fbpx

Tuesday 3rd of October 2023

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: Fashion Designer

African Fashion & Arts Award (AFAA) Stakeholders Encourage Intra-African Trade In The Fashion Industry

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

A better intra-African trade and economic partnership between African entrepreneurs in the fashion and arts sectors is being urged by stakeholders in the industry.

The African Fashion & Arts Award (AFAA) emphasizes the requirement that fashion and art creatives be empowered, honored, and recognized.
Over 65% of the 1.4 billion people in Africa are young people between the ages of 12 and 35, according to Mr. Kingsley Amako, founder and president of AFAA.
He also noted that fashion and the arts continue to be the most viable and possibly the creative industry vertical that generates the most revenue, which could significantly affect the GDP of the continent.

At a recent news conference in Abuja, Amako stated that the textile and clothing business continues to be the second largest revenue-generating sector in the world’s emerging nations, after agriculture, despite the continent’s priority shifting from oil to tech.
Speaking on the upcoming third anniversary of AFAA, which will take place in Abuja later in the year, Amako stated that focusing on fashion and art creatives is the best course of action.
The third anniversary of the AFAA is planned for the first three days of December 2023 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, while the East African Media Tour is slated for the sixth, tenth, and thirteenth days of October 2023, respectively, in Tanzania, Kenya, and Rwanda.

When questioned why the tour was taking place, Amako responded that it had been customary for the organization since 2021 in South Africa, 2022 in Cairo, Egypt, and 2023 in three (3) East African nations.
Amako expressed her gratitude to the sponsors of the AFAA 2023 and stated that the organization’s aim, vision, and motto are to empower people and celebrate their creativity.
“The appropriate level of knowledge and sensitization must be created for the necessary government, public, and private sector organizations to consider for investment in order to realize the Africa we envision.

The African Union, African Development Bank, AfCFTA, AFREXIMBANK, Bank of Industry, and a large number of other institutions have all expressed a strong interest in the creative industry. However, young businesspeople in the fashion and arts sectors appear to believe that this interest primarily applies to the music and film industries.
With “these Press conferences across Africa and the Award ceremony in December to encourage achievers in the fashion and arts industries and as a platform for utilizing the inherent talents among the millions of African creative youths,” he continued, the AFAA will change this narrative.

He listed the advantages of AFAA’s mission in Africa as encouraging talent development and skill acquisition for self-reliance, creating employment opportunities for the more than 13 million African graduates each year, boosting the continent’s GDP, luring foreign direct investments (FDIs), and fostering intra-African trade and business ties.

The organization also aims to influence changes in trade and distribution policies, aid in the empowerment of women and young people, advance world peace, persuade African youths to live in areas with little to no security threat, aid in the eradication of poverty by providing capacity-building training sessions through the AFAA masterclass and mentorship symposium, and promote export for foreign exchange.
In his summation, Amako noted that the fashion and arts sectors had been selected as the ones on the continent that employed the most women and young people and that finished the value chain from farms to finished garments.

In the next ten years, the global fashion market is predicted to triple, producing up to US$ 5 trillion yearly. Through the purchase of 19 billion items, the USA spends 284 billion dollars annually on fashion retail. At different points along the value chain, from design to production to marketing, the fashion sector presents a huge opportunity for Africa. The fashion and arts sectors have a great deal of potential to inspire and effect change in some of the most marginalized groups, particularly women and young people, and to advance structural change.
Recognizing the importance of contemporary technology, AFAA 2023 has thought about topics for the AFAA masterclass and mentoring symposia that involve integrating technology into the fashion and arts industries.

Content courtesy Voice Of Nigeria & NFH

African Fashion Show Brings African Designers Together

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

On September 23, Scard Media held a prestigious lifestyle event to honor regional African fashion designers.
At the Alberton Hellenic Community Centre in New Redruth, designers and fashionistas from many cultures gathered to display their incredible talent.
The stunning and eagerly anticipated lifestyle exhibition honored South African designers as well as the rest of the continent.
The event featured captivating presentations of various African clothing brands, live modeling, breathtaking performances, and plenty of fun activities honoring Africa.

“Since it’s Heritage Month, we decided to do something that would bring together African designers and the South African culture,” said Giscard Ngwama, director of ScardMedia.
Our designers came from all over Africa; some were from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the DRC, and Nigeria. By recognizing our ancestry and variety, we are uniting Africans.

In addition to providing employment opportunities for locals, the well-attended event was sponsored by Lifestyle Property Group and backed by a number of other partners. Vinolia Mabele, Ms. United Nations International 2019, was also present.

Mbalenhle Vezi, the event’s organizer, claims that a lot of hard work paid off and made the event a huge success. She claimed that putting the concert together required at least three months.
“During the event, attendees also had a chance to network.
By hosting this concert in further African nations, we have our sights set on developing and increasing in the future.
We must break the cycle and become self-starters, she urged.

