Monday 11th of May 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: Fashion House

Luxury Brand Balenciaga’s $3000 take on the Plastic Storage Bag, Commonly Know as Osuofia Bag

Posted on by Fashion Police

A $3000 tote bag by luxury brand Balenciaga has gone viral for its resemblance to a nostalgic and distinctly Kiwi accessory: the blue and red checked plastic storage bags you can buy for under $5.

“My grandmother had expensive taste,” wrote Twitter user @richy_wrld.
“Everyone knows this is the $2 marae blanket bag,” commented Green party co-leader Marama Davidson in response.

Broadcaster Kara Rickard shared a screenshot of the smaller version of the bag on her Instagram Stories, commenting, “What in the marae / nans whare/storage bag is going on here @balenciaga #maraeciaga”.

https://twitter.com/muthaterina/status/1433732211807715335?s=20

Balenciaga’s version is made in Italy from calfskin leather with organic cotton lining and is available in two sizes.

While it has obvious similarities to the local plastic bags used to store or transport everything from wool blankets to old clothes, it is actually also a style that is used around the world.

“Based on the quote RTs, I see it is a BIPOC household essential lol. Not just Polys” wrote Te Rina Triponel in the responses to her original tweet.

Around the world, there are various localized names for the style, including “shangazi kaja”, thailas and more. The BBC reported last year that the distinctive bags were popular in markets across West Africa, and are known as the “Ghana Must Go bag”.

“when in the 1980s hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, most of them Ghanaians, hurriedly stuffed their belongings into them after being given short notice to leave Nigeria, it became known as Ghana Must Go.

A very similar style by Balenciaga had already been called out by Thai consumers in 2016 for its resemblance to the traditional market bags with their distinctive rainbow stripes.

Balenciaga’s designer Demna Gvasalia has become known for his ironic use of every day or capitalist symbols turned into luxury offerings.

In 2016 Demna’s other brand, Vetements, released a £185 slogan T-shirt featuring the DHL logo to much hype and ridicule, depending on what side of the fashion fence you fell (“Scam or subversion?” asked the Guardian at the time).

That was followed in 2017 with a Balenciaga tote bag that looked very similar to the famous bright blue plastic Ikea Frakta shopping bags (the “luxury” version was leather and handmade in Italy).

The brand recently released a neon yellow parka that was pretty much a very expensive version of a high-vis jacket, and last week launched a toolbox case for the Apple iPhone 12 think of it as a high fashion version of trolling.

This also isn’t the first time that the distinctive checked plastic of laundry/market/marae blanket bags has inspired luxury fashion designers.

In 2013 Phoebe Philo of French brand Celine memorably featured the blue, white, and red laundry-bag check on coats and such, while way back in 2007 Louis Vuitton sent models walking down the runway carrying designer versions of the bags.

While some say this is simply fashioned showcasing a sense of humor through parody, embracing high-low, or questioning the true definition of luxury, others criticize the appropriation of an affordable and accessible item, turned into something that is out of reach financially for most.

Balenciaga, owned by Kering, the conglomerate that also owns Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Alexander McQueen, and more, is set to open its first New Zealand store in Westfield Newmarket soon.

Content courtesy of  Stuff & Nairobi fashion hub 

The Fashion Internship Program Helps African Americans Teens Design Collections Create a Pop-up Store

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Standing in front of a full-length mirror, Christian Dowdy styled customer Ryan Newman, pulling the tan T-shirt out from under the black floral hoodie and letting the tee peak out a bit.

After the slight adjustment, Dowdy, 18, couldn’t help but smile.

Not only was the teen showing Newman how to look good in his new outfit, but Dowdy had helped design the tee and sweatshirt Newman was wearing as part of the Future of Fashion summer internship program.

“To see our creations on anyone’s back I can’t wait to see them on the streets and think, ‘Oh man, we did that,’” Dowdy said.

Dowdy, a recent graduate of Harvest Preparatory School, is one of 16 Black teens from central Ohio in the two-month, immersive internship that culminated this week in the release of the clothing collection, Industry Plant, at a storefront in the Short North.

The young designers and entrepreneurs will be at 640 N. High St., through Friday showing off their streetwear line inspired by the natural beauty that can be found in urban spaces. The designs, which feature hard construction looks with floral and vine-like touchpoints, will be given away to underprivileged youths who visit the pop-up store while others can offer a donation to take home a special piece.

The Future of Fashion program teaches young designers and entrepreneurs about the fashion industry

The Future of Fashion Program, which seeks to teach young African Americans about every facet of the fashion industry while also paying them for their work, was a collaboration of two local nonprofit groups, the Columbus Fashion Alliance and My Brother’s Keeper Village.

