African fashions are fast becoming contagious in the USA as second generation Africans create community and public awareness of the spectacular fashions Africa's industry and designers offer. Take for example, the launch of FINALE, a Black Star Collective Initiative, produced and hosted by D.C. LADIES Inc. & Ghana’s Elite Inc. in honor of Ghana’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Held in the heart of Manhattan, New York, late last month, FINALE featured five emerging African designers: Biribelle Clothing, Gloss, TOSA Collection, Citizens and Ras Kweku, and had over six hundred [600] guests in attendance. “It was very important to us that we put together an event second-generation Africans in this country can be proud of,” said Adjoa Adofo, fashion show coordinator for D.C. LADIES Inc. The event raised money to donate to Pro-Link Ghana, a leading non-profit agency that assists women and children afflicted with HIV/AIDS in Ghana.
14 comments:
Yay for African Fashion!
Love the blog!
Ghanians are good. Nigerians should watch out.
Ladybrille - the comments are in good faith.
Thnx.
wowwww...600 attendance???..i attended show and dont believe i saw that amount ..but i will agree that the event was nice and i was very delighted to see party promoters in USA honor our community ..but 600...please lets be honest in this article & Continue the Great Work..
To the above commenter thank you for attending our event! The 600 number was actually given to us by the venue operator who had a counter by the door. Trust me, we were surprised too! :) I'm glad you enjoyed the show and encourage you to stay tuned to future events hosted by D.C. LADIES Inc.! We love to hear feedback and we invite you to e-mail us at dcladies@gmail.com!
~ Adjoa from D.C. LADIES INC.
www.dcladiesinc.com
www.finaleshow.com
600 is about right...you have to take into consideration, a large number of individuals that came out just for the fashion show and then left, and also our fashionably late individuals that came out to party...all in all, Thank you for your support!
PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR AKWAABA III...MAY '08!!!
www.ghanaselite.com
"Innovation At Its Best"
I honestly believe that there were more than 600 people; I mean come on, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out, the venue was packed, and it wasn’t a small place so please spare them. I'm sure Ghana's Elite (who is the KING in coordinating events in NYC right Now) is not trying to falsely inform anyone, it is what it is! I'm EXITED ABOUT AKWAABA III... I HOPE ITS BIGGER AND BETTER?!?!?
Wow. This really has been a good year for African fashion! I think its great that Africans are supporting one another and new talent. There are so manybnew designers out there! D.C. Ladies really put together a superb show and more so I respect the vision of the foundation! I think Tosa Collection also had a charitable runway show this year for World Aids Day? It's important for the new generation to put together charitable events to show that we care. Keep up the hard work ladies!!!
It is funny how the credit is only being given to DC Ladies... it just amazes me, meanwhile if it wasn't for Ghana's Elite this event would've have been canceled due to lack of Venue and other things. Thats what you get for collaborating with armatures... I hope this is a lesson to Ghana's Elite...I know all this b-cuz i was told by a friend} Ghana's Elite has hosted 4 successful event in 2007, hold on tight for 2008 cuz i believe in their vision... I love DC Ladies too, i think co laboring with Ghana's Elite on your first event was a great way to get your name out there...
Lets be real!
Rebecka Tutu
Maryland
Hi Rebecka, our article clearly states both organizations were involved. BUT, and a big BUT, you do raise a key issue I have been meaning to address. Note that Ladybrille has no relationship or affiliations with either organizations.
In my involvement with doing events, especially among Africans, I have observed people get upset and disappointed because in collaborative efforts with their friends, business partners or organizations, they feel they were not given the credit they deserve. There are some suggestions I think that can make these kinds of relationships work out much better and avoid name calling e.t.c. By the way, in a collaborative efforts, it makes sense that the person with a venue should provide one, that is why they collaborate. In any event check some of these out and always have a good legal agreement in place to make sure your needs are met when you collaborate.
1. Pick a good PR agency: We have some listed on the Ladybrille site, MASON, ICY PR & BOBBY TAYLOR. These PR folks help brand your name and speak with media on behalf of you or your organization so that your name is not lost in collaborative efforts.
