Sunday 3rd of May 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: Fashion

Black Fashion Designers: Taubman’s Color Luxury Boutique For African Americans Designers In Los Angeles Has Opened.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Emerge in Color, a premium fashion shop at Taubman’s Beverly Center in Los Angeles, will sell only products designed by Black designers and Black-owned fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands from around the country.

The specifically created room, which will be open from June 17 to July 23, will be positioned on level seven of the mall, adjacent to Tiffany & Co. and across from Ferragamo, along the mall’s luxury row.
Lori McGhee-Curtis, vice president of specialized leasing at Taubman, created Emerge in Color to help Black entrepreneurs increase their retail prospects.

According to Taubman, despite the $1.7 trillion in Black spending power in the United States, only about 10% of fashion and accessory firms are owned by African-Americans, and only about 1% of Black-owned brands are carried by American retailers.

Tori Nichel, the New York-based founder of the online retail platform Maison Black, which has popped up at Shinola in Detroit and GSTQ in New York, and Frenchye Bush Harris, who founded The Black Fashion Movement in 2020 as a grassroots social media campaign to promote Black-owned brands online and eventually via in-person luxury shopping experiences at Galleria Dallas and other properties, are curating the brands.

The store will carry more than 50 labels, including garments from Kevan Hall, In Earnest by Byron Lars, and S. Magee, as well as footwear from Salone Monet, eyewear from Tribal Eyes, and jewelry from Jam & Rico.

A panel discussion regarding Black spending power will be held on June 19, a Crown Act Day beauty panel will be held on July 3, and a shopping event with L.A. designer Hall, a founder of The Black Design Collective, will be held on July 3.

During COVID-19, McGhee-Curtis launched the Emerge idea as a weekend pop-up at Twelve Oaks Mall in Detroit to help local entrepreneurs. She understood the notion might grow and become a platform for Black designers as a result of its success. She found Nichel and Harris, who happened to know each other, after searching for curators.

“It’ll be a location for exploration.” Shoppers will be wowed by a stunning caftan by Kevan Hall, and then meander through the store to view a coffee-table book by Marcellas Reynolds, who they may meet at an event.

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They will see some gorgeous pieces from Undra Celeste New York’s capsule, and they will be able to purchase Salone Monet if they are seeking for a nice pump that complements their beautiful melanin skin tone. … Then they may come across a plant they like and wonder whether they may purchase it.
You certainly can! We formed a collaboration with Tansy, a beautiful local woman who is supplying the plants… “The plan is to make as much of it as shoppable as possible,” Nichel explained.

“One of our missions is to solve findability, so this was the ideal marriage of us being 100% digital and having a physical space to support emerging, established, and unknown designers who need a stepping stone to grow in the retail environment and gain exposure with other retailers and even potential manufacturers,” Nichel said.

“It’s critical to support these companies because their survival means money will flow into our community, and our neighborhood will begin to look different,” Harris explained.

Designers meeting consumers, according to the curators, is also beneficial. “It’s incredibly affirming…it instills pride in me,” Harris remarked.

“We’ve been the only ones in the studio for so long as designers.”

It’s amazing to see each other… “You don’t feel as though you’re alone anymore,” Nichel continued. “It’s customer-facing, as well as getting to know one another in the Black designer community.”

If the concept is a hit, McGhee-Curtis plans to repeat it during the holidays and possibly expand it to additional Taubman locations.

According to her, she chose L.A. first because of the large number of Black designers available. “Because we’re right in the middle of everything at the Beverly Center, I thought it would go over well.” We may visit Short Hills, a suburb of New York, at some point.

“These are our future retailers,” says the designer. This is something new and different after COVID-19, store closures, and bankruptcies.

We’ve begun collaborating with a number of direct-to-consumer firms that are coming to our shopping malls. It’s also a good time because we’ll be commemorating Juneteenth.”

Content Courtesy of WWD & NFH

Africa Fashion Designers: Designers From Africa Are Making Waves Around The World.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Designers from Africa are making waves all over the world. Africa has a wealth of talent, and the fashion business is one of them. Many designers have achieved fame both at home and abroad, and this decade has been no exception.

These designers make Africa proud with every stitch, from inventing new ways to bring the runway to the people during a worldwide pandemic to winning important accolades.

Here are some designers from Africa and the diaspora who are forging their own paths in the worldwide fashion world.

1. Hanifa 

Anifa Mvuemba launched her contemporary ready-to-wear label ‘Hanifa’ ten years ago, but her first presentation was only in 2021. Last year, during the height of the pandemic, the Congolese designer stunned the fashion world when she showed her range on Instagram Live using 3D models of her designs, establishing herself as one of the industry’s newest innovators.
Mvuemba’s designs use vibrant, bold colors to highlight the feminine form, with silhouettes and materials that look rich even in print. Many female celebrities have been photographed wearing Hanifa’s designs on a regular basis.

2. Maxhosa 

Since its inception in 2011, Laduma Ngxokolo’s ‘Laduma by Maxhosa’ has become not only a household name in South Africa, but also one of the continent’s most recognizable knitwear companies.

While studying Textile Design and Technology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Ngxokolo won the international Society of Dyers & Colourists Design Award in London in 2010 for his recognizable men’s knitwear design inspired by Xhosa beadwork.

He’s also been published in publications like as Fader US, Wallpaper UK, and Vogue Italia, as well as exhibiting his work in Paris and London Fashion Weeks.
He is one of Africa’s most innovative exports because to his distinctive utilization of South African mohair and wool in strikingly contrasting colors. In Switzerland, Paris, Japan, Nigeria, the United States, and the Netherlands, ‘Maxhosa by Laduma’ is accessible.