During the first few weeks of the internship the students, ages 14 to 19 and all male except for one young woman, met with various industry leaders – buyers, designers, merchandisers, marketers – to learn that working in fashion involves more than just making clothes. They took field trips to meet Black-owned brands including Starstrukt Apparel in Reynoldsburg and the Toledo-based Midwest Kids and Mud Made.

“The best part of this is that they see people who look like them,” said Ronny Oppong, the director of the program and a Brooklyn, New York-based fashion creator who grew up on the North Side of Columbus. “You can be an entrepreneur. You can be incorporate and be a VP or a buyer. They were able to interact with all these spaces and see what they look like.”

Oppong, a 29-year-old who studied fashion merchandising at Ohio State University, said he was thrilled to come back to his hometown to lead this internship and get young Black men interested in fashion – an industry where he hasn’t seen a lot of African American mentors.

Students meet with black designers and industry leaders

Meeting Black designers and industry leaders in central Ohio was one of the most beneficial aspects of the internship, said Greg Simpson, 16 and a rising senior at the Southwestern Career Academy in Grove City.

“To see people who look like me and have had some of the same struggles I had to get to that point – that was really inspiring,” Simpson said. “It was surreal to see other people make it and let me know I can do this.”

He said the program “lit a fire under him,” especially the fact that he was paid $300 a week for his efforts, to try to make a full-time career out of fashion.

Through the summer, the students learned plenty of practical skills, too.

Kenttwon Brown, 19, said he learned how to use graphic design software, screenprint garments, and effectively implement color in his creations.

He designed a logo that he’ll use for his own brand, modeled for promotional materials, and filled a whole notebook full of advice he heard over the two months.
In fact, he said he learned more this summer than his entire freshman year studying graphic design at Central State University near Dayton.

“It was almost a dream come true,” said Brown, a 2020 graduate of Reynoldsburg High School.
But the summer wasn’t without its challenges, he added.

Pop-up store impresses mentors and customers alike

The group learned tough lessons, such a curating the best designs from so many good ideas and leaving really cool styles on the cutting-room floor.

Then, they had what seemed like the impossible task of producing the garments for the pop-up shop, deciding how much of each piece to order and setting it all up in a store setting to appeal to customers – all within a few short weeks.

“We had to think about what are we going to make and what’s on the floor,” Brown said. “What’s our inventory? What’s the main showcase? All these items are so fire that it was hard to decide what to highlight.”

Indeed, what the students produced in their pop-up store a space that used to house Lululemon Athletica and was donated for the week impressed the students’ mentors and customers, alike.

“The setup is amazing,” Newman said. “It’s really, really pretty and everything looks like what you’d see in a successful storefront.”

Passersby wouldn’t have known the store was only a temporary post filled with designs from teenagers based on the sleek interior of the store filled with posters of models showing off the clothes, racks made from industrial pipes, and the sheer variety of goods offered, from beanies with the Industrial Plant logo to pants with green flowers printed on them to myriad T-shirt options.

Looking around Monday during the first hour the store was open, instructor Kathy Hayes, who headed up the visual merchandising team, stood in awe of the environment and how confidently her students navigated the space with their eager customers.

“It’s amazing,” said Hayes, a Northeast Side resident who has worked for companies including Express and Victoria’s Secret. “They basically built this from the ground up.”

Newman, of the West Side, knew one of the interns so he stopped by that first day to check out the finished product.

“The setup is amazing,” Newman said. “It’s really, really pretty and everything looks like what you’d see in a successful storefront.”

He also loved the designs.
The teens, themselves, took time to revel in their successes.
“I’m proud of myself and I’m proud of us,” Dowdy said, echoing the sentiments of several of his teammates.

He and others said that while it’s been amazing to see what they created with Industry Plant said he’s even more eager for what the future has in store for them, whether it’s launching brands, starting modeling careers, or deciding what to pursue in college.

“On the first day, I shook everyone’s hands and I didn’t know what to expect,” Dowdy said. “I watched everyone grow and come out of their comfort zones. The personalities came out … I can’t wait to see what we do with all this.”

To learn more about the collection and how to attend the pop-up store, visit www.industryplant.org.  

Content courtesy of Dispatch & Nairobi fashion hub 

 

Africa’s Top Fashion Influencers

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

PARIS – With a steadily expanding middle class, Africa holds plenty of untapped potential for luxury brands. But who are the influencers who are moving the needle on the continent and beyond?

These days, global brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Hermès are competing with a growing number of homegrown labels, as designers like Rich Mnisi, Kenneth Ize, Hanifa, and Thebe Magugu tap into rising demand for African-made fashion.

To succeed, Western brands must harness the power of local influencers, ranging from stars of Nigerian cinema, dubbed Nollywood, to television presenters, singers, and influencers, technology company Heuritech said in a webinar titled “Discover the African Fashion Scene.”