Content courtesy of Alberton Record & NFH

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show Returns With Black Designers’ Designs On The Runway

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

After a five-year sabbatical, the Victoria’s Secret fashion show is making its eagerly awaited return and is now live on Amazon Prime.
The work of 20 exceptional creatives from thriving cities including Bogota, Lagos, London, and Tokyo will be featured in this year’s show, which spans a variety of industries including fashion, cinema, design, music, and the visual arts.
Bubu Ogisi, the creator of IAMSIGO and a fervent supporter of African fashion created by Africans in Africa, is one of the designers engaged. In addition to defying conventional notions of African companies, Ogisi’s collection for the event demonstrates her dedication to celebrating African ideologies, textiles, and manufacturing methods.

The show will prominently feature model Mayowa Nicholas, who went from being an accounting student to dazzling runways all over the world.
Mayowa, a native of Nigeria, never thought of making modeling her career.
Like many Black children in the nation, she was urged to prioritize her education and look for conventional employment. Mayowa, who was raised by a single mother, thought that studying accounting was a sensible way to ensure her financial security.
She was approached on the street to take part in a modeling competition with Elite Models, which caused her perspective to change.
She made the decision to compete despite feeling unqualified in comparison to experienced models, and she ultimately took first place.

This surprising triumph brought her a modeling contract in China, where she encountered prejudice and went through a culture shock. Nevertheless, Mayowa persisted, and she and 14 other girls were given contracts.
She made the painful decision to leave school and her family behind, traveled to Paris, and walked in Schiaparelli’s debut presentation during Couture Fashion Week.
After a while, Mayowa’s agency offered her the chance to try out for Victoria’s Secret while she was in New York. She initially declined out of fear, but the next year she jumped at the opportunity. She attempted to travel to China for the show but unfortunately ran into visa problems.

The next year, however, Mayowa had the pleasure of having her mother in New York to see her accomplishment in addition to getting the chance to walk the Victoria’s Secret show. It frequently happens that parents of people who work in creative industries can only fully appreciate their children’s work after seeing it for themselves.
Through group chats and social media, Mayowa’s mother happily informed loved ones about the accomplishments of her daughter.
At the beginning of her work, fashion designer Bubu Ogisi was passionate about studying fibers, materiality, and traditional methods.
She experienced growing up in several nations, including Nigeria, Ghana, and England, as well as going to school in Paris. She was particularly impressed by Nigerian weddings and festivals, which featured an abundance of textiles and materials.

Her exploration of fiber techniques, reading skills, and the real materiality of fabrics were all influenced by this encounter.
She was further exposed to the commonalities in these methods used in several nations, whether they are Anglophone, Francophone, or Portuguese-speaking, even though they go by different names while attending school in Ghana.
Ogisi found it fascinating to see how different weaving techniques are carried out, such as Asha key in Nigeria, kente in Ghana, and Heat kita in Ghana, in different ways and with individual variances.
Her work was shaped by her understanding of these parallels and differences, which allowed her to highlight the complex fiber research and the enchantment that can be made with one’s hands even in unnoticed locations.

Ancient, historical, and mythological tales are frequently the source of Bubu’s inspiration since she thinks that by recounting these tales, we may decolonize minds and introduce fresh perspectives. The world has frequently accepted some myths as true while ignoring others. Bubu uses language as a medium to fabricate stories that have not yet been spoken in order to shed light on them.
When contacted by Victoria’s Secret, Bubu initially chose not to reply but subsequently made up her mind to pick up the phone and speak with the entire team. When working with others, Bubu loves collaborative energies that are harmonious and in line with everyone engaged. Bubu was thrilled to have this opportunity to continue presenting a narrative to which she has been deeply devoted.

Bubu viewed this as an opportunity to tell Victoria’s Secret about her experiences, particularly in respect to the idea of Victoria and its association with legendary figures.
She wants to share the African myths and legends through her own culture, nation, and continent. Numerous studies have been done on the cosmological and mythical tales of Nigeria and other African nations.

The collection is influenced by Roman and Greek myths, with a special emphasis on the goddess Nike.
The purpose of Bubu is to present the tales of ten to eleven unisex deities, such as the God of War, the God of Space and Time, and the God of Water. The idea has been greatly influenced by the Nigerian-derived European Edo mythology.

The secret stone in the necklace serves as a representation of the goddess in the entire concept, which centers on exhibiting the feminine divine. Each deity is linked to particular substances, hues, and superpowers. locating and making the components needed to cross the continent.
Mayowa and Bubu have a history of collaboration; when she was 16 years old, Mayowa modeled for Bubu. For both of them, getting back in touch at age 25 was a pivotal and meaningful point in their professional relationship.
Hugging occurred occasionally throughout the process, demonstrating their close relationship.

Intricate styles that were genuinely one-of-a-kind and unlike anything Victoria’s Secret had done before were the outcome of Bubu’s concept for the project, which included hairstyles that paid reverence to the ancestors.

Content courtesy of Ebony & NFH 

African Fashion Spaces Introduces The Mother City To A New Era Of Fashion.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

African Fashion Space entertained Capetonians at a fashion display on September 16.
In addition to magnificent surroundings, African Fashion Spaces Cape Town showed a blend of high fashion and culture as Sinchui and Fuata Moyo displayed their exquisite designs.

