creative director Sarah Diouf, shares an intimate look into the journey of her celebrated Senegalese fashion label Tongoro.
Since its launch four years ago, Tongoro has graced runways across major cities, and been sported by international stars, the likes of Burna Boy, Iman and Beyoncé.Diouf is quick to note, however, that its success isn’t merely tied to her own personal achievement—her dream is to help transform Africa’s design clothing industry as a whole, and there’s still much work to be done on that front.
The 30-minute documentary includes footage of Tongoro’s design and production process in Dakar and provides valuable insight for aspiring designers. Diouf, who also narrates the film, champions community involvement and local craftsmanship across the continent. She makes a case for respecting tradition and acknowledging the contributions to African-made clothing to the global fashion landscape.
The documentary marks the brand’s fourth anniversary, which coincides with Africa Day on May 25. Watch Made In Africa in full below, and read our conversation with the designer underneath, in which she discusses the growth of her brand, the importance of supporting locally-made clothes, and her dream for the future of African fashion.
Amsterdam-based brand Daily Paper and Belgian accessory brand KOMONO have come together for the duo’s first-ever collaboration, introducing a line of contemporary Kenyatta sunglasses.
Retrofuturistic Kenyatta Sunglasses Collections
These unisex sunglasses are retrofuturistic in their design and come in a range of fitting colors include black, tortoise and “Racing Red.” The frame is squared with rounded edges, housing the large, “Dark Smoke”-tinted and 100 percent UV protected ovular lenses inside, while the arms are equally chunky and angular in approach.
Silver-plated “DAILYPAPER” branding in either silver or a gold-tone graces both arms, while on the inside of the arm you’ll find information that details where they were made.
To celebrate the release of the inaugural eyewear collaboration, Daily Paper and KOMONO’s campaign reinterprets the glasses through Daily Paper’s futuristic lens. It delivers a study of highly-contrasted, boldly-colored photographs that pack plenty shadows and sharp lines.
Retrofuturistic Kenyatta Eye-wear
The collaborative collection of sunglasses drops on May 15 for $160 apiece at both brands’ storefronts, on the Daily Paper and KOMONO websites, and select retailers worldwide. Check out the three Kenyatta sunglasses in the galleries above.
Art Direction: Beri Dalgali And Dennis Schreuder Make-Up: Anita Jolles Hair Stylist: Bianca Van Zwieten Model: Ottawa Kwami And Akon Changkou