“The narration of African fashion cannot be done without African creatives,” said Amélie Rotsen, fashion analyst at Heuritech, which offers brands fashion trend forecasting using artificial intelligence to translate pictures shared on social media into market insights.

“People are now really quick to call out a brand for cultural appropriation, so stop any narrative based on Western imagery, and try to really call those creatives to create stories that will highlight their culture, the way they know-how,” she added.

Total private wealth held in Africa is expected to rise by 30 percent over the next 10 years, reaching $2.6 trillion by 2030, according to the “Africa Wealth Report 2021” published by AfrAsia Bank. South Africa is home to the largest luxury market in Africa by revenue, followed by Kenya and Morocco.

The bank expects Ethiopia, Mauritius, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda to be the strongest-performing wealth markets in Africa over the next decade, with growth rates exceeding 60 percent. Solid growth is also forecast in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia.

“To enter the African market, it is very important for international brands to really understand the specificity of the markets and have teams directly in the field. This is especially true for influencer communication,” said Jenna McFeely, fashion curator and trend analyst at Heuritech.

“Picking the right brand ambassador requires foreign brands to do exhaustive research on the market, along with the influential figures of a particular country or field. And lastly, it’s important to consider the weight of the diaspora,” she added.

“As a result of colonization, people of African descent are present throughout the world with their heart and their wallet lying between the Western world and their roots, and this will to consume Black[-owned brands] has been reinforced,” she said, noting the power of U.S. beauty influencers like Jackie Aina and Nyma Tang.

Among the top African influencers, she listed was Nigerian actresses Adesua Etomi and Genevieve Nnaji, who have 4.3 million and 8.2 million followers on Instagram.

Nigeria has also produced major music stars such as Burna Boy and Wizkid, who posted a message on Instagram last week saying his concert at the O2 Arena in London, scheduled for Nov. 28, sold out in 12 minutes.

“While the link between film, music, and fashion does not need to be proven anymore, these artists’ global audience and edgy style make them ideal representatives for African and international designers who are hoping to attract aspirational or entry-level consumers,” McFeely said.

Popular TV personalities include Bonang Matheba, known for her catchphrase “Champagne, darling!”, who has launched several fashion lines and her own sparkling wine brand, House of BNG, in addition to starring in the reality TV show “Being Bonang.”

Citing Nigerian public relations firm Redrick, McFeely recommended that brands targeting luxury consumers rely on high-net-worth individuals like the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who inspired Maria Grazia Chiuri’s first collection for Dior with her essay “We Should All Be Feminists.”

“There’s also the influencer market with entrepreneur women and travel enthusiasts like Boity Thulo, who showcases the lavish side of Africa, which is aspirational, to say the least,” McFeely added.

“And finally, there’s the promise of Afro cyber influencers who might be a new fun outlet, given the success encountered by Lil Miquela, who is another virtual influencer,” she said, citing the example of digital model Ivaany.

In parallel, WWD asked data research and insights company Launchmetrics to compile data on the top five African influencers ranked by media impact value or MIV. Based on a proprietary algorithm, the measure estimates the value of coverage across social networks and in the media.

1. Mihlali Ndamase (@mihlalii_n): 1.4 million followers on Instagram, 59 percent of the engaged audience from South Africa

The makeup artist and content creator, also known as Mihlali N, bills herself as the biggest beauty YouTuber in South Africa with 345,000 subscribers.

She recently generated $143,000 in MIV for a post with Fashion Nova, $112,000 for a post with Revlon, and $80,000 for a post with Dior makeup.

Featured on Forbes Africa’s “30 Under 30” list this year, Ndamase has expanded into luxury and lifestyle content, via paid partnerships with the likes of Radisson Hotels and Protea Hotels by Marriott.

2. Temiloluwa Otedola (@temiotedola): 1.2 million followers on Instagram, 54 percent of the engaged audience from Nigeria

The daughter of Femi Otedola, a Nigerian billionaire active in sectors including energy, and younger sister of music star DJ Cuppy, Temi Otedola established her presence with the launch in 2014 of a blog covering areas spanning fashion, travel, and a book club.

Her Instagram post about Etro’s Forte Dei Marmi pop-up in June generated $113,000 in MIV, while a post with Farfetch in 2020 was worth $68,000, reflecting the progression in her follower count.

Otedola made her acting debut last year as the female lead in Nigerian director Kunle Afolayan’s film “Citation,” the story of a university student who accuses a professor of sexual harassment, which is available to stream on Netflix.

3. Kefilwe Mabote (@kefilwe_mabote): 1.2 million followers on Instagram, 56 percent of the engaged audience from South Africa

Born in the township of Soweto in Johannesburg, Mabote last year published her autobiography “Kefilwe Mabote: Influencer De Luxe – From Soweto to Milan,” which doubles as a guide to becoming an influencer.