“The 16th September 2023 was an exciting prelude to what’s yet to happen over the next couple weeks as we rollout the few exhibition collaborations we have with some of the most exciting designers, brands, and platforms associated,” said Jay Kayembe, creative director and co-found of African Fashion Spaces (AFS).

It’s not a typical fashion show; it’s more like strolling through an outstanding art exhibition showcasing Africa’s incredible ability and creativity via its many varied cultural lenses. It’s never been about maintaining the status quo.
Both Sinchui and Fuata Moyo presented their collections in front of a crowd of fashion aficionados, designers, trendsetters, clients, partners, friends, and family while the stars twinkled above Table Mountain.

Sinchui opened the presentation by showcasing their “Everything in the Divine Time” collection, which was hip-hop-inspired.
Like Pharrell did when he turned his music into fashion, the urban cool ensembles with trendy jackets took the stage and revived the golden age of hip-hop.
The collection “ROOTS/ROUTES” by Fuata Moyo was all about commemorating South African ancestry.

Each piece of clothing served as a brushstroke, creating a clear picture of the harmony between our past and our present.
The exhibit demonstrated that we can be both proud of our past and enthusiastic about the future.

The day-night exhibition had the atmosphere of a New York Rooftop mixer but was held in Cape Town, South Africa, where Table Mountain served as a backdrop for the starry nighttime event. Fashion aficionados, designers, trendsetters, clients, partners, and friends and family of the two fashion collectives Sinchui & Fuata Moyo attended the fashion exhibition.
Everyone was anticipating two amazing fashion presentations that would completely change how the fashion world is presented today. It was like a gigantic fashion party.

Mixing street style and old-school hip-hop in the showcase (Show 1)
The first brand was Sinchui, which is renowned for its daring street flair and a hint of hip-hop nostalgia. Cool urban clothes were showcased on the runway, fusing current fashion trends with the essence of street style. In a similar way to how Pharrell incorporated his music into fashion, the models strutted down the rooftop runway while in a groove, reviving the golden age of hip-hop.
The music perfectly complemented the collection, making it an unreal experience.

The runway’s rooftop and mountain backdrop came to life with the music, heightening the excitement of the entire experience. Each ensemble seems to overflow with joy.

Show 2 of the Fuata Moyo Showcase: Celebrating Our History and Dreams
Fuata Moyo presented a compilation titled “ROOTS/ROUTES” after that. It seemed as though we were staring into a history that was still present. ‘ROOTS’ was all about paying homage to our roots and honoring our family, home, and origins, but ‘ROUTES’ was about forging ahead and chasing huge dreams.

The runway resembled a wonderful scene from a Harry Potter novel from Wakanda, yet it was set in Cape Town and told stories of African culture and aspirations.
Each piece of clothing served as a brushstroke, illuminating the harmony between our past and our voyage into the future.
The exhibit demonstrated that we can be both proud of our past and enthusiastic about the future.

Content courtesy of IOL, Urban Lifestyle SA & NFH

 

Thebe Magugu, A South African Fashion Designer, Is Honored During The 11th Annual First Ladies Luncheon

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Thebe Magugu is one of South Africa’s top emerging stars in the field of fashion design.
The Johannesburg-based, 30-year-old designer made history in 2019 when he became the first South African to ever win the renowned LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize.

This week in New York City, Fashion 4 Development honored him for his first visit to the country. He received the Franca Sozzani Award for 2023 at the First Ladies Luncheon, which was held in conjunction with the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations.

The “Mother & Child” series, which consists of eight costumes dedicated to celebrating South African tribes and traditions, is the name of the collection he displayed during the luncheon held at 583 Park Avenue.
The design of each outfit features a mother carrying her kid while dressed in the traditional attire of a different South African ethnic group.
The Venda Mother & Child Dress honors the Southern African Bantu people who are primarily found close to the South African-Zimbabwean border and the Swati Mother & Child Dress is a Bohemian-style moss crepe dress with a shirt collar, plunging neckline, and balloon sleeves.

The Zulu Mother & Child Dress, which is a rich maroon color, and the Tsonga Mother & Child Dress, which is red and blue, are also included in the collection.

According to him, South Africa has eight important tribes, and he wanted to honor them all. “I reinterpreted each culture by considering how mothers and children relate to one another. Depending on the culture, each outfit depicts a Madonna or mother figure cradling a kid.
It’s wonderful to see South African’ culture represented.
Coming from South Africa, a nation defined by indigenous customs, colonialism, apartheid, and its post-apartheid age, the fashion we see leaving the country, especially to Magugu, is being influenced by the country’s past, present, and future.

Being there is incredibly validating, he added. The Franca Sozzani Award feels very appropriate for me because I created my business with the intention of sharing history, cultures, and tales that may otherwise be lost to time.
I make capsules to preserve that for each one. Aside from being attractive, the fashion industry is also informative and educational.