3. Kenneth Ize

Kenneth Ize is a designer from Lagos. He was born and raised in Austria, where he studied fashion and design at the University of Applied Arts Vienna before starting ‘Kenneth Ize’ in 2013. Two pieces with daring prints and colors, certain statement outfits that convey a story, and reinterpret West African textiles are his distinctive creations.

In 2019, Ize was a finalist for the LVMH prize. This designer is one to keep an eye on in 2022, and his work continues to improve.

4. Thebe Magugu

Thebe Magugu is without a doubt one of South Africa’s most successful emerging designers in the last decade. In 2016, the Kimberly native launched ‘Thebe Magugu,’ which has since grown to tremendous heights both locally and globally.

Magugu, who was born a year before apartheid in South Africa was abolished, uses his clothing to represent his connection to South African politics and the after-effects of such an oppressive government, while also advocating for the decolonisation of African design.

Magugu’s global awareness has been obvious since receiving the renowned LVMH prize in 2019. It’s difficult to ignore this designer’s talent, which has been recognized by British Vogue and celebrities such as Rihanna.

5. Imane Ayissi

Imane Ayissi has devoted his entire life to the arts and fashion. He is a world-renowned designer, but he is also a dancer, performer, and model who has collaborated with fashion houses like Dior and Givenchy.

In his creations, the Cameroonian haute couture designer combines the dualities of African and French culture. This is reflected in his clothing, which features an unusual brilliant color and texture combination.

Ayissi has had an 18-year career in the fashion industry and was the first black African designer to walk the Paris haute couture runway. A-list actors like as Angela Bassett and Zendaya have worn his creations.

6. Ahluwalia

Priya Ahluwalia, an Indian-Nigerian designer from London, created the ‘Ahluwalia’ collection. ‘Ahluwalia’ is one of the newest menswear labels on the scene, but it has already made a big impression.

Priya was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and was a co-winner of the LVMH Prize in 2020. Her mix of African designs and Indian weaves gives streetwear a fresh look. Furthermore, this firm is environmentally friendly because it prides itself on reducing waste by employing used and deadstock goods.

African fashion is, without a doubt, in capable and talented hands.

7. Evelyn Akinyi Odongo

MEFA Creation is co-founded by Akinyi, who is also the creative director. Her career began in 2002, and her designs have grown in popularity both locally and globally since then. She was also one of the fortunate designers to have her collection on display during President Barack Obama’s 2015 visit to Kenya.
Margret Kenyatta, Kenya’s first lady, was also dressed by her.
She also asked Martha Karua, a previous presidential candidate, to wear one of her designs during her most recent presidential debate. For Ms Karua, she created a black dress with a green jacket with an African print.

Ms Odongo’s mother was a home-based tailor, thus fashion was a huge part of her childhood.
The future designer would see her mother sewing and then learn how to do it herself. But she had no idea that fashion would be her career at the time. She enlisted in the military after high school, only to learn midway through that it was not going to lead her to her dream.

Before enrolling at the Evelyn College of Design, she took a gap to focus on her family. Ms Odongo, who is a member of the Association of Fashion Designers of Kenya (AFAD), has participated in the annual Safari Fashion Week and recently represented the organization at the Source Africa Trade Show in Cape Town.

8. Deepa Dosaja

Deepa Dosaja is a well-known Kenyan fashion designer. Nature does, in fact, inspire her fashion creations, as evidenced by the patterns, colors, and materials she uses. Deepa uses natural textiles such as cotton, silk, and wool to produce her works.

In fact, she was named Kenya’s Most Influential Woman in the Fashion Industry in 2013. Furthermore, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o wore her designs in 2015, achieving international notoriety.

Deepa strives to honor and empower women via her creations and company. Deepa has built a business that honors her soul by producing attractive, clean, and ethically manufactured clothing.

Deepa has spoken at a number of events regarding the impact of fashion on both the environment and the people who make it. Her strong love for the environment and the people who live in it is shown in the fact that she has never used synthetic textiles in any of her collections or during her fashion career, and she values her crew as the lifeblood of her firm.

9. Sika’a

John Tchoudi, the founder of Sika, is a promising fashion designer. The Sika’a ambition to create stylish and imaginative handmade clothes is blossoming just two years into an African fashion adventure.
The focus is on manufacturing excellent high-end clothing from sustainable textiles, and the company is based in West Cameroon. Sika’a is ahead of the curve in an industry that needs to change to more environmentally friendly practices.
The passion and variety at the heart of the Sika’a ethos are a winning combination. And a perusal of the impressive portfolio is absolutely enthralling.

10. Ann McCreath

Ann McCreath is a Kenyan fashion designer and the originator of the KikoRomeo brand. McCreath has worked in the fashion industry since 1996.
Ann is also the founder of the Festival of African Fashion & Arts (FAFA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace through fashion. She is the Kenyan Coordinator for Fashion Revolution Day right now.

Award-winning fashion designer with more than two decades of experience in fashion and development in Africa, as well as in Europe.
Expert in the East African fashion sector who is widely regarded as a pioneer. Multilingual connection, motivator, teacher, and creative thinker.

Ann McCreath is passionate about design (see out the KikoRomeo brand), as well as passing on her skills of design, production, marketing, and brand growth to future generations. Everything in my life is connected to the arts in some way.

