Friday 13th of November 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: African Model

A new Generation of E-commerce Retailers want to Globalise African fashion

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Sites like Industrie Africa, The Folklore and Afrikrea are connecting African designers to customers abroad, but designers are wary of what international demand will do to their businesses.

For African designers, local e-commerce platforms can provide a gateway to an international audience eager to shop their collections. After several setbacks, a new generation of players is stepping up to bring African fashion to a global customer.

Companies including Industrie Africa, Afrikrea, Kisua and The Folklore are attracting designers wanting to gain awareness among customers outside of Africa. These companies help facilitate cross-border shipping and handling as well as marketing, all resource-intensive hurdles that could otherwise act as barriers for African fashion designers who have a willing buyer outside of their native continent, but no way to reach them sustainably.

“Shortly after launching my business on Instagram, I had people from New Zealand, Accra, New York messaging me about purchasing,” says Vanessa Iloenyosi, founder and designer of Nigerian label Nyosi, which launched in 2017. “There was no way to get things to them effectively.” Iloenyosi then partnered with The Folklore after the company, which acts as an online curator for luxury African fashion customers in the US, reached out to her.

E-commerce marketplaces for African fashion tap into a growing demand for African designer goods all over the world. Currently, Africa’s e-commerce opportunity is estimated to be $19.8 billion by Statista. According to McKinsey, the continent’s local manufacturing industry is also expected to grow to $930 billion by 2025.

This presents an opportunity for African e-tailers to promote Africa’s fashion industry globally. African designers are hoping that these partnerships, in addition to offering benefits like better shipping rates and distribution, will introduce a greater pool of customers to African fashion.

Working with a team of buyers who understand the local market also makes for a better experience selling abroad. But some designers are wary of what globalising the African fashion market means for their businesses and are pushing for a local emphasis on e-commerce plays.

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With programmes like the Africa free-trade policy, a growing middle class and internet use, initiatives to encourage artisanship and African sourcing such as the Designers Consociate and grassroots work to encourage government subsidies, designers and e-tailers on the continent are hopeful that African fashion will become more than a fad for Western customers or a luxury that only richer Africans home and in the diaspora can access.

Some see it as a long time coming, but earlier attempts to establish a go-to online marketplace for African fashion have stalled.

Zuvaa, founded in 2014, lost trust with designers after marking down prices and refusing to pay the agreed commissioning rate, resulting in a 2017 petition that racked up 3,000 signatures.

The company ended up shutting down in 2019 due to the lack of infrastructure and an operations team versed in the African e-commerce industry, according to founder Kelechi Anyadiegwu. Oxosi, a once-promising African e-commerce play positioned as “Africa’s answer to Moda Operandi” that worked with prominent brands including Maki Oh, Brother Vellies and Osei Duro and inked a deal with the costume department of HBO’s Insecure, abruptly shut down in 2017. Oxosi did not respond to requests for comment.

The perks of online partnerships

E-tailers like Afrikrea, which is based in Ivory Coast and launched in 2016, are able to address shipping costs for African designers through lucrative partnerships with DHL, a company invested in tapping into Africa’s growing e-commerce.

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Designers selling on Afrikrea can create storefronts and receive payments from customers anywhere in the world, an important benefit for sellers based in Africa who have had difficulties accepting online payments from platforms like Shopify in the past.

Founder Moulaye Taboure recently raised $1 million in funding to further promote African designs and expand intracontinental distribution.

Amira Rasool, founder of The Folklore, uses a slightly different strategy. She and her team spend as much as four months on the continent sourcing products, coaching designers on how to price for a global market, helping to find stylists, product shooting, and negotiating shipping rates with third-party agencies. The designers then make the products and ship to the company’s warehouse in New Jersey, where it is then dispersed to customers.

African fashion e-commerce platforms also serve functions that go beyond shipping and distribution. Fashion education is a core component of Industrie Africa and critical in building up e-commerce on the continent, says founder and CEO Nisha Kanabar. Kanabar says she started the platform to shatter stereotypical interpretations of African design, which usually involve the Dutch Wax Print known as Ankara, and earn the market respect by amplifying Pan-African voices.

The platform launched in 2018 as an encyclopedia of contemporary African design and centuries-old artisanship native to the continent, then segued into e-commerce, allowing customers to shop by filters such as sustainability and material type important because it helps promote the work of African artisans in the textile industry. Most clientele is based in the UK and the US.

“African fashion consumers are already shopping online on Asos, Zara, Harrods. They just need to be taught [and] shown to ‘shop African’,” Kanabar says.

The drawbacks of scaling globally

While many African designers aim to get their collections in front of a global audience, that growth can strain small businesses as they try to meet customer expectations that don’t align with their operations. Fashion consumers have gotten accustomed to fast fashion practices that African designers cannot afford to bear, say Maxwell Boko and Mmuso Potsane, the South African design duo behind the label Mmuso Maxwell.

“See-now, buy-now is distorting people’s understanding of how fashion design works,” the design duo says. The designers argue that while international African e-commerce retailers are offering support for designers, an overreliance on Western imports undermines the industry.

“People want to come to the party when people are already there. It’s sad that co-signs from “international media” is what assures people of the unique lens that African designers bring to fashion,” says Boko.

Others in the industry are similarly wary of hinging too much of African designers’ success on how much they can resonate with a global customer. Zara Odu, a former buyer at Oxosi, says the platform came about as a way to represent that African fashion industry for Africa’s online shoppers. “Oxosi came at a time when designers were starting to get tired of pandering to international buyers and retailers,” she says. “They had spent so long waiting to belong in stores internationally; but Oxosi came with a ‘for us, buy us’ perspective accompanied with the most beautiful visuals and narrative. It was undeniably powerful, and everyone wanted to be a part of that.”