Magugu’s ethical, eco-friendly clothing line is renowned for its recycled materials and storytelling as well as for its ethics. African Studies, the name of his spring/summer 2019 collection, was a commentary on the effects of colonialism on African culture.
It featured fabrics from Africa, such as kente and shweshwe, and patterns inspired by old African postcards.

Additionally, the designer has recently worked with community organizations to support African voices in the fashion business and train aspiring fashion designers as a way of giving back.

“When I started my brand in 2016, it was to pay homage, create an encyclopedia to the people and cultures that I don’t want to be forgotten,” the man added. These histories don’t lead to anything.
Fashion serves as a communication tool to inspire and transform, which is what makes it so brilliant.
The lunch was given in honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the one-year anniversary of her funeral in collaboration with the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

The VIP luncheon honored honorees like Hugo Boss CEO Daniel Grieder, artist Vuslat Sabanchi, Martina Cheung, president of S&P Global Market Intelligence, and Jean Shafiroff, who received the International Philanthropy Award from New York Assembly member Rebecca Seawright, who dubbed her “New York’s First Lady of Philanthropy.”
The event had a green carpet to honor sustainability in fashion.

As the goodwill ambassador for F4D, Naila Chowdhury, director of social impact and innovation at UC San Diego, was announced. The luncheon has previously recognized Victoria Beckham, Naomi Campbell, Donna Karan, Iman, and other influential figures in fashion.

Evie Evangelou, the founder of Fashion 4 Development, and Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein served as the event’s co-hosts.
The Queen’s preferred bread-and-butter pudding recipe, created by her personal chef Anton Mosimann, was presented this year. With a reputation for dressing Jay-Z and Missy Elliott, costume designer June Ambrose, Twin Peaks actress Amy Shiels, Laine Siklos, Marcelo Carvalho de Andrade, Dr. Ines Hernandez, Chaz Dean, Sofie Mahlkvist, Janna Bullock, Daniel Stock, Park Magazine publisher Christopher Pape, and artist Bonnie Lautenberg, the widow of the late Senator Frank Lautenberg were among the notable attendees.
Magugu remarked, “I think that Franca Sozzani was such a trailblazer, look at all the things she has done. The All Black issue of Vogue Italy from 2008 included over 100 pages of black models on the cover.

He recalled that at the time, representation was practically nonexistent. I am privileged to be compared to her as a changemaker. She influenced fashion in a variety of ways, particularly when it came to diversity.

The lunch was held in conjunction with The 3rd Annual Sustainable Goals Banquet on Monday evening, which honored Lazarus Chakwera, the president of Malawi, Joseph Hernandez, the founder of Bluewater Biotech, Jasmina Bojic, the founder of UNAFF, the United Nations Association Film Festival, Dr. Ramon Tallaj, the founder and chairman of SOMOS Community Care, and Ingmar Rentzhog, the CEO and founder of WDHT.
An emotional address by Italian model Bianca Balti served as part of the event’s tribute to the late Franca Sozzani, Editor in Chief of Italian Vogue.

The prize, according to Dr. Tallaj, serves as a reminder of the significance of solving urgent social concerns of our time. He remarked this during the event. “We have the power to weave together threads of compassion, innovation, sustainable development, and equitable healthcare for all,” he declared.

In 2016, Magugu launched the high-end South African fashion label bearing his name.
The vibrant ready-to-wear collections are constructed from recycled materials and frequently feature motifs that are inspired by the history of Africa, but with a modern twist to make them relevant.
When the designer’s debut line, Geology, was highlighted in Vogue Italia in 2017, it was definitely a significant break.

Sara Sozzani Maino, the founder of Vogue Talents, the creative director of the Sozzani Foundation, and a creative advisor to Conde Nast, gave Magugu the Franca Sozzani Award.

Sozzani remarked at the occasion that Magugu “has a great vision for his creativity,” “empowers women, and brings the cultural traditions of Africa to the world.”
Magugu asserted live on stage that “People only need to feel seen once.”
The designer revealed that he was raised in a rural village and that his early exposure to the world of fashion came from watching MTV programs and music videos.

“I was rejected by a prestigious fashion school at a young age, and I studied fashion in South Africa,” he explained. “In hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise because being close to the visual cues to symbols I grew up with made me privy to such beautiful inspiration.”

Content courtesy of Forbes Africa & NFH

 

 

Meet The 15 African Fashion Brands Represented At SS24 London Fashion Week

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

One of the biggest fashion events in the world continues to be New York Fashion Week.
The twice-yearly exposition (held in February and September) serves as a big platform for showcasing the top international and American designers as well as a hot conduit into the American market. African designers have occasionally surfaced during NYFW, showcasing their collections on the runway.

Nigerian Maki Oh made her debut in 2012, while in 2014, South African and Nigerian industry icons David Tlale and Deola Sagoe both made their debuts. However, the watershed event in the late aughts is to thank for these designer debuts.
A group of African fashion designers attacked New York City in 2009.

African businesses Stoned Cherrie (South Africa), Xuly Bet (Mali), Momo Couture (Nigeria), and Tiffany Amber (Nigeria) were welcomed in the Bryant Park tents as part of the African Fashion Collective for the first time in NYFW’s history.
The “Obama Effect” was referred to by the general public in the fashion industry after Barack Obama became America’s first Black president a month earlier.