11. Duro Oluwo

Duro Oluwo is equally well-known in the art and fashion worlds. His discriminating clientele stimulates the same stylistic muse as he does. He’s a master of the mixed-media look. He creates one-of-a-kind ensembles using a variety of materials and patterns that delight and astonish.
In general, evening silhouettes are his go-to, but his works also stray into more unusual assemblages. Oluwo, who primarily designs for women’s clothing, has drawn inspiration from people and places in his varied life.

His 2021 collections are expected to be as groundbreaking as we’ve come to anticipate from him. Here you may see the most recent African fashion collection.

Content Courtesy of NFH

 

8 South African Tribes Are Honored In Thebe Magugu’s New Dresses.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Designer Thebe Magugu was exposed to a number of African tribes and traditions as a child growing up in the South African cities of Kimberley and Johannesburg. His design work has always been influenced by the unique beauty of his homeland. Magugu adds, “I’m always focusing on topics that are relatively specific but run the risk of being forgotten.”

Magugu sought to keep this attitude alive in his latest effort by designing a clothing for each of South Africa’s eight major tribes: Zulu, Tswana, Swati, Vhavenda, Pedi, Xhosa, Tsonga, and Sotho. “I wanted to commemorate the primary eight cultures that we have here in South Africa because I value my own so much,” says Magugu, a Tswana tribe member.

“While we’re recognized for our storytelling and handiwork, all of the other countries have their own customs and peculiarities that I wanted to capture in a dress.”

Each tribe was designed in collaboration with South African cartoonist Phathu Nembilwi. “I urged her to paint her own abstract depiction of the eight tribes,” Magugu recalls. The illustrations by Nembilwi were then printed on crepe fabric and sewn into “bohemian-style garments with exposed necklines,” according to Magugu. “It’s a proportion that flatters everyone.” I wanted everyone who saw the outfit to recognize themselves in it.”

Despite the fact that each outfit in the collection is graphic and summery, Magugu wanted each one to have its own distinct personality. For example, the Tswana-inspired outfit displays two individuals drumming on a drum that they made themselves, a tribute to the tribe’s beadwork and craftsmanship history.

Magugu incorporated the Soto tribe’s traditional attire into the outfit. “They wear a really particular triangular hat, and they’re often clad with these incredibly enormous wool blankets surrounding them,” Magugu explains.

Magugu was able to transmit the collection’s message clearly and with care with the support of South African photographer Aart Verrips, writer Vuyolwethu Reoagile, and stylist Chloe Andrea Welgemoed. The models, all of whom are Magugu’s friends and South African creatives, were photographed wearing the gowns and coupled with unique South African things.
The conch shells, baskets, and other items would be found in a normal South African home, according to Magugu.
Reoagile also penned tribe descriptions that will be posted on Magugu’s website.
“I truly wanted it to be some form of education,” Magugu adds. “Vuyolwethu offered a quick review of the cultures, including where they’re found in South Africa and what they’re most known for.”

Magugu learned a lot while putting together the compilation. “I knew a lot about South African culture from friends and family, but seeing each culture in detail gave me an even greater appreciation.”
That, according to the designer, is why he enjoys fashion: he wants to continue to share the beauty of his homeland with others.

That, according to the designer, is why he enjoys fashion: he wants to continue to share the beauty of his homeland with others. “I might want to look at another field if I was only doing clothes for the sake of doing clothes,” he says. “I’m not a particularly outspoken person, but I feel heard when I make garments and engage with fashion’s cerebral side.”

Content courtesy of Vogue Magazine, Thebe Magugu & NFH

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Kigali Highlights

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Rwanda’s fashion sector is constantly rising, as the country positions itself to become Africa’s next fashion powerhouse, as evidenced by the recently concluded Mercedes-Benz fashion week.
Over 100 international guests, including 27 fashion designers, arrived in Kigali ahead of the six-day event.

A fashion school has been advocated for in Rwanda. Chris Vitj, a Belgian fashion designer who was in Rwanda for the second edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, urged Rwandan designers and business leaders to establish at least one fashion school in the country.

She was speaking at the Fashion Forum, which took place last week in Norrsken, Kigali, and brought together Africa’s top designers and others to discuss the industry’s evolution from a commercial standpoint.

“I hope that eventually, starting with a few people here, a school like that will exist. That is my desire,” stated the designer, who lectured on fashion for ten years till 2021.

 

Young Rwandan designers are given a forum to display their work.
Young up-and-coming designers were given a platform to display their collections to 27 prominent designers from around the world at the just finished Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Fashion houses such as Jarah by Linda Muhoza, Inkingi Designs, Fashion Forward, A&M Kigali Urban, Ntare Gitare, Koni Clothing, and others showed their collections on the catwalk on May 19 at M-Hotel.
A total of ten young designers were given the opportunity to showcase their talent.

Music meets fashion
Renowned Rwandan artists and top Rwandan music bands delighted attendees at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Kigali last week.
Mike Kayihura and Christopher performed live music with the Target band on the second day of the fashion week at M-hotel Kigali, while several collections were displayed on the runway.
Selecta Copain, a well-known disc jockey, also performed a live set of afro music at the fashion week’s grand finale.

Top designers participate
This year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was bigger and better than the debut edition held in 2019, with over 15 local and international designers on the runway.

During the fashion week’s grand finale, renowned designers like as Malawi’s Lilly Alphonso, who showed Dessert pieces, Uganda’s Kais Divo, Somalia’s Qaal designs, Ghana’s Arshia Wilson, and South Africa’s Thando Piliso, among many others, showed their collections.
Georges Malelu, the South African designer who dressed Beyonce in 2018, also attended the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Show.

On the runway, top models such as Grace Akeza, Honorine Uwase, Kentha Kirezi, Aisha Uwase, and others showcased various designers.