2. Pick a Name the public can identify with. The public & media decides what it likes not the producers: I bet for Africans and Non-Africans who attended the event, “DC Ladies” was more memorable as a name than “Ghana Elite.” Why? Because white, black, Asian, African women can be a part of DC ladies. It is all inclusive. “Ghana Elite” on the other hand from a media, branding and marketing perspective is very limited. It limits to only Ghanaians AND even the Ghanaians must be part of the “elite” group. Even if that is not the intention, that is what is perceived just looking at the name; and most will not spend the time to find out the intention behind a name.
3. Pick a Spokesperson: Storm Records of Nigeria is comprised of numerous top executives but Obi Asika is the poster image of what the music company is. The same holds for numerous organizations across the globe. It's like Fergie is noticeable as part of Black Eye Peas but she is not the only member. Be comfortable with that but make sure that spokesperson knows to be inclusive of you as a collaborative partner when speaking with the press.
4. And of course brand, campaign and campaign some more with your logos and image of your company so ur name is not lost.
I think the points raised by our readers are interesting and hope both organizers take something from them for a better show next year. But, with 600 people attending the first event, I’d have to agree with Frank Sinatra that the best is yet to come :) I should have just done a blog post! LoL!
To put any further confusion to rest, D.C. LADIES INC. produced THE FINALE Fashion show and Ghana's Elite took care of the afterparty.
It was a 50/50 effort. D.C. LADIES is comprised of ladies with a variety of talents and experience having put together events for other organizations (not necessarily in the Ghanaian community) before. We thought it would be a good idea to ask Ghana's Elite to help us out with the party aspect being they have been successful in the past and due to our general friendship. In the end, THE FINALE was able raise money to support THE BLACK STAR COLLECTIVE Foundation's 2007 beneficiary and that is where we hang our pride. Again, thanks for attending.
~ Adjoa from D.C. LADIES INC.
www.dcladiesinc.com
www.finaleshow.com
I agree with DC Ladies, It was a 50/50 effort. Both organizations deserves the credit.
Thank you all!
Abrantie Lyfe
Ghana's Elite
First and foremost, Ladybrille, thank you for taking the time out to feature "The Finale" on your website.
Secondly, thanks to all for their comments...it is greatly appreciated and will be beneficial to both Ghana's Elite & D.C. Ladies.
I would like to say, with any organization/company, there is always a starting point. You have to crawl before you can walk. For those of you that may not know, the industry that Ghana's Elite and D.C. Ladies, are working towards, isn't an easy one. No matter where you go, you need to make a name for yourself, so that your clientele, and future clientele can respect your organization and the organizations beliefs. Granted, Ghana's Elite is known for "parties," but please be aware that, that isn't our primary focus, and it isn't just targeting Ghanians per se. As stated in our mission statement, "...strive to work together in creating quality events that are attractive & creative for the purpose of building culture, character, and a sense of belonging within the Ghanaian community and to those that can also appreciate what Ghana has to offer."
I know many people can agree with me, when I say, as a first generation Ghanaian, I feel that Ghana's Elite allows those that are less fortunate, or may not have the time to get to our homeland often, to grasp a community that brings Ghanaians together. We are slowly breaking the ice with the parties, but slowly but surely you guys will have much more to look forward to in the near future...we are painting a bigger picture. This is just the beginning!!
Ladybrille, thank you for your insight, and it will be put to good use.
Thank you all once again!
Godiva
Ghana's Elite
www.ghanaselite.com
Hello everyone! I must say that the Finale Fashion show was a great success!!!! Not only did it put Ghana on the map..it made Ghanian Americans ,like myself, embrace the Ghanian culture. The blog on African fashions is an amazing idea.
Not to prolong the "DCladies not giving props to Ghana's elite situation" but I must say that it was very immature for Rebecca to write her senseless comment as such. I don't think pointing out the fact that the event was almost cancelled due to venue problems ect(thru he say/she say) was a very clever thing to do. Im guessing her purpose was to give credit to Ghana's elite but instead she has indirectly defamed the name and purpose of Ghana's Elite and DC Ladies. What baffles me the most is that the introduction clearly gives credit to both DC Ladies and Ghana's Elite!!!
Great job DC Ladies you guys are an inspiration to Ghanian ladies everywhere--->class=success and great job Ghana's Elite.
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