Through their presentations, these designers refuted stereotypical perceptions of Africa and highlighted the ingenuity and craftsmanship the region had to offer. There will never be another NYFW.
Since then, African designers have made progress. Nigeria’s Head of State Tia Adeola had been on the February program for NYFW’s Fall 2023 season.

Both brands are returning this September, the latter in the lineup for the eighth outing of The Black in Fashion Council Discovery Showroom.

1. Abigail Ajobi
Abigail Ajobi, the self-named brand’s creative director and fashion designer, is of Nigerian heritage.
The brand is a high-end streetwear company that uses exclusive and scarce materials to make its exquisite products. Additionally, by offering convertible styles that may be worn in different ways, it supports sustainability.

several methods. Abigail Ajobi has been in business since 2020. She has presented her designs at London Fashion Week and Lagos Fashion Week events and she has been featured in a number of periodicals. The collection’s profits are given to charities of the brand’s choosing.

The distinct and fashionable forms of Nollywood Y2k fashion served as the inspiration for Abigail Ajobi’s SS24 collection Anti-Muse.

2. Sukeina
Omar Salam chose to create Sukeina in 2012 after spending two years working at Christain Lacroix and working for French fashion designer Madame Sonia Rykiel in Paris.
The Senegalese designer with roots in New York, who studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design, has created a sartorial extravaganza with his womenswear line.

His distinctive designs for the brand include sculptural gowns, elaborate weaving, and dramatic forms.
Tribal elements from the continent have also affected his collections. His Fall 2022 collection incorporated the vibrant patterns of Bantu clothing, which can be seen in Eastern, Central, and Southern Africa.
2020 saw the launch of Sukeina, an origami dress, flapper-style mesh, and sheer looks collection.

3. Kílèntár
Klèntár is a Nigerian contemporary womenswear brand with a whimsical and feminine look that was founded by Michelle Adepoju in 2019.
Adepoju had at first begun by purchasing clothing to sell online.
She would purchase clothing items from her neighborhood thrift shop or charity shop, such as crop tops and blouses, and tastefully adorn them.

African sartorial features like cowries, indigo dyeing (adire), and hand weaving are also infused into the brand’s aesthetic. One of the newest labels in the NYFW lineup of African designers, Klèntár will exhibit alongside Korlekie, Onalaja, Fumi the Label, and Tia Adeola under the auspices of The Black in Fashion Council Discovery Showroom.

4. Dumebi
Barbara Biosah, a British-Nigerian fashion designer, founded the upscale womenswear line Dumebi, which specializes in handcrafted couture apparel, shoes, and accessories. Barbara’s designs are influenced by African and European Renaissance art with a British modern twist and a Parisian flair because of her British and Nigerian roots.
The brand wants to bring back custom-made clothing crafted with high-quality materials and creative ideas while cutting back on excessive mass production.

5. Korlekie
Beatrice Korlekie Newman, who graduated with a BA in fashion design from De Montfort University in Leicester, started Korlekie in 2013 from her Peckham, London, bedroom.
For the ladies in her local church, the British-Ghanaian designer created one-of-a-kind pieces in African textiles. Rita Ora, Anna Freil, Ellie Goulding, and Alesha Dixon are just a few of the A-listers who have worn the brand’s fashionable, upscale knitwear and crochet.
Further drawing inspiration from Ghanaian traditional craft, Korlekie combines luxurious materials with sensuality for the contemporary woman.

6. Feben
Feben’s collection is influenced by the nomadism of her personal identity as well as her Ethiopian ancestry, North Korean, and Swedish upbringing.
Vemmenby collaborated with Beyoncé to design and style costumes for the Brown Skin Girl music video after completing her MA in fashion at Central Saint Martins as an Isabella Blow scholar.
The visual codes of Black life from all over the world are explored via a surrealistic lens in Feben’s works.

7. Onalaja 
Onalaja is one of a number of contemporary Nigerian businesses that prioritize luxury and wearability in their design aesthetic. Kanyinsola Onalaja, a Nigerian-born fashion designer who founded her company in 2014, obtained her BA in Fashion Design from London’s Istituto Marangoni.

After that, she traveled to Rome to study 3D pattern cutting at the Academia di Costume E Moda. Onalaja creates expertly designed clothing for women with contrasting textures and patterns utilizing high-end materials. Particularly the coral red and the elaborate embroidery that represents the designer’s Bini origin, these patterns are masterpieces.

The bodycon dresses from this brand are also size-inclusive, fitting a variety of body types.
This is why the company’s Zusi dress, which celebrates the feminine body in all its variety, has been a success. Indiyah Polack, a former Love Island contestant, and Kandi are two celebs who have been seen sporting it.