The fashion scene in Africa is thriving.
African collections dominated the runway at the just concluded Mercedes-Benz Fashion Show, which ran from May 16 to 21.

Ten of the 15 designers who took part in the fashion presentation wore Kitenge couture garments.

Content courtesy of News Times Rwanda & NFH

10 African Fashion Designers Changing the World That the World Should Know

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

African fashion, like African music and art, is experiencing a global renaissance, and we’re here to witness it. International superstars such as Naomi Campbell, Zendaya, Tracee Ellis Ross, Angela Bassett, and Beyoncé, who was seen wearing African designers in the visual cinema for her award-winning album, Black Is King, have helped to bring some of the continent’s designers to the forefront.

These designers are change makers in their own right, helping to improve Africa’s developing economy, advocating for fairness and climate action, and creating a new bar for African talent, ensuring that the rest of the world understands what Africa is truly made of.

 

Africa’s fashion is adventurous and revolutionary, just like its people. Nigerian designers Adebayo Oke-Lawal and Fola Francis, for example, are pushing boundaries and challenging gender stereotypes on the continent through their work. Anifa Mvuemba, a Congolese designer, is credited with being the first to create a 3D virtual fashion show for her Hanifa line, which went viral in 2021.
Ann McCreath, the founder of the acclaimed Festival of Africa Fashion & Arts, is the organizer of Fashion Revolution Day in Kenya (FAFA) and one of the pioneer fashion designers in Kenya.

According to Statista, the garment business generated $1.5 trillion in global revenue in 2021.

This means that the fashion industry’s success in Africa can have a significant impact on the continent’s economy. With Africa having the world’s highest poverty rate, investing in the fashion industry and other areas can assist to alter the lives of those who are poor.
A growing fashion business in Africa implies greater job possibilities, development investments, and global recognition for fashion designers as well as the local tailors, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs who work with them. Many African fashion firms are currently developing programs to provide resources, contribute to social development, and empower people interested in working in the sector.

This is an excellent time to learn more about, support, and invest in the African fashion sector, given its global success and the potential for economic growth. So here are eight internationally famous African fashion firms that are also helping to address some of the world’s most pressing issues that you should be aware of, follow, and support.

1. KikoRomeo

KikoRomeo, which means “Adam’s Apple” in Kiswahili, was founded by Ann McCreath in 1996 and will be celebrating its 26th anniversary in May 2022. Over the previous two decades, it has established itself as a heritage brand, largely regarded with influencing Kenyan fashion and training designers and artists.

Wearing KikoRomeo is like being a part of an exclusive club, with recognizable distinctive items that signify a shared interest and initiate a dialogue.

KikoRomeo is committed to sustainability, employing hand-dyed and hand-carved textiles as well as hand-carved trims from the African continent to ensure that each item lasts. Cottons, linens, and silk are among the natural fibers used in our materials.

The silhouettes are effortlessly graceful and meticulously designed. Our clients consider them to be pieces of art.
KikoRomeo keeps asking us what we can wear to appear good. The unexpected blending of colors and mixed media creates individuality and richness in the textiles when viewed in paintings.

2. Thebe Magugu

Thebe Magugu is a luxury self-titled label created in 2016 by Thebe Magugu, a South African fashion designer.

Magugu uses clothes to tell stories about his heritage and culture while also bringing crucial topics to light. In previous collections, he has addressed sexism in South Africa, the country’s apartheid heritage, and femicide, with President Cyril Ramaphosa calling gender-based violence as “the second epidemic we are battling” in November 2020.

Magugu won the LVMH Award in 2018 and has since been featured in Paper, Another Mag, Vogue, and other international media. Magugu specializes on women’s ready-to-wear clothing.

3. Imane Ayissi

Imane Ayissi is a Cameroonian model, dancer, and fashion designer who was born in 1969 to Cameroonian parents. Ayissi was a sought-after model who walked for prominent luxury labels such as Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, YSL, and Lanvin before launching his fashion business.

Ayissi makes haute couture luxury ready-to-wear items that are inspired by civilizations from all around Africa. Ayissi is also a proponent of environmentally responsible fashion, frequently employing natural and organic materials with minimal environmental impact.

4. Anyango Mpinga

Anyango Mpinga is a cultural pioneer who promotes intersectionality as a circular fashion guiding philosophy. In 2015, she launched her own Contemporary Sustainable label, which is known for reinterpreted white shirts, colorful designs that pay homage to her multi-cultural ancestry, and size inclusive styles that are balanced between androgyny and a bohemian aesthetic.

Her ethereal designs have been shown in cities such as Tokyo, Paris, New York, London, Milan, Bangkok, and Porto, and she has garnered countless awards. Anyango is a forward-thinking designer who is experimenting with new technologies to develop biodegradable textiles.
Her campaign Free As A Human, which she founded as a social venture, addresses the humanitarian and environmental crisis caused by the fashion industry’s exploitative labor practices.

5. Hanifa

Anifa Mvuemba is a Congolese fashion designer best known for a viral 3D fashion presentation in which she blended two of her interests, fashion and technology, in an epic showcase of her brand Hanifa during the pandemic’s peak in 2021.

Anifa, founded by Mvuemba ten years ago, is noted for its appealing ready-to-wear designs for ladies of all sizes. On November 16, 2021, she had her first presentation at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., with nearly 20,000 people watching it on YouTube.

She’s also the founder of The Hanifa Dream, a program that helps women-led businesses “elevate fashion through passion, purpose, and social impact.”

6. Orange Culture

Adebayo Oke-Lawal, a Nigerian fashion designer, launched Orange Culture in 2011. Oke-beginnings Lawal’s are those of a real millennial, as he has been designing since he was 11 and self-taught via YouTube, and is now one of Africa’s most prominent designers.

Orange Culture is well recognized for their menswear, which has been worn by African superstars such as Global Citizen champion Davido, Rita Dominic, and Ice Prince, and was the first Nigerian company to have a store at Selfridges in the United Kingdom.

They provide mentorship and tools to budding fashion entrepreneurs all throughout Africa through their program, The Orange Mentorship, to help them develop their own fashion empire.

7. Christie Brown

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Aisha Ayensu, a Ghanaian fashion designer and creative director, created Christie Brown in March 2008.

The luxury label, named after Ayensu’s grandmother, creates inventive and unusual ready-to-wear clothes and accessories for women. Ayensu reimagines traditional clothes and modernizes it for today’s audience when creating for Christie Brown.

8. Tongoro

Tongoro is a ready-to-wear womenswear brand that offers playful and unusual garments. It was founded in 2016 by Sarah Diof, a lady of Senegalese, Central African, and Congolese descent.
Tongoro, based in Dakar, Senegal, sources fabrics from artisans all across Africa, and Diof makes it a point to collaborate with local tailors in order to support the economic development of African craftspeople.

9. Ahluwalia

Priye Ahluwalia, the company’s founder, was born in London to Nigerian parents and an Indian mother. She creates award-winning ready-to-wear menswear, drawing inspiration from both her Nigerian and Indian roots.

Ahluwalia won the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design the next year after being one of the beneficiaries of the renowned LMVH competition in 2020. For a majority of her designs, Ahluwalia employs old and dead-stock apparel (discontinued and vintage products that are no longer in stock).

10. Loza Maléombho

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Loza Maléombho, an Ivorian fashion designer, was born in Brazil and has been designing since the age of 13.

She chose to start her own line in 2009 after interning at world-famous fashion houses in New York City.

Maléombho presently makes garments and accessories that blend traditional African designs with contemporary fashion, she also collaborates with Ivory Coast artisans, such as shoemakers and weavers, to incorporate their skills into her creations.

Content courtesy of Global Citizen & NFH

Rihanna Wears A Thebe Magugu Crocheted Outfit To Make A Grand Announcement About Fenty Beauty Africa.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Rihanna looked stunning in Thebe Magugu’s Merino Wool Fringe Knitted Dress while announcing the launch of Fenty Beauty in Africa.
Rihanna, a Grammy Award-winning singer and entrepreneur, debuted her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line in September 2017.

Rihanna stated that Fenty Beauty will be available in a few African nations, including Kenya, over five years later, and what better way to promote it than by wearing pieces by a South African designer?
The Work singer made her statement while dressed in a Merino Wool Fringe Knitted Dress by Thebe Magugu.

“Welcome to Africa Riri,” tweeted the South African designer on Twitter, adding that the collection was about “exploring the shifting face of African Spirituality.”

“The silhouettes in the collection combine traditional local wardrobe solutions like draping and wrapping with intricate and crisp tailoring. The collection honors the work of renowned textile and printmakers from throughout the world “Thebe explained the motivation behind the 2021 collection.

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Hits Africa 
Fenty Beauty will soon be available in Kenya, Botswana, Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, Rihanna said on Twitter on Tuesday, May 10th.

Fenty Beauty will be available on May 27th, according to the 34-year-old billionaire.

Rihanna Showcases Her Thebe Magugu Knit Dress.
Thebe Magugu welcomed Rihanna to Africa on Instagram on Wednesday, May 11th, following her Fenty Beauty announcement.

She wore his Merino Woll Fringe Knitted Dress with a detachable bralette from his Autumn/Winter Alchemy 21 collection, which addresses the “shifting face of African Spirituality,” according to the award-winning designer.

In March 2021, Magugu debuted the collection during Paris Fashion Week. The skilled designer told British Vogue that the collection was “such a niche sensation.”

 

Which Other Celebs Have Worn Thebe Magugu?

Thebe Magugu has been worn by a number of American celebrities in recent years. In an episode of her hit comedy Insecure, American actress and producer Issa Rae wore a Thebe Magugu gown.

Miley Cyrus flaunted her Thebe Magugu men’s suit while soaring through the sky in a private plane, while Kylie Jenner flaunted her wool suit.

Issa Rae

Miley Cyrus

Kylie Jenner

Adut Akech

Dionne Warwick

Content courtesy of The South African, Thebe Magugu & NFH

Kolade Bobby A Ugandan Fashion Designer Is Repurposing Donated Clothing And Reselling It In The Country Of Origin.

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Bobby Kolade (Kolade) A Ugandan fashion designer is upcycling donated clothing and reselling it in the country of origin.
Bobby Kolade is upcycling donated clothes into new products and attempting to resell them in an effort to combat a culture of excess that he claims has infected and damaged Ugandan culture and fashion.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTbD41IO7H/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“It’s very difficult for a designer like myself, and for my peers, to manufacture competitive clothing in Uganda because the second-hand garments that flood our markets are so inexpensive,” Kolade told The Current presenter Matt Galloway.

“Not only are we importing used clothing from the global north. We’ve also brought in a culture of excessive consumption and cheapness.”

With a concept dubbed Return To Sender, Kolade, a designer and entrepreneur, is attempting to reverse the flow of clothing.

According to Kolade, over 80% of all garment sales in Uganda are of secondhand things discarded in wealthier countries where fast-fashion reigns supreme. It has its own market in Kampala, where Kolade lives, named Owino Market. While some of the apparel on the market is functional, products such as ski jackets and wool suits are inappropriate for Ugandan conditions.

“The items that are shipped here are not always the items that we require,  As a result, many people simply adapt “Kolade stated.

“I once told a trader at Owino Market that I couldn’t afford this jacket. It’s simply too thick… And he added, “You know, style doesn’t care about the weather.”

While the market is a pleasant place to uncover some hidden treasures and bargains, it is also incredibly harmful to the country’s apparel designers, according to Kolade.

The Second-hand Market
In North America, when someone contributes clothing, the best of it is sold in a local store. Other items are then sold to countries in the developing world.

“Originally, they were sent as a gift. People might also pick up garments at various locations throughout the city. But it swiftly transformed into a highly profitable enterprise “Kolade remarked.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdBjmpmrK-n/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“That means our local industries never recovered from the early 1970s industrial downturn.”

Many charity stores and clothing organizations in wealthier nations are now selling excess inventory abroad, which frequently ends up in African countries, he explained.
This makes financial competition difficult for Kolade and other designers.

“People in this market now believe that clothing should be… as inexpensive as second-hand clothing. People have discovered this “Kolade said.

“So if you come out with something fresh as a designer and the pricing is a little higher than what they’re used to, they won’t buy our clothes.

No way!”
This second-hand method might be a double-edged sword, according to Annamma Joy, a marketing lecturer at the University of British Columbia.

While it presents issues for designers, she believes that donating clothing and providing affordable solutions for those in need is more sustainable.

“The government is boosting the number of job openings. People become hired in this company therefore it has an influence that is good for the economy,” stated Joy.

“Those garments, on the other hand, are not what consumers in those countries want. It’s also more costly. Because secondhand clothes undercut the industry, it closes.”

Return To Sender
Return to Sender, Kolade’s endeavor fills this gap. Kolade takes clothing that has been sent to Uganda and gives it his own personal touch.

One of his items, for example, is what he refers to as a four-panel T-shirt. He takes four different shirts and chops them up into fascinating combinations.
“It’s a metaphor for what we’re attempting to do because we’re trying to give these clothes a new identity,” Kolade explained.

He then sells them to individuals all around the world through his website.
The clothing also comes with a “clothes passport,” which outlines where the items utilized for the outfit came from.
“Hopefully, it’ll be a way of interacting with… individuals who see this item of apparel and wonder, “What is it?” ‘Where did it come from?’ And the wearer only needs to present his or her passport “Kolade stated.

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He claims he isn’t bothered by individuals donating their garments since he realizes they believe it is a charitable deed and are unaware of the wider consequences. Instead, he believes that consumers would aid businesses by purchasing his sustainable inventions.

“‘Hey, listen, we can make something exciting, something new, something extremely innovative and resourceful,’ we’re trying to convey.
Smaller industry can be developed here,  Take a look at what we did with your trash.
If you want to help the industry in our country, please buy it back.’ “Kolade stated.

Content couretsy of CBC Canada, Buziga Hill & NFH

 

The First AMVCA Runway Show Will Be Hosted By Nigerian Fashion Designer Mai Atafo.

Posted on by Fashion Police

The first-ever Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards runway show will be hosted by fashion designer Mai Atafo on Sunday evening.
He’ll be joined by Miz Vick, the show’s host, to anchor the second day of this year’s AMVCA, which will run for eight days.

Africa Magic’s official Instagram page announced the hosts on Sunday.
The awards ceremony this year will last eight days instead of the previous one-day affair.

Africa Magic has planned an eight-day series of events in conjunction with MultiChoice to celebrate the 8th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs), which will take place on May 14, 2022.

Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, made the announcement at a press conference, saying that the eight-day series of events will reinvent and bring exciting innovations to the awards, which were first held in 2013.
“We’re focusing on bringing the various qualities that make the African film and television industry genuinely magical to the millions of Africans who tune in every year to watch the awards.”

Fashion, technology, gastronomy, and African culture will all be celebrated at these carefully chosen events. There will be panel discussions and film screenings from our MultiChoice Talent Factory, as well as industry sessions and competitions for digital content creators and aspiring fashion designers,” she stated.
The eight-day festival will kick off on Saturday, May 7 with an Opening Night.

MultiChoice Talent Factory Day will take place on Monday, May 9th, with movie screenings and panel discussions led by MTF Academy students. On Tuesday, May 10th, Africa Magic will conduct a special Content Market Day for industry participants.

On Wednesday, May 11th, there will be a pan-African cuisine and cultural event.
On Thursday, May 12th, a Digital Content Creators’ Day will be held to raise awareness of the growing popularity of online content creators.
On Friday, May 13th, a special gala for nominees will be held, followed by the awards ceremony on Saturday, May 14th.

The awards event, now in its eighth year, last took place in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was canceled in 2021.

The event kicked off on Saturday night with an inaugural gala that kicked off a series of activities leading up to the award ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
The runway event, which will take place tonight in collaboration with BellaNaija Style, is titled ‘Design for the Stars.’
The show will include a competition for nine aspiring fashion designers who have been taught by established designers such as Mai Atafo, Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi, and Adebayo Oke-Lawal.
For this edition, Africa Magic and its partners honor true African fashion and its significance in the development of the African film and television industries.

Content courtesy of Africa Magic & NFH

Jeffery Wilson, The Founder And Director Of The Jw Show, Represented Kenya At Africa Fashion Week Seattle.

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Africa Fashion Week Seattle’s African-inspired designs are sweeping the global fashion market like never before, and it’s time to celebrate African excellence once more.