Known for her glamorous style, she generated $49,000 in MIV for a post with Ugg in May, but can generally be seen in high-end designer clothing by the likes of Burberry, Tom Ford, and Versace. She even has a dedicated website, kefiscloset.com, to sell her castoffs.

Mabote’s personal life made headlines last year when her then-boyfriend, businessman Edwin Sodi, was caught up in a corruption scandal. She subsequently lost a defamation lawsuit against the weekly tabloid Sunday World.

4. Lesego Legobane (@thickleeyonce): 765,000 followers on Instagram, 66 percent of the engaged audience from South Africa

Photographer, plus-size model and body positivity activist Legobane known professionally as Thickleeyonce also has her own online clothing store, Leebex.

A recent post with Fashion Nova Curve generated $39,000 in MIV; another with Bombay Sapphire was worth $63,000, and a third for Beyoncé’s Ivy Park collection with Adidas generated $50,000.

Legobane revealed last year that she had been selected as an influencer for Rihanna’s Savage x Fenty lingerie line, but last week called out the brand on Twitter for not offering any pay. The tweet was subsequently taken down, but she posted a separate message that read: “Pay Influencers. Creating Content Is Work.”

5. Sarah Langa (@sarahlanga), 579,000 followers on Instagram, 61 percent of the engaged audience from South Africa

A close friend of fellow influencer Kefilwe Mabote’s, Langa landed her first paid gig with South African department store chain Woolworths in 2015. She has frequently countered criticism from haters by highlighting her academic achievements, which she lists on her Instagram biography.

Langa works with a variety of brands including hairstyling appliances company GHD and mobile phone maker Samsung. She generated $31,000 in MIV for a recent post with fast-fashion e-tailer PrettyLittleThing; $26,000 with Nespresso, and $16,000 with Patrón Tequila.

One of her most recent Instagram posts shows her unboxing an Hermès Birkin handbag in a promotion for luxury goods sourcing service Aquarius Luxury Concierge.

Content courtesy of WWD & Nairobi fashion hub

 

 

Afreximbank and  Portugal’s ANJE to Promote the African Textile Industry

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Portugal’s National Association of Young Entrepreneurs (ANJE), have announced a three-year partnership to support and promote Africa’s fashion apparel and textile manufacturing industry in Portugal and across Europe. This partnership is part of Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program.

CANEX aims to facilitate investments in Africa’s creative and cultural economy through financing, capacity building, export and investment promotion, digital solutions, linkage, and partnership promotion, and policy advocacy, the two entities said in a joint press release.

Within the framework of this partnership, ANJE, through its fashion project called Portugal Fashion, will provide African designers with showcasing platforms, facilitate their access to international markets and strengthen their capacities through business mentoring and technical assistance in apparel production. In the long-term, Afreximbank and ANJE aim to attract more investment opportunities into the sector while developing the technical skills of African industry players, thereby improving Africa’s manufacturing and production capabilities.

The cultural and creative industries of Africa, with the right investments, can contribute to the structural transformation of the continent, thereby creating jobs and increasing exports and other development outcomes. The partnership between Afreximbank and ANJE aims to address the challenges faced by African designers, providing them with the opportunity to access international markets while building their capacity through brand incubation.

The program is designed to promote at least 40 African designers annually on Portugal Fashion’s runways. Designers will also benefit from networking opportunities with international industry experts, retailers, manufacturers, and other key stakeholders. The inaugural fashion showcase will take place in Porto, Portugal from October 13-16, 2021.

In addition to this event, Afreximbank and ANJE have structured a partnership to advise and support European and Portuguese companies seeking to invest in Africa, where ANJE will act as a one-stop-shop for investors looking into Africa and seeking advisory services and support from both Afreximbank and ANJE.

Prof Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said: “We believe that the vast creative talent pool on the continent is an opportunity to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation. Through CANEX the bank is providing tangible support for the development of an ecosystem to monetize the creative sector and increase its contribution to Africa’s economy under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”

Manuel Mota, vice president of ANJE, said: “The creative industries in Africa have immense potential to become key drivers for economic growth and I believe this initiative will have a positive and sustainable impact. It is a privilege for ANJE to host and work together with Afreximbank on this important milestone.”

Content courtesy of Fabire 2 Fashion & Nairobi fashion hub 

Creative DNA x Fashion Scout present WAUZINE ‘Matatu’ Cross Cultural Collaborations

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

The first issue of WAUZINE titled ‘Neighbourhood’ came out in December 2020, and it explores Nairobi’s cultural landscape. In this issue, Sunny, with photographer and artistic luminary Maganga Mwagogo, showcase the striking and beautiful work of the designers through models Shekinah Imani, Adhel Bol and Ronnie Nyongesa, against the contrasting architectures of two socially significant parts of Nairobi—Kariokor and Kilimani. The issue is accompanied by a captivating piece by the amazing Awuor Onyango that speaks on the relationship between Kenya’s colonial past and its contemporary artistic output.