8. Labrum London
Foday Dumbuya, the creative director and founder of Labrum, found inspiration while growing up and learning in London, Cyprus, and Sierra Leone.
A contemporary menswear company’s mission is to “tell the untold stories of West Africa to help bridge the gap between Western and West African culture.”
The distinctive features of British tailoring are combined with West African inspirations to create Labrum’s unique sense of style.
In honor of his Sierra Leonean heritage, his SS24 collection, NOMOLI ODYSSEY, was shown at the Four Seasons hotel in Trinity Square.
A number of Labrum’s creations featured depictions of the Nomoli figure, a native of Sierra Leone and a symbol of fertility and harvest.

9. Fumi the Label
Fumi the Label is a ready-to-wear womenswear line created by Toronto-based designer Fumi Egbon that emphasizes comfort, grace, and sophistication. The brand, which debuted in 2016, specializes in vibrant colors, breathable clothing, and the possibility of wardrobe-building styling.
One example is the Naomi dress, which may be combined with thigh-high boots, denim, or jeans. The brand will reach a new milestone when it exhibits at NYFW.

10. Tolu Coker
After graduating from Central Saint Martins, British-Nigerian Multi-Disciplinary Artist Tolu Coker created her own brand in 2018.
Her work, which is heavily influenced by identity politics and social environments, uses fashion as a platform to promote social change.
Her 2019 collection honored the lives of women who had survived being raped as a result of war atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The earnings from a portion of her collection were donated to the charity “Choose Love” in 2020, which assists minority populations, refugees, and immigrants both locally and internationally.

Irapada, the SS24 collection by Tolu Coker, is inspired by her Yoruba heritage.
Through the prism of her own family’s relationship to both religion and fashion, she used her works to explore how Yoruba spirituality is seen.

11. Victor Anate
Despite the fact that Nigerian designer Victor Anate won’t present his edgy womenswear line Vicnate at NYFW, he has contributed his talent as a co-collaborator by creating Naomi Campbell’s debut collection for Pretty Little Thing.
The renowned supermodel tapped Anate and Brooklyn-based Edvin Thompson of Theophilio, both of Jamaican descent, to create her line for the fast-fashion behemoth.
It launched as a runway show on September 5 to kick off NYFW, showcasing a 70-piece collection of outerwear, mesh dresses, sharp pantsuits, and more. Now that the project is finished, it joins Anate’s impressively expanding and exciting portfolio.

12. Tia Adeola
The Tia Adeola line was previously presented at NYFW. The brand’s launch, the Autumn/Winter 2020 collection, brought models down the catwalk wearing its recognizable sheer and ruffles. They were seductive, extremely provocative, and were modeled after Renaissance-era dress regulations.

Tia Adeola, a 2019 Parsons School of Design alumna who was born in New York and raised in London, has established herself as an intriguing new designer and amassed a cult following that includes Gigi Hadid, Flo Milli, SZA, and others.

13. Studio 189
OkayAfrica attended Studio 189’s debut spring runway show in 2019, which featured a number of notable guests like Quincy Brown, Fantasia, Justin Skye, Naturi Naughton, and Ayo Tometi (formerly Opal Tometi).
We also learned how the brand’s design principles combine cutting-edge tailoring with ancient West African crafts like indigo dyeing, hand-batik, and weaving.

The sustainable brand, which was established in 2013 by Abrima Erwiah and the actress Rosario Dawson, is propelled by an artisanal pulse and collaborates with regional artisans in a way that highlights their abilities and gives them employment opportunities. Studio 189 is more than simply a brand; it currently conducts business in Accra and the United States. Additionally, it is a social enterprise that finances numerous initiatives started by locals both in the U.S. and on the continent.

14. Head of State
Head of State wasn’t yet a fully developed brand in 2016 when Taofeek Abijako founded it.
His goal was to earn money to build a water infrastructure in his area while still a senior in secondary school in Nigeria.
Fast forward to 2017, when his brand’s spring/summer 2018 collection made him the youngest debutant at NYFW. He wasn’t even 20.

Taofeek, who is now based in Brooklyn, New York (his parents had won the lotto in 2010), utilizes the Head of State as a bridge to connect cultures in Nigeria and the United States.
The brand has focused on striking a balance between the two through their clothing.
Traditional Nigerian design features like silhouettes and embroidery are executed with a contemporary twist.

15. Oshobor
Oshobor was founded in 2020 and is the creation of Peter Oshobor. It combines slow fashion, traditional craft, and cultural tales.
The brand expanded into the 2022 Green Access program, Lagos Fashion Week’s platform for talent identification.
It further highlighted the brand’s zero-waste philosophy by showcasing a small number of exquisite outfits made from waste yarn and offcuts.

Oshobor will visit New York for their Carnaval Couture NYFW event thanks to a collaboration with Upscale Magazine and Art Meso, the art and fashion exhibition that highlights up-and-coming designers and creatives from all around the world.

Content courtesy of Culture Custodian, Okay Africa & NFH

Fée Uhssi Presents: The African Fashion & Textiles Experience

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

A Series Of Workshops Exploring The Rich And Diverse History Of African Fashion.
By Tara Robinson.
The African Fashion & Textiles Experience will be presented by Wandsworth-based artist Fée Uhssi as a part of Wandsworth Council’s Black History 365. A six-monthly series of informative and engaging creative workshops examining African art and textile history will begin in September 2023.