The Seattle Marriott Redmond hosted a colorful and vibrant exhibition and fashion event on May 8th, presenting local and international designers from all over the world.
Jeffery Wilson, our very own Kenyan Fashion Guru and Director of the JW Show, represented Kenya at Africa Fashion Week Seattle.

About JW Show

We aspire to connect Kenya, Africa, and the rest of the world via fabric and design.

Make a date with us and be a part of this renowned spectacle where elegance meets style. This fashion spectacular brings together men and women who are pushing the boundaries of sustainable local fashion enterprises that have crossed borders and drawn the attention of the globe.

About Africa Fashion Week Seattle Fashion For Humanity

It gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome you to this year’s Africa Fashion Week Seattle. This event was created to not only showcase the beauty of African fashion and culture but also to promote child education in African communities where many school-aged children are underprivileged and marginalized.
Every day, millions of African children, particularly in South Senegal and Tanzania, struggle to learn due to poor learning conditions. Images of young students sitting on the floor or on the ground due to a lack of desks have deeply moved me. Like most of you here today, I was fortunate to attend schools where I had access to every tool available to aid my learning.

The desperation of these children should serve as a wake-up call for us; we must act. To begin, we can provide them with a desk where they can write and learn. This is the first step in keeping these bright young minds in school.

In Senegal, a school desk costs $65 and a classroom requires 40 desks. By participating in Africa Fashion Week Seattle, you will make a difference by providing Senegalese or Tanzanian children with the opportunity to further their education and achieve their dreams.

We have been able to provide up to 101 desks, enough for two classrooms, since April 2021, and our goal is to provide 500 chairs by the end of the year 2022.

We will need all of the assistance we can get to reach this goal. I believe that by working together, we can improve access to education and learning quality in Africa, beginning in Senegal and Tanzania.

I’d like each of you to take a moment to consider this question:

  • Do you believe in education?
    Do you think education is important for breaking the cycle of poverty?
  • Do you think education is the key to opening the golden door of freedom for African children?

We don’t have to look far to find the answers to these questions.

Everyone reading this letter, in my opinion, is a living example of education’s limitless power.
Education represents everything to these children since it is the only avenue that can guarantee them socioeconomic freedom for themselves and future generations.

You will make a significant difference in the world by supporting our project, as you will be a part of something bigger than our local communities.
Your contribution will help to safeguard the future of an African youngster whose light would otherwise go unnoticed. There is no cause more noble, worthy, or spiritually fulfilling in my opinion, and I’m sure you’ll all agree.

Content courtesy of The JW Show, Africa Fashion Week Seattle & NFH

According To A Greenpeace Analysis, The Majority Of Clothing Delivered To East Africa Is Garbage.

Posted on by Fashion Police

According to a Greenpeace analysis, the circularity advertised by global fashion firms is “still a fantasy,” with the majority of apparel delivered to East Africa ending up in landfills.
Greenpeace Germany traveled to Kenya and Tanzania to learn about the problem of imported textile waste in these countries and to learn about some of the numerous local efforts working to combat it.

However, according to the campaigners’ most recent study, ‘Poisoned Gifts: From Donations to the Dumpsite: Textiles Waste Disguised as Second-Hand Clothes Exported to East Africa,’ issued last week, the majority of the apparel is of such low quality that it ends up at the dumpsite.

“The failure of the fast-fashion linear business model is more visible than in the countries where many of these cheap clothes end up once their short lives are over, on huge dumpsites, burned on open fires, washed out into the sea, with severe consequences for people and the planet,” Greenpeace said in a statement on its website.

According to the report, almost one million tonnes of worn clothing are collected annually in Germany, with the volume increasing by 20% year on year. According to the report, only a small percentage of worn clothing is resold in the country where it was collected: around 10%–30% in the UK, and similar percentages in the US and Canada.

According to Greenpeace, the majority of the worn clothing is sent overseas to join worldwide second-hand commerce in which billions of old garments are bought and sold each year.

However, the non-profit claims that this report demonstrates how textile waste is frequently “disguised” as second-hand clothing and exported from the Global North to the Global South in order to avoid the responsibility and costs of dealing with the problem of disposable clothing, with these used clothes, as well as new ‘overproduced’ clothes, frequently reported and recorded as “reused.” Greenpeace estimates that over half of them wind up in landfills, rivers, or are openly burned.

Greenpeace Germany said it recently campaigned for a ban on the destruction of unsold and returned goods to be included in the German circular economy law in 2020, as well as a transparency requirement for large companies to publicly disclose the number of products they discard and destroy, including textiles.

Following pressure from a number of environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, The EU announced a new textile strategy in March 2022, which recommends a ban on product destruction and a transparency mandate.

The widespread idea that donating clothes is a circular way of dealing with garment waste, according to the Greenpeace analysis, is generating concerns.

“The trade has been labeled “charity,” “recycling,” and “diversion,” and now many people call it “circular,” according to the research, although none of these names are accurate. Circularity is not achieved by simply transferring garments from one location to another. Previously, these clothes would have ended up discarded in dumpsites in the West, but now they end up in African dumpsites.”

African countries that have taken a position against this trade have also run into difficulties, according to the report. The East African Community (EAC) agreed in 2016 to restrict used clothing imports entirely by 2019.

The reason for the prohibition was that it would improve the economy by boosting the local textile industry.