The second issue of WAUZINE titled ‘Joy and Rebellion’ is out now, and it explores Nairobi’s CBD through a fashion story by the talented photographer Sarah Waiswa. From Uhuru Park to the streets of Nairobi’s city centre, Sarah showcases the bold and diverse work of the designers through models Janet Muthoni, Chuony and Alex Kirimi.

This issue is accompanied by a fun piece by Abigail Arunga, who writes about the life and heart of Nairobi’s city centre. Issue 002 is also a reflection of the many Nairobians who go against the law to have a good time (enjoyment) and as Sunny puts it in his letter from the editor, “…this issue joins thousands of other funny stories and love letters by defiant Nairobians to their city as part of their overarching super narrative of joy, mischief and rebellion.”

WAUZINE issue 003 titled ‘Matatu’ will be out in February just before the London Fashion Week. In issue 003, Sunny and photographer Edwin Maina showcase the bold and beautiful work of the designers alongside Nairobi’s iconic matatu art. The issue is also accompanied by an insightful piece by Wanjeri Gakuru telling the story of the matatu culture, reflecting on the designs featured of the matatus, and their specific cultural resonance.

The WAUZINE short film was co-directed by our very own Sunny Dolat and Noel Kasyoka. The 5-minute fashion film is an audiovisual accompaniment to the magazine, and features the models and the beautiful work of the designers, moving in, and as part of, the hustle and bustle of the Nairobi city centre.

Photoshoot Creative team

Creative Director: Sunny Dolat
Producer: Njeri Gitungo
Production Assistant: Jane Pauline
Photographer: Edwin Maina
Styling Assistant: Bryan Emry
Make-up Artist: Sinitta Akello
Hair: Richard Kinyua,
Model: Juliet Kiruhi, Steven Juma, Silvia Tonui

Project Manager Kenya
@sunnydolat @zi.ggie @janeywaithera @photoman254 @bryan.emry @sinittaakello @rickykish @kiruhij @stevenjuma_ @eastafricaarts

Designers part of Creative DNA:
@endasportswear  @epicajewellery @favolosobynanu @genteel_ke @ohanaswimwear  @sevaria.ke  @styletech_by_teshie  @suitedbygordon  @thenisisifactory @vintaracollections @we.are.nbo

Larry Casual Returns with a Bold, Timeless & Sophisticated collection

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

While the wedding guest numbers may have been taken down, in a bid to observe S.O. Ps, your attire shouldn’t be a letdown as well.

And with the new fashion collection that has been released by Larry Casual, your wedding
fashion just went a notch higher.
The bespoke luxury men’s designer has just released a new 20-piece collection, that he says was birthed last year during the lengthy lockdown.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQNU44dK_Dh/?utm_source=ig_embed

“Because we were stuck home for a really long time, I began looking at things differently and realized that we needed to experience and create something new with the men’s fashion when it came to weddings. And that is how this collection was born,” Martyn Larry, the designer explains.
He adds that this collection was made for the man/groom who is seeking to make a statement with their fashion, not afraid to go bold, and also very expressive.

“I need the man who wears any of the pieces from this collection to feel bold, bright, and truly Africa, which is something that we endeavored to emphasize with this collection.

The Larry Casual man is unapologetic, stylish, and fashion-forward. And that is what this collection is aimed to achieve!” he adds.

Fashion icon Connie Aluoch, Carole Kinoti, and Model Bidanya Barasa, Debra Sanaipei out to showcase designs during the Madaraka day fete

Posted on by Fashion Police

Four top models and fashion icons Debra Sanaipei, Bidanya Barasa, Connie Aluoch, and Carole Kinoti are preparing to showcase their self-designed outfits on June 1

The white dresses, embroidered with the Kenyan flag beads on the wrist, wraps, and waist, will be worn on Madaraka Day.

The designers, Carol Kinoti, Connie Aluoch, and models Bidanya Barasa and Debra Sanaipei described their style as unique and contemporary.

Their motivation is their love and compassion for being an African woman.

Speaking to Star Sasa, Carol, in Lad Flo-Cape, said the creativity of their dresses is highly inspired by the different physical aspects they have.

“I asked Connie what it takes for a Kenyan woman to wear best, then I remembered she is a typical example of an African woman and I decided to use her as my muse,” she said.

The dresses, described as Lad Occasional, Lad Red Carpet, Lad Skater, and Lad Flo-cape, symbolize peace, tranquillity, and patriotism.