Even successful international partnerships introduce new pressures on designer businesses. For Iloenyosi, selling on The Folklore has been largely beneficial, but the cost of production led to a significant disparity between the cost of products on her Instagram page and the Folklore website leading to queries from some customers. The designer is launching her own e-commerce platform as an alternative for customers who are OK with waiting much longer for products.

Still, African designers are garnering notice from international retailers as the marketability of the sector becomes clearer, thanks in part to the African specific e-commerce platforms. Browns, owned by international luxury marketplace Farfetch, recently joined forces with Homecoming the multi-hyphenate platform whose aim is to support and bolster art and design in Africa  to showcase Africa’s fashion talent.

The festival ended with Nigerian designer Orange Culture announcing an e-commerce partnership with Farfetch. Designers like Kenneth Ize, Thebe Magugu and Mowalola have also earned global recognition.

African e-commerce platforms and buyers who understand the limitations that designers on the continent face are, ultimately, a boon for the industry.

“Designers will only grow if they can continue to sell at a steady and sustainable pace. With growing interest in traditions that are central to Africans, which boost the manufacturing and textile sectors, African merchandising will grow, allowing for better products to be made and sold all over the world,” says Odu.

Writen by BY ADEDOYIN ADENIJI

Content courtesy of Vogue Business & Nairobi fashion hub 

LVMH Prize finalist Sindiso Khumalo debuts at Milan Fashion Week with Harriet Tubman-inspired collection

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

South African designer Sindiso Khumalo made her debut at Milan Fashion Week with a collection based on American abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

With the pandemic keeping many presentations digital, Khumalo’s namesake label presented a fashion film to feature the new collection and honor the life of Tubman, who used the Underground Railroad to free dozens of slaves after reaching her own freedom in Philadelphia. The film shows a model wandering through fields and farmland, hinting at the landscape Tubman might have known as a child.

The collection, “Minty,” titled after Tubman’s childhood nickname, features illustrations by Cape Town artist Shakil Solanki and tailored styles in hand-printed silk taffeta and handwoven cotton from Khumalo’s workshop in Burkina Faso. Khumalo’s brand also works with the NGO Embrace Dignity to employ women who were previously in sex work to hand crochet and embroider garment details.

Khumalo, who earlier this year was one of the joint finalists to share the €300k ($352k) LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, along with London-based Priya Ahluwalia, focuses each of her collections on the life of a historical Black woman.

Her previous collection highlighted the Egbado princess Sarah Forbes Bonetta, who was taken as a prisoner of war as a child and spent many years in the British Royal household under Queen Victoria. Her next collection will be inspired by South African activist Charlotte Maxeke.

“As a Black woman I want to make sure that we’re also part of history,” Khumalo said over a video call. “Harriet Tubman was my height — she was tiny — and freed 70 slaves. I want my kids to know that there were superheroes who were Black and female and petite.”

Having studied architecture at the University of Cape Town, Khumalo worked with lauded architect David Adjaye in London, where she also completed a masters in textiles at Central Saint Martins before returning to establish her label back in South Africa.

We caught up with Khumalo about her collection and presenting her work at Milan Fashion Week for the first time.

CNN Style: What do you want to communicate through your label?

Sindiso Khumalo: I am paying homage to specific Black women from a specific time in history to ensure their stories are told. I can’t believe there are some South Africans who don’t know who Harriet Tubman is. I want to educate people on Black culture and Black history and I think it’s really important that I use my platform to educate, and to bring hope as well. I feel like if I share these stories, people will feel like they can make some change, even if it’s small. It’s important for us to have these role models and talk about them because they are icons of our history.

Another reason I choose these women is to highlight the violence Black women experience, and the violence they experienced in the 1800s. We are still experiencing the same violence today with Uyinene Mrwetyana in South Africa and Breonna Taylor in America — there’s just this violence towards Black women that we have to address.

Why did you choose Harriet Tubman as your inspiration for your Spring-Summer 2021 collection?

In every collection I hint at the next muse. I was studying Sarah Forbes Bonetta and Harriet came through in some of the research I was doing. I embroidered Harriet on one of the dresses from Autumn-Winter. For Harriet actually there’s a lot more work to be done so I think she will have two collections.

I don’t look for the muse, it feels like we find each other in the process. The muse will always be a female and she will always be Black and she’ll always be from a specific time in history.

There are so many women who haven’t had their story told Bonetta had the most extraordinary life, and when I was telling people about her, no one knew who she was.

What are some of the details in the collection that relate to Tubman’s life?

One of the first details is that we worked with this artist Shakil Solanki on making hand-printed designs of cotton plants. I wanted to imagine Harriet in her Sunday best, but she’s six years old  my son is six picking cotton on a plantation in the sun. I wanted to portray the darkness in a very compelling way so I asked Shakil to paint the most beautiful cotton plant he could make. These plantations were beautiful with lovely homes and well-dressed women. But (the designs) are also a reminder that this is the plant that a six-year-old girl was picking. It’s a beautiful plant but it has a very dark history.

Sometimes when we talk about slavery, we abstract things so much that you don’t actually understand the human story there. I’m a mum  the idea of a child picking cotton is just repulsive to me. It’s not just slavery, but the human story within that.