The US, on the other hand, challenged the restriction as a trade barrier and threatened trade penalties, including the loss of duty-free apparel export eligibility to the US market, under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Import tax increases have also caused complications. Consignments of old clothing were left uncollected at the port of Mombasa after importers failed to comply with new duty rules, according to Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

According to Greenpeace, 150–200 tonnes of textiles are dumped in African countries every day, and because up to 69 percent of the fibers used in clothing are synthetic (mostly polyester), they are oil-based and non-biodegradable. Greenpeace alleges that discarded microplastic fibers seep into the environment and end up in the human food chain.

According to the report, because there is insufficient infrastructure to dispose of these vast amounts of textile waste and official dumpsites are overburdened, textile waste is dumped along rivers or at settlement borders.

Some of it is burned openly, causing health problems for those who live nearby and clogging rivers and drains, which can cause flooding.

Methane can be released by decomposing clothing, and synthetic materials like polyester and lycra can take hundreds of years to biodegrade. Furthermore, many clothing contains harmful compounds, according to the survey.

According to Greenpeace, it is no longer sufficient for firms to focus solely on cleaning up their supply chains, and they are encouraging global fashion brands to increase their efforts to prevent their goods’ massive end-of-life impacts.
Furthermore, according to Greenpeace, the EU must ensure that its proposal to prohibit the export of textile waste and encourage long-lasting, durable, and repairable clothes of high quality is properly implemented through various rules, which must be accepted as a global treaty as soon as possible.

Greenpeace called for control of fashion supply chains in its Self-Regulation: A Fashion Fairytale report in November (2021), claiming that self-regulation was “failed to fix the problem.”

Content courtesy of Greenpeace & NFH

In America: An Anthology of Fashion, The Best Dressed Stars at the Met Gala 2022

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

What exactly is gilded opulence? People have been trying to decipher the implications of the Met Gala’s 2022 theme since it was revealed. Some people associate the phrase with Edith Wharton’s New York, while others associate it with the blingy, streetwise appearance of the early 2000s.

Guests at tonight’s event were allowed to take their own path, with plenty of space for interpretation. They dressed to the nines in custom designer costumes and historical vintage with glee.

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On the red carpet, Janelle Monáe told Vogue that her Ralph Lauren gown evoked “future gilded glamour.
” A black shimmering train and a silver headdress completed the appearance, which was completed with silver Tiffany & Co jewelry.

The red carpet was packed with long trains, massive diamonds, and outgoing personalities trying to make an impression. Because there were so many attention-getting outfits, deviating from the usual was the only way to truly stand out.
Dakota Johnson is accustomed to wearing Alessandro Michele’s creations, but the fringed sequin catsuit she wore to the Met felt new.
Erykah Badu’s layers of beaded Marni suiting and tall hat were a stunning take on the star’s signature style.

Who says high fashion can’t be practical? 
Gigi Hadid’s Versace scarlet red jumpsuit and billowing puffer didn’t just look nice; they also allowed for more mobility and appeared to keep Hadid warm on a carpet where some celebs expressed their discomfort with the weather.

Multiple celebrities opted to wear vintage, emphasizing the importance of sustainability. Each of Nicolas Ghesquière’s Louis Vuitton muses, including Hoyeon Jung, Emma Stone, and Cynthia Erivo, came on the red carpet wearing a piece from the brand’s history that was tailored to fit their preferences.

Adut Akech took it a step further by wearing a Shrimpton Couture emerald green Christian Lacroix gown with a supermodel swagger.

 

Revisiting these vintage outfits demonstrated how forward-thinking the work of designers like Lacroix and Ghesquière is, but Kim Kardashian took home the night’s biggest historical win. The reality star debuted in the Jean Louis gown Marilyn Monroe wore to serenade John F.

It’s been said that good things come to those who wait, and Kim Kardashian appeared to be one of the last celebs to arrive on the Met Gala carpet.
Kardashian embraced old Hollywood, accompanied by her beau, “SNL” comedian Pete Davidson, by donning the same dress Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962 during her performance of “Happy Birthday” for then-President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy on his birthday in 1962, just moments before the red carpet was supposed to close. It concluded an adventurous evening with a history lecture with a modern twist. Check out the best-dressed celebs on the 2022 Met Gala red carpet below, and check out the red carpet live stream to see all of the looks from fashion’s greatest night.

Kendall Jenner embraced the shadows in a smokey ballgown from Prada, in contrast to her sister Kylie Jenner’s all-white Off-White ensemble.
Jenner wore her bleached eyebrows with the translucent black two-piece gown, which included a billowing train with frills.

Content courtesy of Vogue & NFH 

Lekucci Global, A Fashion Label, Has Unveiled Its Afrocentric Collection.

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The Afrocentric Collection (AC’22) has been unveiled by Lekucci Global Nigeria Limited, a fashion firm.

According to Adelekan Mogbodofo, the brand’s Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director, the collection includes a mix of mainstream fabrics that symbolize current Africa, as well as a selection of pieces from Africa’s primordial art, fabrics, and accessories.

“Afrocentricity is an ideology and a philosophy that gained traction during the era when blacks were colonized without regard for their culture, language, or identity,” Mogbodofo stated when asked what motivated him to develop the collection.

“The wearing of African and African-inspired clothing expresses African identity and black nationalism.” The Afrocentric collections are cultural products of Nigerians and the black diaspora, and they are worn exclusively or in combination with Western outfits.

“Fashion is really essential,” remarked Fadeshola Ojamomi, the company’s Brand Manager, at the debut of the collection. It improves one’s quality of life, and like anything worth doing well, it’s worth doing well. We had to introduce the Afrocentric collection in order to ensure that our clientele looked more fashionable in 2023. It’s a collection that expresses who we are as Africans and how we should present ourselves.”

Content courtesy of Lekucci Global, Punch NG & NFH

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