Connie, in Lad Skater, attributed the success of her fashion career to a global approach and constant innovations. She is the brand ambassador, Lad Little Afro Dress, and a lecturer.

“I decided to be constantly innovative and I ventured into image consultancy, one-on-one image styling. I lecture fashion and give mentorship,” she said.

Bidanya, in Lad Occasional, and Debbie, in Lad Red Carpet, are legends in the modeling industry. They have now embarked on family business and real estate respectively.

Written By: Laura Shatuma
Photo Credit: Victor Imboto And Wilfred Nyangaresi

Content courtesy of The Star 

Facebook Africa launches ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ ahead of Africa Day – Celebrating Africa’s Growing Cultural Impact on the World

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

As part of its celebration around ‘Africa Day’ on 25th May, Facebook (www.Facebook.com) announced the launch of its global campaign titled: ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ – a series of short films unveiling the stories of eight phenomenal creatives and small business owners from across the continent who are breaking ground across the world.

Available to view on a dedicated ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ microsite and the official Facebook Africa page from 21st May 2021, the films provide a glimpse into the global successes of African creatives and businesses hailing from Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Gabon.

This includes fashion designer Laduma Ngxokolo from South Africa, whose clothing brand ‘Maxhosa’ has been worn by global names such as Beyonce and Alicia Keys, and most recently had his designs featured in the film ‘Coming to America 2’. Also featured are Sauti Sol, a collective Afro-pop music group hailing from Kenya who have gained international recognition with nominations and shows in Europe and the US, and Mark Angel, a Nigerian comedian who has amassed over 15 million global followers on Facebook. The series is aimed at showcasing, hero’ing, and honouring the people that are impacting Africa, as well as the world, through their music, arts, and crafts.

Included in the ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ campaign are:

  • Mai Atafo (Nigeria) Fashion designer and bespoke tailor

  • Lafalaise Dion (Côte d’Ivoire) Fashion designer and visual artist

  • Jessica Allogo (Gabon) Founder of Les Petits Pots de l’Ogooué Garmout Food brand

  • Blinky Bill (Kenya) Musician, DJ, Rapper, and Producer

  • Sauti Sol (Kenya) International award-winning Afro-pop group

  • Lola Pedro (Nigeria) Founder of Pedro’s Premium Ogogoro drinks brand

  • Mark Angel (Nigeria) Digital comedian, scriptwriter, and video producer

  • Laduma Ngxokolo (South Africa)  Founder of fashion brand Maxhosa and creative artist

Nunu Ntshingila, Regional Director, Facebook Africa, said “At Facebook, we’re deeply invested in the creative industry in Africa, and nowhere is it more exciting to witness this vibrant creative scene than here on the continent. These people and businesses are changing the way Africa is seen, not just in Africa, but around the world, and are cementing our position as leaders in innovation and the creative industries.

We know that Africa is the future, and in honour of ‘Africa Day’ and the Africa Union’s 2021 celebration of African ‘Arts Culture And Heritage’, ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ is our way of recognizing just some of these remarkable individuals who continue to inspire the world.”

As part of the ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ campaign, Facebook will be creating dedicated ‘Africa Day’ Facebook profile frames available to Facebook users, and holding free virtual training for SMBs and Creators across Africa through its local training partners. Focused on providing other upcoming creatives and entrepreneurs with the digital know-how to take their ideas global, these will focus on creativity and Instagram including how to creatively engage with your audience through Instagram; Reels school, Interactivity in stories, and how to get creative with ads.

Media Contact:
Idea Engineers
PR agency for Facebook Africa
facebook@ideaengineers.co.za

Content courtesy of Africa News & Nairobi fashion hub 

Eliza Christoph Luxury, Ethical Fashion Brand Launched to Embody a Kenyan Sensibility With Color, Pattern, & Sustainability

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Chic, urban, sophisticated, vibrant, and inspired Eliza Christoph enters the fashion zeitgeist on a mission.

Founded by Kenyan-born and NYC-based Liz Njoroge, the newly launched brand is an homage to her homeland and an upscale nod to its betterment. Poised to empower women in Kenya by creating jobs for skilled artisans and supporting their training, the brand offers more than sustainable, ethical luxury. Eliza Christoph offers principled, handcrafted clothing and accessories that wholeheartedly embrace the vibrant prints that are the spirit of Kenya.

For clothing and accessories made outside of Africa, the brand donates a portion of the profits to communities where their artisans live and work.

Classic in design, the timeless approach to each garment’s composition is as youthful as it is elegant. The pieces mix unique, vibrant prints with timeless and versatile silhouettes to create luxury staples that add effortless sophistication to any closet. The first collection consists of shirt dresses, skirts and silk scarves.

The dresses come in Dutch-wax-printed fabrics and uniquely designed and printed Italian cotton poplin. The skirts are made from the same cotton poplin, and the scarves are 100% Italian silk.