The other way I brought her into the collection is through her name. Philadelphia was such a crucial part of her life, and when she was there she named herself Harriet after her mother. She was born Araminta, Minty for short. But on the garments it’s Harriet because that’s what she named herself. We included the Philadelphia Fleabane, which was the first wildflower she would have seen crossing into freedom.

Did you find that the limitations of this year’s Fashion Week allowed for more creative expression?

We’ve never made a fashion film before. We’ve never had a reason to. It’s a very different thing from the stills. Strangely there’s a small town called Philadelphia outside of Cape Town, and Philadelphia was the borderline where Harriet stepped into her freedom, so we wanted to tell that story.

I don’t think I could have made the same statement in a (runway) show. And that I think is the joy of everything slowing down everyone has had to sit and watch and engage. Fashion week is a flurry everyone’s going from show to show to show and you’re just hoping somebody sees your stuff. Maybe from now on we’ll always have a film to go with the collection because it’s a way for people to really go deeper and understand our message.

Tell me more about the NGO you partnered with for this collection.

I’ve been working with Embrace Dignity for a few months now. They work with women in Cape Town who are former sex workers and place them with work that is safe and non-exploitative.

We actually train these women up in our studio in crochet and hand embroidery. For me, it’s also about imparting a skill that they can also use themselves because in Cape Town we have a tourist market. It’s a combination of giving them a safe place to work, a non-judgemental place, and then also giving them a skill that they can then use. Everybody needs the chance at a second chapter we have so much poverty in South Africa.

I like to think of myself as a bit of a modern-day Robin Hood. I sell these luxury clothes and then try to make some kind of change within a community. I think people get overwhelmed and they feel like they can’t change anything, but I look at icons like Harriet Tubman and Nelson Mandela and I think you can make a change. You have to do something, even if it’s small.

Content Courtesy of CNN & Nairobi fashion hub

Saint International Jamaica Limited Make a Come Back To Africa Plan to Find Model Stars

Posted on by Fashion Police

Recognizing their pure and authentic beauty, African queens have readjusted their crowns and reclaimed their rightful place on the runway, with the help of one of the leading local style and talent agencies. Saint International has successfully expanded its reach to Africa and now represents a fast-growing list of next-generation fashion stars from the continent.

Within just two years, Saint has signed talent from the motherland and has already garnered enviable advertising and impressive runway work for such elite luxury labels as Balmain, Balenciaga, Celine, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Miu Miu.

“There is no model agency in Jamaica or anywhere in the Caribbean that has done what we did; taking models from continental Africa, specifically Nigeria and Cameroon, and directly booking them for the most prestigious fashion jobs in the world,” the characteristically bold Saint founder and head honcho Deiwght Peters to The Gleaner.

Peters outlined that he was able to leverage Saint’s powerful global network within the industry to be able to discover a model in an African country. And within a few weeks, getting her on a plane to Paris to start a career that once was only a dream.

“The tastemakers in the international fashion industry embraced our new African models with a fervent passion that exceeded my expectations,” he enthused. “In a relatively short span, we have made major inroads across the continent of Africa and have identified, developed and made tangible stars from Nigeria and Cameroon.”

One of Saint’s African breakout models is Nigerian stunner Tomiwa. A nursing student resident in the Osun state, she was discovered online in late 2018 by Peters.

The 21-year old beauty made her debut as an exclusive model for French label Celine (negotiated directly from Jamaica by Peters) at their much-lauded 2019 runway show in Paris last year February. “Deiwght believed in me and felt I could do well internationally, and he still does, which boosted my confidence to a hundred,” she shared.

Overnight success
Overnight, Tomiwa became an in-demand runway face, racking up bookings for Valentino, Dior, Maison Margiela, Marni and Tod’s. She also landed multiple campaigns for Miu Miu, starring in the Italian label’s recent Fall/Winter 2020 global ads, and their Spring/Summer campaign before that.

Also making waves is Nigerian Saint David Oyinloye, currently starring in the lookbook for the French luxury goods manufacturer Hermés. “I am happy to be putting Africa on the map,” the genetically blessed model said. A trained electrical engineer, Oyinloye admitted that “the ups and downs in the industry before I joined Saint almost made me give up, and thank God I didn’t as I would have missed out on a lot”.

Not missing a beat on golden opportunities was Aworo Mayowa, an English literature graduate from Lagos State University. “I randomly followed Deiwght on Instagram and he immediately showed interest. I had been scouted by a lot of agencies, but I decided on choosing him when I saw he could be trusted (from the questions he asked) and had a lot of experience with managing top models such as Tami Williams,” she explained. Soon she was strutting the Parisian and Italian runways for Balenciaga and Alberta Ferretti and working extensively in Germany.

The story of finding fame on the Saint model express is echoed, too, by Cameroon national Gedon Kit, who was discovered on Instagram last year. “It was the beginning of a dream,” he recalled. “Before being recruited by Deiwght, I was in university doing a master’s degree, and then I got booked as an exclusive model for Balenciaga this past February at Paris Fashion Week.” The 24-year-old was also booked for Balenciaga’s Fall/Winter 2020 global ad campaign.

Life has come full circle for Saint in Africa as in its nascent days, the then fledgling agency signed a host of Jamaican models directly to South African model agencies, including Kibwe McGann, Janine Henry, Kirk Headley, and Kanhai Condison, who worked extensively in the fashion industry there, appearing in magazines, on billboards, and landing fragrance and clothing campaigns.

Winner Of African Kids Fashion Week is June Alaare Wisse a 7 years old Nigerian Dutch Model

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

A 7-year-old winner, June Wisse has emerged following this year’s African Kids Fashion Week competition; an event created to showcase the best of African fashion for children. The second runner ups ae Jayson Egbon and Oladeji Excel respectively.