French-Nigerian fashion and textile designer Fée Uhssi also practices art color therapy. Her workshops were developed, hosted, and delivered by Fée as a passion project.
They will delve into African history, artistic methods, the significance of textiles in Afro-Caribbean and African cultures, as well as the development of traditional to contemporary African attire.
They will also look at how modern European fashions were influenced by African textiles and clothing, as well as how fashion and history interact.

Workshops
The first session, which will focus exclusively on fashion history and include an African fashion creation workshop in honor of Fashion Week, will be held on Saturday, September 23.
In honor of National Black History Month, the second session will examine the unique evolution of African textiles over time.
The third session will be devoted to the symbolism found in African textiles as well as the entwined history of textiles and communication stretching from ancient Africa to the Americas and the Caribbean.
Fée will be teaching the traditional African wrapping methods as well as Furoshiki, the traditional Japanese gift-wrapping technique, in the fourth session.

In the fifth workshop, Fée will lead a discussion on color therapy and its African roots, leading attendees on a journey to understand the significance of color and acquire fresh color styling advice.
The last session will be devoted to fashion photography, recognizing the historical contributions of African and Black photographers to the fashion business.

With the encouragement of a small payment, all workshops are free.
You can purchase tickets by visiting the Eventbrite website HERE

Content courtesy Time and Leisure & NFH

Demi Moore at Milan Fashion Week Dons Tight-fitting Two-piece Set With Star-studded Fendi Front Row

Posted on by Fashion Police

The actress sat with A-listers Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Christina Ricci, and Gwendoline Christie.
At Milan Fashion Week, Demi Moore dazzled in an all-Fendi ensemble.

The 60-year-old actress sat in the first row during the premium fashion house’s Spring Summer 2024 show wearing a matching ribbed coral outfit, a tight midi skirt, and a high-neck top.

Moore wore a floor-length, billowing blue-gray coat, black heels with gold accents, and a matching black handbag to complete the look, which was styled by Brad Goreski.
Moore wore her long, dark hair down in a chic middle part, and she accessorized with little, glowy makeup. She accessorized with wire-rimmed glasses, a gold cuff bracelet, and long, delicate drop earrings.

She also donned light green gloves while cheering and blowing kisses at the event on Wednesday, according to a video posted by Vogue on Instagram.
The actress from Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle was seated in the front row of the Fendi show alongside a star-studded group.

Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Amber Valletta, in addition to Christina Ricci, Gwendoline Christie, Naomi Watts, Cara Delevingne, and Suki Waterhouse, were present with her.
In pictures obtained by Daily Mail, Moore can be seen grinning, posing for pictures, and chatting with Christie, 44, at the concert. Moore then posed for a picture behind the scenes with Valletta, Ricci, Christie, and Kim Jones, the artistic director of Fendi.

Moore spoke with PEOPLE about her relationship with fashion last year.
She added at the time, “I do like fashion, and I have relationships with designers who I respect and admire. “However, I still feel like a young child who gets to dress up, and who I am at heart is a dirty 12-year-old boy who really likes to just be comfortable and wear baggy clothes,” the speaker said.

The celebrity revealed that her go-to pandemic outfit was a pair of overalls.
Moore told PEOPLE that when she is in Idaho, she typically wears overalls all day, every day. “That’s as much me as sitting front row at Fashion Week in a chic designer outfit or a stunning red carpet gown.”

Tallulah, 29, Rumer, 35, and Scout, 32, are Moore’s “biggest teachers,” and she looks to them for fashion advice, she added.
She stated of her girls, “It is a mutual interchange of style inspiration. “I find people to be most inspiring when they are just being themselves.”

“I saw my youngest daughter out wearing this vintage Japanese silk robe, and I looked at it and said, ‘Is that from my storage?'” she added. And she responded, “Yes, I freed it.” Since they will ultimately receive everything, why not allow them to participate?

In the same interview, the G.I. Jane actor also said she wants to remove the “idea that women become less desirable as we get older” and claimed that accepting her age had been “liberating.”
When questioned about her 60th birthday plans, she responded, “Not being defined by a number and instead being defined by my experience.”

“When you reach 59, you start to consider the fact that you will soon turn 60. It feels really freeing,” Moore said. “When I think of my grandma at 60, she seemed to be somewhat content with her advanced age. However, I feel more present and alive than ever in so many ways.

Content courtesy of PEOPLE & NFH

Plumbridge Based Fashion Designer Madge to Showcase Collection at One World Festival

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

This weekend’s One World Festival, which will take place in and around Derry’s Guildhall, will include a fashion collection that was created and manufactured in Tyrone but was inspired by the brilliant colors of Africa.
Madge Kelly was raised in Nairobi, Kenya, but since 2018, she and her husband have made Ligford, which is near Plumbridge, their home.

During the 2020 lockdown limitations, she fell in love with sewing and has since created a collection that includes tote bags, waist jackets, circle skirts, scrunchies, and aprons.
She continues, “I learned the art of sewing when I lost my cherished mother during the 2020 lockdown. “I trained myself to sew as a coping mechanism for my sadness, and I started producing masks for my loved ones.