The double-faced Dutch wax fabric is printed in rich colors with a labor-intensive technique that applies wax resin before submerging the fabric in dye. For the cotton poplin prints, the brand created its own unique print designs inspired by historic African prints and Africa’s natural beauty. The bold prints blend the founder’s love for her home country and passion for modern and contemporary art.

The Eliza Christoph silk scarves bring art and luxury together in a delectable silk scarf. Uniquely designed, the scarf prints are hand-painted and digitally designed to depict the magnificent Kenyan sights and experiences. The scarves are made and printed in Italy on 100% silk and finished with hand-rolled edges for a refined look.

Produced on a non-seasonal calendar in limited runs, the clothing is hand-inspected for perfection. In keeping with their mission, Eliza Christoph will continue to give financial support to the African communities that inspire their collections.

About Eliza Christoph

New York-based Eliza Christoph is a sustainable and ethical luxury brand with the mission of creating the world’s most exquisite clothing and accessories while improving women’s livelihoods in Kenya and other African countries. Founders Liz Njoroge, Creative Director, and Christopher Ramsey, Chief Executive Officer, launched Eliza Christoph after years of travel, research, and development in Africa.

Founder and Creative Director Liz is inspired by her upbringing in Nairobi, Kenya, where women wear vibrant prints and sophisticated clothing for everyday life and celebrations. Having spent her childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, and later in New York City, U.S., Liz’s designs blend traditional African print inspirations with New York City modernism. She mixes unique, vibrant prints with timeless and versatile silhouettes to create luxury staples that add effortless sophistication to any closet.

Eliza Christoph’s fabric prints and scarf designs blend African scenes and nature with modern and contemporary art to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Each design is hand-painted or digitally designed in collaboration with our textile design team. For our print designs, Eliza Christoph selects only the best quality, sustainable materials from around the world.

Eliza Christoph employs highly skilled African artisans, who are paid a fair wage and receive benefits, to handcraft their luxury clothing. For clothing and accessories produced in Italy, a portion of the profits go back to the communities where our Artisans live and work. We carefully choose our supply chain partners for their ethical and environmentally sustainable practices.

Contact:

Jess Kennedy
Communications Manager, Eliza Christoph
jess@elizachristoph.com
1.929.416.2558
Website:https://www.elizachristoph.com
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/eliza_christoph
Press Release Service by Newswire.com
Original Source: Eliza Christoph Luxury, Ethical Fashion Brand Launched to Embody a Kenyan Sensibility With Color, Pattern, & Sustainability

Content courtesy of News Wire & Nairobi fashion hub 

Rwandan fashion designer to represent East Africa at African Fashion International ( AFI )

Posted on by Fashion Police

Multi-disciplinary, textile and fashion designer Amza Niyonzima is among four African creatives expected to participate at the forthcoming African Fashion International (AFI) and pan-African network of creatives slated for May 25 in South Africa.

Niyonzima, whose clothing brand ‘Masa Mara’, made it to the AFI  line-up of runway collections and will represent East Africa alongside David Tlale representing the South, Said Mahrouf for the North and Ituen Basi from the West.

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In commemoration of Africa Day, which recognizes the founding of the African Union, AFI will host an intimate fine-dining, fashion, and music experience for guests and creatives who are steering the African renaissance.

The pan-African experience will fuse fine-dining with fashion, and will incorporate music and dance elements led by renowned producers and artists such as Ayo Solanke a Saxophonist, Vuyani Dance Co and Ndlovu Youth Choir.

The experience is hosted in collaboration with Aurum restaurant and pan-African chef Coco Reinarhz.

“The African Union’s Agenda 2063 aspires for, amongst others, cultural identity and heritage that contributes to Africa’s transformation. The notion of a renaissance, which refers to the European period of transformation that was driven by philosophy, literature and art, calls on us to rediscover and elevate the arts in order to transform Africa into a hub of creativity and innovation,” said Dr.Precious Moloi-Motsepe, AFI’s founder and CEO.

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Since its founding, AFI pioneered pan-African co-operation within the fashion industry.

In 2019, AFI launched a campaign, African Fashion Unites, to bring continental creatives together in response to xenophobic attacks.

In a similar response to the pandemic that has harshly impacted small and emerging creative entrepreneurs, this showcase is a pathway to ensure their sustainability whilst celebrating the aspirations of African people and the African Union.

For audiences at home, the collections that will be shown on the runway will be available to shop online at www.houseofnala.africa and at AFI’s concept store House of Nala at the Leonardo in Sandton, South Africa, and streamed online on AFI Facebook page from 19h00 SA time.

About the designer

Niyonzima developed a love affair with fashion and art at a young age. Even as a young boy, he meticulously put his outfits together, and used his clothing to express his culture, personal taste, and his zest for life.

His fashion journey began when he started customizing his personal style, this sparked interest from friends.

He began creating and printing his own t-shirt designs, and also taught himself patterns and sewing. This propelled the designer to seriously consider the development of his own clothing line in 2013, which he proudly named Ma Casi, which means ‘strength’ or ‘power’ in Swahili/Lingala.

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According to the designer, the name ‘Ma Casi’ was inspired by African strength, which is exemplified by our formation of powerful empires, and our ability to conquer our struggles victoriously.

“Ma Casi’ honours our freedom to go anywhere and to be anywhere in the world by our will. December 2014 marked the inception of a new collection called The Brave Ones,” Niyonzima said.

This new collection captured Niyonzima’s ever-evolving nature, and represents a new direction for his brand aspirations: Masa Mara, which means ‘The Brave One’.

Masa Mara came from a Rwanda saying Amara Masa (Empty handed or something from nothing).

Content courtesy  of The New Times & Nairobi fashion hub 

Rosario Dawson, Thebe Magugu, and More Join Vogue’s Virtual Forces of Fashion Summit

Posted on by Fashion Police

On July 7 and 8, 2021, Vogue will host its fifth annual Forces of Fashion summit. The virtual series will feature candid conversations between industry leaders, including designer John Galliano, makeup artist Pat McGrath, stylist Zerina Akers, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour. And today comes the announcement of a new panel spotlighting five important new voices in fashion from across the globe.

Thebe Magugu, Priya Ahluwalia, Yueqi Qi, Abrima Erwiah, and Rosario Dawson will join Vogue.com editor Chioma Nnadi for a discussion about what it means to build a brand with impeccable authenticity. Each brings a strong point of view and an entirely fresh perspective. Magugu recently won the coveted LVMH prize for his South African–based clothing line of the same name. Ahluwalia has made waves with her eco-friendly menswear on the London fashion scene and beyond.

Qi’s eponymous, Shanghai-based label features otherworldly beading with a modern sensibility. (No surprise, as Qi, previously worked as an embroidery designer for Chanel.) Finally, Erwiah and Dawson’s brand, Studio One Eighty-Nine, showcases the beauty of African design while prioritizing artisanal craftsmanship and ethical business practices; the New York design duo was also recently nominated for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund 2021.

More details and tickets are available on the Forces of Fashion website. Check back for updates ahead of the event, which will take place on July 7 and 8.

Content courtesy of Vogue Magazine 

African Fashion Foundation Set To Host First-Ever Creative Industry Retreat In Africa

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The African Fashion Foundation (AFF) presents the first-ever Creative Industry Retreat in Africa. The three-day event is scheduled for Wednesday, 19th May to Sunday, 23rd May 2021 and aimed at igniting and facilitating critical and valuable discussions around the industry ecosystem.

The three-day event will provide a unique platform for industry players and stakeholders to convene, collaborate and build solid partnerships needed to scale the fashion ecosystem in Africa. Ghana is set to be the convening point for this trailblazing three-day event. It will focus on the theme “Building a Sustainable Value Chain for Africa’s Creative Industry”. Discussions will focus on the need to forge real links in Africa’s creative industry, the strategic role of Development Finance Institutions within the sector and the need to drive the sustainability agenda.

 

This groundbreaking event seeks to foster industry collaboration and position the creative economy to become sustainable and resilient. It will host top creative industry players and professionals including Claudia Lumor – Glitz Africa, Adama Ndiaye – Adama Paris, Nisha Kanabar – Industrie Africa, Roberta Annan – African Fashion Foundation, Adeline Akufo-Addo Kufuor – The Lotte Accra; Viola Labi – Founder of Woven Worldwide, Jennifer Ronne – Victoria Grace Fashion; Fashion Icon & Broadcaster KOD, P. Y. Addo-Boateng – Mi Prime Entertainment, Emmanuel Uba Okoro – Emmy Kasbit, Nuel Bans – Debonair Afrik, Rebecca Donkor, Maame Adjei – Sweet Roots Media, Arieta Mujay Barg – Creative Strategist, Renown Fashion Writer Ekow Barnes, Writer & Humanitarian, Rozan Ahmed and Fredericka Brooksworth, Founder of Fashion Scholar.

The Retreat also seeks to reiterate AFF’s commitment towards sustainability and showcase its sustainability project, Recycle, Re-work, Re-use, a fashion sustainability project which was launched in March in collaboration with five young African fashion brands to address the issue of fashion waste and sustainable product life cycles. They include Omaliko Godson Ebuka- Maliko, Omafume Niemogha- Peperrow, Samuel Otteng, Baboa Tachie- Menson – Balm labs.

Content courtesy of Modern Ghana & Nairobi fashion hub 

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