This year’s edition themed the “SHOWCASE ” gave African kids the platform to showcase the best of African Fashion Inspired by the rich and diverse African culture with traditional fabrics in a creative and stylish way as organised by Smart Code Africa.

The competition was held virtually, where contestants with the highest likes and engagement online became the African Kids Fashion Week (Showcase) winner.

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In a statement made available to the press, the Creative Director of the event, Mr Ajibola Akande, said that the African Kids Fashion Week is an event created to showcase the best of African fashion for kids

“This years’ edition aims to build the attitude and develop personality for the young African to love and embrace African attires, ” he added.

Ajibola further explained the economic value of the project which is aimed at retaining the foreign exchange that goes out of Africa within Africa.

He said, “Billions of dollars goes out of Africa from the children fashion industry and one of the main objectives of the African Kids Fashion Week is to help retain those funds within Africa.

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“When the children grow up wearing African fashion, they will definitely stick to it when they are of age. Imagine all the children in African are wearing African fashion, you cannot imagine how much that will contribute into the Africa economy in respect to IGR.”

The event gave children between the ages of 4 to 12 years the opportunity to showcase the best of African Fashion Inspired by the rich and diverse culture in Africa.

The online event started with an entry which started on the 9th of August and closed on the 22nd of August. Voting started on the 23rd of August and ended on the 29th of August 2020. The voting was filled with interesting activities as contestants scramble for votes from all over the world. Some Nigerian celebrities also joined in the competition by endorsing their chosen candidates to win the competition via the Instagram platform @africankidsfashionweek.

This year’s African Kids Fashion Week was powered by Smartcode Africa and was supported by Mobiwura Children Fragrance, Afrikayla, wonder child for kids, Wealahkids among other top kids designers

Content Courtesy of This Day Live & Nairobi fashion hub 

Sudanese Model Nyakim Gatwech Enters Guinness Book Of Records For Having The Darkest Skin Tone On Earth

Posted on by Fashion Police

Sudanese Model, Nyakim Gatwech is the latest in the Guinness Book of Records,Nyakim is known for her naturally dark skin color and has been nicknamed the Queen of the Dark, Nyakim has faced self-esteem issues and comments from people who promote bleaching to lighten skin color, but learned to embrace her beauty and pigmentation with love and support from her fans.

While millions of women across the globe are paying the high price for bleaching, Nyakim Gatwech got recognized by the Guinness book of World records for having the darkest skin tone on earth.

The model has graced covers of countless magazines as her alluring and uniquely black yet divine skin tone redefines the very definition of beauty, Nyakim has set the standard for many African ladies who have felt insecure about their different skin tones and whenever she walks the red carpet or runway, she commands the attention of everyone and steals the moment without an apology.

Nyakim Gatwech is best known as a Model. Model known as Queen of the Dark who found acclaim with her distinctive dark complexion. She was born on January 27, 1993 in Sudan. Another model named Shaun Ross shattered beauty expectations in the world of fashion with his skin pigment. She has faced discrimination for her skin since moving to the United States.

[taq_review]

She is one of the successful African Model , She has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on January 27, 1993. She is one of the Richest Model who was born in Sudan.According to Trending Celebs Now, Nyakim Gatwech’s estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & much more details has been updated below. Let’s check, How Rich is Nyakim Gatwech in 2020?

Estimated Net Worth in 2019$1 Million – $5 Million (Approx.)
Previous Year’s Net Worth (2018)$100,000 – $1 Million
Annual SalaryUnder Review.
Income SourcePrimary Income source Model (profession).

 

According to Boredpanda, African model and fashion icon, who now lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nyakim Gatwech she proud and  not shame about her melanin, and she makes sure the world is aware. She once said while captioning one of her photos on Instagram that her Chocolate is elegant and she represents a nation of warriors.

Content  courtesy of Nairobi fashion hub Digital Team 

Priscilla Ray Covers Satisfashion UG Magazine’s March 2020 Issue

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Priscilla Ray makes her magazine cover debut, 16 years after her last appearance on Zenji magazine. Then a glamour model, she was a fixture on Kampala’s social scene, runway shows and magazine spreads. She then quietly stepped out of the limelight, got her Master’s degree and became a mother.

Satisfashion UG’s March 2020 issue is here starring Priscilla Ray

Now a businesswoman, she’s enjoying a quiet life out of the spotlight. She talks to us about finding herself and the beauty of being content.

In person, Ray is a delight; she’s bubbly, talkative and insanely funny. She greets me with a big hug, and agrees that we leave Café Javas to have our chat at Riders Lounge, Acacia Place, which was a lot quieter. Dressed in a blue Baum und pferdgarten ruffled striped shirt, and a pair of off-white printed textured Derek Lam 10 Crosby wide-leg pants. Her hair, which she flips incessantly (because who wouldn’t?) is in a beautiful dark brown shade, a perfect match for her skin tone. She’s carrying a brown Chanel purse, which I later find out set her back a staggering $5000.

Read exclusive interview here courtesy of  Satifashion Ug

Content courtesy of Satisfashion UG & Nairobi fashion hub Digital Team

Trevor Stuurman South Africa Street Style photography

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Kimberley born, Trevor stuurman, is an award winning contemporary multimedia visual artist, afda graduate with a ba (hons) motion picture & live performance who sees the world through his creative lens and finds beauty in that which reminds him of home a place that is imbued with colour, love and belonging that reflects africa.

Ever since he burst onto the creative scene scooping the elle style reporter title in 2012, trevor has easily cemented himself as a creative force to be reckoned with.

A seasoned explorer, he cites travel as his core inspiration. “the more I leave home, the more I realise the power and currency that home has. And I think that in turn makes me a better storyteller because I am able to find pieces of home wherever I go and then create tangible products”.
This essence of belonging inspired him to host his first solo exhibition entitled “home”, a love letter to the himba women of nambia that enjoyed a successful run at the hazard gallery in johannesburg. Subsequently, trevor has exhibited in a group exhibition at digitalia; the art and economy of ideas in san francisco at the museum of the african diaspora.

Trevor has curated his own installations; “teleporting into afrika” and “this is home” for the absolut one source live creative festivals and “this is home” at the motsepe foundation’s mandela 100 summit.

Trevor has cemented himself as a co-pilot with brands such as mini as brand ambassador, standard bank, simon and mary’s fez hats line, eponymous fashion brand rich mnisi, vlisco and laurence airline. He has collaborated with artists such as black coffee, ciara, nelson makamo, african rhythm, dear ribane and the carters – beyoncé and jay-z.

As marie claire magazine’s image maker 2018 recipient and gq style declared “king of creativity”, trevor has lived up to these titles having been commissioned in the same year by disney to interpret marvel’s black panther with manthe ribane as his muse.

His work with global humanitarian foundations includes the united nations, gates foundation and the auma obama foundation to document former american president barack obama.

Described as “a cultural force” by cnn’s african voices feature, trevor continues to hone in on his creative eye and centres diverse beauty and fashion. He has captured the likes of teyana taylor, naomi campbell shanelle nyasiase, gigi & bella hadid, kendall jenner and imaan hammam.

As a british vogue contributor, trevor’s work at arise and afro punk johannesburg has made him a sought after photographer able to capture inclusive representations of beauty, culture and fashion expression. It is no wonder he believes that “being african is his superpower.”

Content courtey of Trevor Stuurman & Nairobi Fashion Hub

Miss Universe Kenya 2018 Wabaiya Kariuki To Represent Kenya At Miss Elite International Beauty Pageant In Egypt

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Miss Universe Kenya 2018, Wabaiya Kariuki will be representing Kenya at Miss Elite International beauty Pageant that will be going down at El Gouna Town Resort at the Red Sea, in Egypt.

The pageant that aims to celebrate exceptional models, singers, actresses and influencers among others in the beauty industry will be taking place from the 1st to the 3rd of April 2020.

” I guess the cat’s out of the bag now. A sis will be heading to Egypt in April for the miss elite world competition to represent the motherland. Excited for what’s to come. Thank you Nariman Khaled for the opportunity. “

Wabaiya will be contesting against over 20 other contestants from other countries such as Brazil, Serbia, Poland, Sweden, Lebanon, Nigeria, Egypt and Columbia among others. The young beauty queen who represented Kenya at the Miss Universe beauty pageant held in Thailand in 2018 posted the exciting news on her Instagram feed, indicating how proud she was to represent her motherland.

Founded by Stephano Douaihy, this will be the first edition of the Miss Elite International beauty Pageant. It will be hosted by MTV Presenter and Model Carla Haddad. The organizers are excited about this event and hope to make a historical debut into the pageant world.

Content courtesy of Wabaiya Kariuki, Miss Elite world & Nairobi fashion  hub

Wabaiya Kariuki

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

Wabaiya Kariuki is a 24 year old who has just completed her degree in Actuarial Science. She works at a start up insurance agency called Mule Insurance Agency Limited.

Apart from that, she is a high fashion and commercial model having worked with a number of designers from East Africa and has been featured in some online Pan African campaigns.

She enjoys singing, travelling, listening to music, hanging out with friends and watching movies. She is also a singer and in her free time, she teaches violin at a start up music school in her area. The most influential person in her life is her late mother who was a Singer, Fashion Designer, Model and a completely lovable person. If she wins the crown, she hopes to advocate for mental health among the youth in her country.

Content courtesy of Miss Universe & Nairobi fashion hub

Adut Akech Interviewed By Naomi Campbell for I-D Magazine

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer
Bodysuit haider ackermann. earrings vintage from early halloween.

On Christmas Day 2019, Adut turned 20, leaving her teenage life behind, the last year of which saw her pick up Model Of The Year awards from The Fashion Awards and models.com — an incredible year, but just one of an incredible career so far.
For Adut’s third i-D cover, who better, then, to interview her than the Naomi Campbell (13-time i-D cover star)? A quick phone call across Paris later, and…..

Swimsuit fendi. tights calzedonia. earrings and belt vintage from albright fashion library. shoes y/project.

Naomi: Good morning, Adut!
Adut: Hey mama!

How are you doing today?
I’m in Paris and I’m a little tired. How are you?

I’m in Paris too. I’m at the airport. I’m on my way to Lagos.
Oh yeah! Were you here? I missed you.

I’ve come straight from LA to Paris. Then I’m in Nigeria for one night, then getting back on the plane and straight back to LA.
Oh my god!

The Dior show looked gorgeous yesterday though, it’s a shame I missed it. But let’s start. Let’s get to it. First I want to ask you how you feel about turning 20 in December. You’re not a teenager anymore!
It feels weird! Maybe it’s all in my head, but I feel like the minute I turned 20 I changed… Like on my birthday, I had this moment of reflection. Maybe I’ve got a new attitude towards life now? I feel like I’m older though – it’s crazy to me that I’ve just turned 20.

You’re very mature in a lot of ways, even though you’re still young. You told me this Christmas your mum was going to visit her family and you were going to take care of your siblings.
I have more responsibilities than most people who are 20. So much has gone on in my life already — in my personal life and in my career.

Top and pantashoes balenciaga. belt gucci. earrings vintage from early halloween.

I remember the first time I saw your face, and I thought just, oh my goodness! It was like — bam! Here’s a star. I saw it immediately.
I remember when I closed the Saint Laurent show under the Eiffel Tower. You were backstage, and from there, that was it. We’d already met but then we became friends. We exchanged numbers. You texted me, and it felt really supportive. At that moment I needed that so much. I never thought that kind of support would come from the Naomi Campbell. I felt that love from you, I felt that connection.

I find it so important, because I came up with a group of girls who all really supported each other, and – although I don’t think it’ll ever be the same — I didn’t see the same camaraderie in the generations that followed. But I care about your wellbeing, because without your wellbeing you can’t do all this. One thing I wanted to ask you about was your experience as a black woman in our industry. And since you started out as a model what changes you’ve seen, what developments — how do you feel? You know, you’ve helped to create these developments and changes, too.
This is only my fourth year working as a model, but in those four years I’ve seen a lot of change. The biggest change we can all acknowledge is that the industry is getting more diverse. When I started – when I made my debut — there were so few other black girls, and now there are so many. There are models of colour from so many places around the world working in the industry now, and it’s incredible to see. It makes me so happy.

Dress bottega veneta. belt (top) marc jacobs vintage from albright fashion library. belt (bottom) and bags chanel. earrings vintage from early halloween.

I’ve very much observed you helping to make this change. You have made this advance in inclusion in the industry – but how did you feel about it at the beginning?
To walk for Saint Laurent was amazing. It is a dream to be a part of that, to have the opportunity to walk in that show. But it threw me, because it’s amazing to be working in fashion, but then you think about the lack of diversity there was in the industry then, and you know it’s not right. But across the seasons it started to get better, and now it’s so much better! And it can always get even better.

One thing that makes me so proud of you is the charity work you’ve been doing. You’ve been doing it for a while now, working with the UN Refugee Agency. It’s obviously clear what drives you to give back. But I find that the hope you give is such a powerful thing.
It was something I had always wanted to do, before even modelling, and now I just want to do it more than ever. I actually want to start my own foundation, my own organisation – it’s something deep in my heart. I don’t know what the exact steps are going forward, but I have a lot of support.

You have such a huge platform now. You have a lot of people who look up to you. You’ve given hope to so many.
The work with the UN, everyone knows the reason for it and why I’m passionate about it, why I want to give something back. I want to support them in any way I can.

How did it feel when you won Model of the Year in December at the Fashion Awards?
I mean I was incredibly proud to have some of the most important people in my life there – you and Edward and Pierpaolo [Piccioli]. I love Pierpaolo so much, he’s such a special being. You all have such a special place in my heart. I said this in my speech, you’re my family. I’m not great at reading from a script, writing a speech: I stutter, I mess up. So, with that speech, I just let my heart speak. That award felt bigger than me. That award felt like it was for every single little boy and girl, every woman and man, anyone that finds representation and validation in the work I’ve done. If little girls see me on social media, and get inspired, then that award is for them. I want to inspire other black girls to do this.

I love getting messages from people when they say, “You’ve made our skin colour more acceptable.” It’s also why, for example, I’m heading to Lagos right now. It’s so important to keep in touch with our continent, to promote it, because our African continent is emerging now and it’s beautiful.
It really is, and it gets portrayed so poorly, but I’m happy that people like you are changing the perception of Africa.

You’re using your platform in the right way to change things, too.
I’m trying my best. I feel very fortunate to be in the position I am, to have the platform I have, to spread a message that’s true and that needs to be heard. I want to raise awareness about the things that are overlooked and ignored. Anyone who doesn’t like it? That’s not my concern. I’m learning to speak my truth and stand my ground. You have to fight for what you believe in.

You have the right to say it and the platform to say it from. You know I thought I would never be able to use social media, but I love it. Let’s not deny that we all like to spy on other people and see what they’re up to. But it’s also a way to support each other together and create a community. And if I want to set someone straight, I get on my social media and set them straight.
I love being expressive on social media. It can be beautiful, you can be so free, you can do whatever you want! No one can say no to you.

Top and skirt jeremy scott. earrings vintage from early halloween. shoes jimmy choo.

You’ve achieved a lot in your four years working. And I want to ask, what are your other goals? What’s left to achieve? Personally and professionally. What kind of role model do you want to be to these young girls?
Honestly, I just want to be comfortable, happy, content… You can’t predict the future but I’d love to have a family. Career-wise, I want to do everything I’ve always wanted to do and then more. I don’t want to be known as just a model — I want to be remembered as someone who did something, someone who made a big impact.

I’m not worried because everything you do makes a big impact. You speak from your heart. You are sincere. There’s no bullshit. That’s why I love you.
Everything I do, I feel like it’s for all of us because it takes all of us. If I didn’t have the support I have from you, then I don’t think I would have made it to where I am today.

OK, one more question, and then I’ve got to jump on a plane.
I want to go to the motherland with you!

Absolutely.
Let’s make it happen! This year I have to go home. I need to. I need to put my foot down in the motherland. I’m going to do everything in my power to make it happen.

You’re coming! OK, this question. I want to know what keeps you excited and enthusiastic about the business?
I want to know what keeps you going!

For me, I still love to be in front of a camera, to be transformed, to be made into a different person, to become this character.
I love the storytelling of fashion. And when it comes to it, I just love what I do. I love shooting, now. I used to really be a show girl but I feel like I get more and more excited every time I get in front of a camera at the moment, and that I’m getting better every time, too. I think I’ve learned the art of transforming myself, becoming a character — depending on the outfit, the surroundings, what the photographer wants.

Jacket dior. briefs araks. belt (top) vintage phi, belt (bottom) vintage yves saint laurent and earrings vintage from albright fashion library. shoes the attico.

The clothes are so important. They set the tone. What you’re wearing transforms you. I can’t tell you how I’m going to be on set, because it depends on what I’m wearing. But isn’t it so fun?
I’m falling in love with it more and more every day.

This is the start of a new decade. How do you see our industry changing throughout it? Where do we want to be in 2030?
I have so much hope and so much faith, I’m so optimistic to see how far we can go in the next ten years. I think we want to see more diversity, more inclusivity. We want to get to a place where we don’t even have to talk about it. Where it’s not forced.

It feels like everyone is talking to each other on panel discussions about diversity but let’s not talk about it anymore. Let’s do it.
And that’s our work for the next decade. I want to revisit this conversation with you in ten years time, and look back at how things have changed. And let’s make it a totally different conversation we’re having in 2030 about what we want in that decade. All I want is to just be able to celebrate beautiful models of colour.

I’m so proud of you! Have a great time at Paris Couture! Stay hydrated, drink water, get enough sleep, stay healthy, don’t go to too many parties. Although if you work hard you have to play hard, too — have some fun, that’s what it’s all about.
Thank you!

I love you.
I love you more. Have a safe flight.

Credits
Photography Daniel Jackson
Styling Julia Sarr-Jamois
Hair Esther Langham at Art + Commerce using R+Co “High Dive” Moisture and Shine Cream. Make-up Frank B at The Wall Group.
Nail technician Yuko Tsuchihashi at Susan Price NYC. Photography assistance Jeffrey Pearson and Jeremy Hall.
Styling assistance Christina Smith, Nick Centofanti and Lily Zhang. Hair assistance Gabe Jenkins. Make-up assistance Elle Haein Kim.
Production Rebekah Mikale.
Casting director Samuel Ellis Scheinman for DMCASTING.
Model Adut Akech at The Society.

This article originally appeared on I-D

 

Stylist Shiona Turini Collaborates With Barbie Doll To Celebrate African Beauty

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

Shiona Turini’s history with Barbie dolls is similar to that of many black women. Store shelves would be brimming with Barbie dolls in a range of different hair color shades—blonde, brunette, red, black, etc.—but when it came to complexion shades, options were few and far between. Then, in 1980, Turini’s sigh of relief came in the form of a black Barbie with an afro, clad in a fire red dress with gold accessories. Now, the former fashion editor and costume designer is making her own Barbie history by collaborating with Barbie Style to produce a a diverse collection of black dolls in honor of Black History Month.

“It was important for me to reflect Barbie as an icon through the lens of black culture during Black History Month,” Turini said in a statement. “I drew inspiration from the first black Barbie, who debuted her all-red look in 1980.

My vision was to style diverse dolls in bold looks with themes seen throughout my work, like contrasting snakeskin and leopard challenging traditional uniformity.”

Turini’s four-pronged collection showcases the versatility of black beauty and features 10 models of different skin tones and sizes, including a doll in a wheelchair, in various color palettes, including soft sherbet colors, all black, brown mixed with snakeskin, and red, the latter inspired by and featuring the first black Barbie doll.

The creative mind behind the movie “Queen & Slim” has designed Barbie’s latest looks, in honor of Black History Month.

Mattel worked with costume designer Shiona Turini to outfit a set of Barbies in 10 different hair styles, skin tones and body types.

“Thank you @barbiestyle — for collaborating with me to create Barbies with braids, finger waves and everything in between,” Turini writes in an Instagram caption announcing the collaboration. “Chicks by the layers, all different flavors. And even a curvy doll, in a crop top, with waist length twists. Baby Shiona is PROUD.”

Each look for the Barbies was inspired by three color themes: monochromatic, snakeskin mixed with black and white and sherbet colors. Though the outfits themselves aren’t for sale, the dolls modeling them are part of a new release of Black History Month Barbie dolls.

“My vision was to style diverse dolls in bold looks with themes seen throughout my work, like contrasting snakeskin and leopard, challenging traditional uniformity,” says Turini, while adding that she spent many childhood hours dressing Barbies.

“I grew up obsessed with @barbie and while she was one of my first fashion icons, I clearly remember searching shelves for a doll that looked like me and coming up empty handed,” she writes on Instagram.

Turini drew her inspiration from the first black Barbie, introduced in 1980 dressed in a sparkling red dress with an Afro. Turini’s red collection pays homage to the doll. Mattel has also brought back that first black Barbie, dressed in bold red as a 40th anniversary black Barbie doll.

Lately, Mattel has been releasing a gamut of diverse dolls in different sizes, colors, abilities and professions to keep up with the times. Recent additions include the gender-neutral doll, the Barbie Fashionistas line, the Barbie Wellness collection and Judge Barbie.

On Instagram, Turini points out that she is “the curvy Barbie in the crop top,” which is the fourth from the left. “Thank you @barbiestyle for making my childhood dreams come true, customizing these @queenandslim inspired snake skin boots + bodysuits, going thru the painstaking process of giving Barbie twists and allowing me the freedom to create something special so that my community can see themselves represented in such an iconic brand,” she writes on Instagram. “Life is good in the dream house.”

In the red collection, you can clearly see Turini’s personal style in her own red-clad outfit on Instagram, and this red collection reflects the first black Barbie who shined in red sparkles. “Here she is, on her customized throne, surrounded by friends created and styled by me. I hope other young children, and adult Barbie lovers, are as excited to see themselves reflected in these dolls as I am.”

In the “brights” collection, Turini says, “While flipping through styles a sherbet-green coat totally captured my eye. I loved it so much, I built an entire vignette around it.”

Content courtesy of Shiona Turini & Nairobi fashion hub 

Model Duckie Thot Speak’s out On The Importance Of Representation In Fashion Industry

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

I was the first in my family to be born in Australia. My parents came from South Sudan as refugees; the South Sudanese Civil War was really hard, and my dad wanted the best for us. He came over first with a few friends, and the rest of the families followed. (My mother was pregnant with me when she left South Sudan.) My grandpa was an English teacher so my dad was fortunate enough to be able to understand the paperwork; not many people in South Sudan could.

When I was maybe 5 or 6, more families started coming to Australia from South Sudan. We let many of them live with us so that they could ease into Australian culture. Because my dad spoke English, he could help them with their papers as well. Going from war to such a put-together country is a really difficult transition, and we tried to make that as easy as possible for them.

Though we lived in Melbourne, I grew up in a South Sudanese household. I spoke Nuer, the language of my tribe, and I learned English at the same time. I felt disconnected from my family’s home country because I didn’t know too much about it, but my parents did a lot to keep the culture alive; we’d attend community events and classes on Saturday, where we’d learn cultural dances, and we’d hold traditional wedding ceremonies. It’s a very different culture, but it’s part of who I am. I’m grateful for that. My parents didn’t want me to lose that side of myself while growing up in Australia.

I went to a private school where there weren’t many people of color. When we were growing up and people started wearing makeup, I could never find a shade for me, which was difficult to deal with. I remember being in a shopping center, and I couldn’t find a single person who looked like me on a billboard. That moment made me want to get into fashion. I learned about modeling through my older sister, Nikki, who had signed with a small boutique agency in Melbourne. I would go to set with her, and the more I watched, the more I just loved it.

I was at one of her gigs when I got scouted to do Australia’s Next Top Model. I was only 15 at the time, so they told me to come back when I was old enough. I was on the show when I was 17 for their eighth cycle. Tyra [Banks] made the show so big in the States, and it was so big in Australia as well, so when they asked me to participate, I was thrilled. But filming was difficult. We had limited access to speak to our families and we weren’t allowed to go out, and, you know, as teenage girls that is a little bit tough. But I ended up finishing in third place.

After that, I tried to find gigs in Australia, but I didn’t get much work, I think due to a mixture of things. I hadn’t found my groove yet. When you’re not confident in what you want, that plays a huge part in modeling. There was also a lot going on in my life at the time. I was in school studying chemistry (I hated it) and I’d just lost one of my seven siblings. When somebody passes in our culture, there’s a weeks-long mourning process and that hit me hard. It took a toll on me, and I started to fall behind in school. That experience is what made me decide I was going to give modeling another crack.

My mom thought I was crazy, but I already had my visa in my hand; if you want to make it as a model you go to New York. In August 2016, I moved to New York City with $400 in my pocket. At the time, I really underestimated how hard it would be, and I underestimated the consequences of coming with so little. I lived in a model’s apartment with a bunch of girls, and as soon as I got off the plane, it was running around to what felt like a billion castings. I was very emotional and cried a lot—I didn’t know if I could do it. Looking back, I’m grateful for that experience because it taught me how to toughen up.

Two weeks after arriving, I was on my way out of a casting—I think for Ralph Lauren—when a casting director ran out after me. She worked for Kanye West’s team and said, “Kayne is in the building, and he would love to see a fresh face.” I was freaking out, but I went and met him and saw his collection with Jackie Nicholson. It just so happens that same day I also met Pat McGrath. It all flowed from there: I did Kayne’s show that September and started working with Pat right away. Since then, I’ve been able to pick who I want to work with, like Tim Walker. I shot his Pirelli Calendar in 2018 as the first black “Alice in Wonderland,” and I’m always going to be proud of that moment.

I was at one of her gigs when I got scouted to do Australia’s Next Top Model. I was only 15 at the time, so they told me to come back when I was old enough. I was on the show when I was 17 for their eighth cycle. Tyra [Banks] made the show so big in the States, and it was so big in Australia as well, so when they asked me to participate, I was thrilled. But filming was difficult. We had limited access to speak to our families and we weren’t allowed to go out, and, you know, as teenage girls that is a little bit tough. But I ended up finishing in third place.

My upbringing definitely shaped my modeling career. My dad shared the lessons he learned growing up in Africa and moving to Australia, and that helped in my move to New York. He would always tell me to be stronger and to make my voice heard as a black woman.

The beautiful thing about fashion is it’s an always-changing industry [in terms of diversity]. We’re at a point right now, especially the younger generation, where everybody needs our voice and needs us to say what we want the fashion industry to look like in five years. Remember that billboard I couldn’t find when I was younger? Today, there are women of color on billboards everywhere. At airports, every shopping center in every country I go to. It’s so important and so necessary, and I’m so happy that other girls can see themselves now. When it comes to diversity in the industry, I’m happy to be a part of that change. My dad used to say, “Be true to yourself, and the answers will come.” I really try and live by that principle.

This article originally appeared on Ellen

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