I eventually began producing headbands, tote bags, and scrunchies in my home studio.
“The vibrant colors of African patterns and the way they highlight the energy of the continent and the diversity of its inhabitants inspired me.

“I wanted to honor cultural diversity through my handmade designs,” the designer said.
Madge gave her collection the Swahili name RAFIKI, which translates to “friend,” and at first began to share her possessions with family and friends.

She now feels confident enough to present her work to a larger audience thanks to their favorable response.
This weekend, I will display some of the ideas I have been working on at the Guildhall, she added. “My motivation is to introduce and raise awareness of the African spirit in our community by encouraging them to wear clothing with African motifs.

In order to foster a spirit of inclusiveness and diversity, I hope that by sharing my collection, people will fall in love with the colors and appreciate African culture. Future plans include training in fashion design and learning about the industry. My ultimate objective is to present my African print creations on the catwalks of Paris and London during Fashion Week.

Derry City and Strabane District Council will host the North West Multicultural Festival – One World, which will begin at noon on Saturday, September 23, and will take place in and around the Guildhall. It will highlight the rich tapestry of international cultures that are present in the area.

The comprehensive program is a colorful celebration of worldwide music, song, dance, and cuisine and includes performances, workshops, arts and crafts, storytelling, enlightening exhibitions, and engaging dialogues.
A performance space will be created in Guildhall Square along with food stalls and arts and crafts including Beijing Mask Making and Thai Fan Making.

The space will feature dance and music performances from a wide range of genres including Hip Hop, Indian, and Ghana from midday until 4.30 pm.
Inside the Guildhall, the Main Hall will feature the World of Workshops initiative where people can try India Saree tying, Polish and Latvian crafts, and Chinese Dragon making.

The Whittaker Suite will have dance performances from Africa, India, and Asia while the Guildhall foyer will feature a variety of exhibitions of traditional clothing from throughout the world.
The Main Hall will host a Mukesh Chugh picture show.
The lovely Obon Fest lanterns and an exhibition of Indian culture will be on show next door in Harbour House, and visitors can stop by a variety of discussion events regarding the experiences that individuals from all over the world have had when relocating to the city and region.

Visit www.derrystrabane.com/oneworldfestival to obtain the complete One World Festival schedule.
The Good Relations Program of the Council has provided funding for this festival.

Content courtesy of Derry Strabane & NFH

The Joy Of African Fashion ‘Made With Love’ Is Introduced To The NYFW Runway By Rosario Dawson And Abrimah Erwiah

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

You have a front-row ticket to see the designs at Studio 189 thanks to Rosario Dawson and Abrimah Erwiah.
Dawson and Erwiah co-founded and run the sustainable fashion company, which uses African craftspeople. The pioneers organized a festive runway during New York Fashion Week to present what Studio 189 has in store for the Spring/Summer 2024 collection.
But as the co-founders revealed to reporters after the performance, the show incorporated music, dancing, poetry, and the charms of African culture in addition to sending garments down a runway.

The Ahsoka actress described the show’s opening with poet V (formerly known as Eve Ensler) as being “really powerful” when talking to a gathering of reporters, which included PEOPLE.
She responds, “No, I want a billion, and I want to dance with you. When we are always in pain, I want us to demonstrate what we are missing. when we fail to address suffering and choose to ignore it. But we may use that anguish to our advantage. When V requested that everyone in the room “up” and dance during Studio 189’s performance, Dawson replied, “And look at the joy that we have in us.

The Haunted Mansion performers stated that they watched footage from the Congo before deciding what they wanted to convey on stage.
We also want to be able to bring Africa here, said Erwiah, adding that this is a very essential factor.

Dawson said that each Studio 189 product is always “made with love.”
According to the co-founder, their business always finds a way to honor the culture.
“There is a lot of dancing as soon as you enter our factory. No matter what the people are going through,” Erwiah added. The same was true throughout the presentation as models danced down the runway at Gallery at Spring Studios in New York.

“We want the spirit of joy, of dancing, of love to come across,” Erwiah said, describing the “big energy and big movements and all of that in the hands.”
It’s amazing what we can do with our hands, Dawson added, in agreement with her Studio 189 business partner. Therefore, we merely wanted to honor that, together with that creativity’s potential. We literally hold the power in our hands.

There were a lot of recognizable faces at the NYFW event.
At the performance, Jonathan Scott and Zooey Deschanel were spotted donning identical purple Studio 189 outfits. The recently engaged couple held hands throughout the performance and grinned.

“We said that fashion can be a social change,” Erwiah added. “I can see how what we did has had an effect.”
Africa-made Studio 189 has taken home the prestigious CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability award.

Additionally, the company has teamed with businesses including EDUN (LVMH), Yoox Net-a-Porter, and the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative to encourage education and skill development while also fostering job growth.

They operate online as well as in Accra, Ghana, and New York.

Content courtesy of People & NFH

%d bloggers like this: