DAVID TIMEHIN™ ican iam™ Fashion Designer and Artist Moves Back to Nigeria

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Use Black Models or Pay $120,000 Says Brazil to Brazil Fashion Week Producers and Designers

Brazilian prosecutors and organisers of Sao Paulo Fashion Week have reached a deal over claims that too few black and mixed-race models are taking part.

Under its terms, fashion brands must ensure that 10% of the models are of African or Indigenous descent.

Last year, an investigation concluded eight of 344 the models taking part in the event were black - just 2.3%.

If the organisers fail to meet the new target they could face the prospect of being fined more than $120,000

Sao Paulo Fashion Week, being held in June, attracts worldwide attention.

But when the Brazilian newspaper, Folha de Sao Paulo, drew attention to the fact that few black models were used, the legal authority responsible for looking after the public interest opened an investigation.

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Arise Africa Fashion Week, A New Day Dawns in African Fashion

African Fashion International (AFI), organisers of the Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban Fashion Weeks, is proud to announce ARISE Africa Fashion Week, a showcase of the continent's leading fashion designers at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, from the 12 to 20 June 2009.

ARISE Africa Fashion Week is five-year sponsorship agreement with ARISE Magazine, the acclaimed magazine of African style and culture. ARISE launched in February 2009 and is produced in the United Kingdom and distributed internationally.

Nduka Obaigbena, group chairman and editor-in-chief of ARISE, said "ARISE recently presented the African Fashion Collective at New York Fashion Week. The partnership with African Fashion International (AFI) is a continued celebration of African achievement and an extension of our commitment to recognize and showcase the very best of African creative talent. I firmly believe that ARISE Africa Fashion Week will attract an international audience and markets beyond the global African Diaspora. The world's eyes will be firmly focused on Joburg".

ARISE is published by THISDAY, Nigeria's premier newspaper of record, with some 700 staff members in 38 offices across the country. THISDAY has a daily circulation of 100,000 copies (120,000 on Sundays) and a daily readership of 4 million.

THISDAY entertainment division, THISDAY LIVE, is internationally renowned for the music and fashion festivals it has hosted since 2006. Some of the biggest names in music and fashion have participated, many for the first time in Africa, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Rihanna, Usher, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Seal, P. Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Tyson Beckford, Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Alek Wek, Liya Kebede and many more.

For the past 14 years, THISDAY LIVE has produced the THISDAY Awards, which celebrates good governance in Nigerian business and politics, recognizing outstanding leadership in banking, oil, government and other categories. Many of the world's greatest leaders in business and politics have come to Nigeria to speak and participate in these awards, including Bill Clinton, Former US Secretaries of State, Dr Henry Kissinger and General Colin Powell, Former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, Kofi Annan, Jeb Bush, Howard Dean, former Prime Minister of France, Dominic De Villepin, former Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, former President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, Donna Brazile, Karl Rove, Steve Forbes, Larry Summers and many more.

Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, chairperson of African Fashion International, says "Our goal is to promote African talent, both locally and on a global scale and ARISE Africa Fashion Week is a further step towards fulfilment of this goal. We are delighted and privileged to partner with ARISE Magazine and Nduka Obaigbena, who shares in this common objective. ARISE Africa Fashion Week will afford the continent's top fashion design talent the opportunity to capitalise on this unprecedented world attention".

Dr Moloi-Motsepe continues "The fashion business has been a significant contributor to the GDP of most African countries. In South Africa, the clothing and textile sector generated sales of over R18.4 billion in 2006 and this sector represents 1.8 percent of overall employment in this country.
By comparison, the British creative industry brings in £21 billion. Africa can compete in the global fashion industry by focusing on our abundance of creative talent and our unique African signature. ARISE Africa Fashion Week will benefit the local textile industry, inter-African trade as well as capitalise on global interest in the continent as a creative source."

African influences have abounded in European and American collections; a trend which global fashion consultant, Claire Hamilton of WGSN New York, believes is only going to grow. "Tribal or ethnic prints have been popular on the runways for several seasons and right now the African aesthetic—defined especially by textile patterns or beadwork—is very appealing."

Renowned US fashion critic, Suzy Menkes, detailed in a recent New York Times article entitled "The Bright Continent," how African inspirations are a dominant theme in current fashion trends and how there is now a new focus on diversity, from model selection to accessories and design. ARISE Africa Fashion Week has already confirmed the participation of 50 of the best African fashion designers from 20 countries, from all regions of the continent. ARISE Africa Fashion Week is set to become an annual event and it is envisaged that it will be hosted by different countries on the continent each year following 2010, with Nigeria being hotly tipped to host the event in 2011. Organisers are confident that it will become one of the world's major perennial, must-attend fashion events.

Joburg Tourism Company CEO, Lindiwe Mahlangu, commented "that by hosting 'Joburg-Africa at its best experience' during this exciting time of our history and more importantly with a flagship project like ARISE Africa Fashion Week as core element of the experience, Joburg would once again be reinforcing its status as a World-Class FCC host City". "This initiative will have a major business and cultural impact, creating a legacy project for the continent."

"For the duration of ARISE Africa Fashion Week, the Sandton Convention centre will be the hub of fashion collections, exhibitions, trade and entertainment. Guests to Joburg during this time will be spoilt for choices in the city with the golden touch-come & feel the golden touch" says Mahlangu.

Ends.

Issued by:

Total Exposure
+27 11-788-8725
www.totalexposure.co.za

Helga Klizanie
helga@totalexposure.co.za

Vista Kalipa
vista@totalexposure.co.za

On behalf of:
African Fashion International
+27 11-269-6960
www.africanfashioninternational.com


About ARISE Magazine:

ARISE Magazine, a monthly glossy style and culture publication launched in February 2009, is the world's first magazine to celebrate global African achievement in fashion, music, culture, business and politics. ARISE launches at a time of resurging interest in black influence globally. ARISE is aimed at a readership throughout the global African Diaspora with an interest in the cultural successes and positive social developments coming out of the continent. Its editorial content and quality are tailored to appeal to young, affluent readers, in a 60:40 female/male ratio.

ARISE is published by THISDAY Media Group, Leaders & Company Ltd.

+44 207 292 8900
+44 207 440 1100

www.arisemagazine.net

About African Fashion International (AFI)
African Fashion International (AFI), founded, owns and operates the African continent's most anticipated and directional fashion weeks, namely Cape Town Fashion Week, Durban Fashion Week (50% ownership), Audi Joburg Fashion Week (autumn/winter) and Joburg Fashion Week (spring/summer), in addition to other fashion-related strategic marketing initiatives.

AFI values key company traits of excellence, innovation, transformation, development, relationship building and integrity.
AFI strives to be globally recognised as the leading authority on African fashion-related strategic marketing initiatives and African fashion brands. AFI aims to improve the quality of fashion design output from Africa, to promote African brands, and to dramatically raise the profile of fashion designers from the continent.
AFI is spearheaded by Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, chairperson.
Visit www.africanfashioninternational.com for further information

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Hip Hop World Awards 2009 Red Carpet Winning Looks-Women

Rappers Kel, Sasha, West African Idols runner up Omawunmi Magbele, singer Justine, Actress Dakore and Kate Henshaw-Nutall were some of the stylish ladies present at the 4th Annual Hip-Hop World Awards 2009 held in Abuja, Nigeria and hosted by singer Banky W. and Nigeria's TV personality Kemi Adetiba.

Clearly the event demanded guests, particularly celeb guests, step up the ante on their personal style. Celebs did just that with one stylish look after another! Check out our Editor's pick for the red/yellow carpet for the ladies at this year's event. Photos courtesy of our friends at werunthings.net.

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Hip-Hop World Awards 2009 Red Carpet Winning Looks-Men

Clearly guests attending the 4th Annual Hip-Hop World Awards 2009 held in Abuja, Nigeria this past weekend got the memo to come with only serious fashion swagger or risk being denied entrance! The event hosted by Singer Banky W. and Nigerian TV personality Kemi Adetiba, saw some of the most amazing display of hot fashion trends/looks. Musicians TuFace, 9ice, Djinee, MI, CEO of Chocolate City Record Label, Audu Maikori, represent just a sample of Nigeria's Music Industry heavy hitters present at the awards.

Check out our editor's pick from the red carpet/yellow carpet for the many sides of the Ladybrille man in your life.

Photos courtesy of our friends at Werunthings.net

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Terry tha Rapman ft Pherowshuz Stereoman - SAMPLE

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Chillin Productions' 11th Anniversary

Chillin Productions' 11th Anniversary

11 YEARS SUPPORTING LOCAL TALENT IN SF!

180 Painters/Photographers
80 fashion Designers
Visuals by:
www.amovertone.com

Live Painting by:
Steve Javiel ( www.stevejaviel.blogspot.com)
Daniel J. Valadez (www.danieljvaladez.com)
Ian Ross (www.ianrossart.com)

Music by:
DJ Seven (800 Club and Wish Bar)
DJ Felina (www.djfelina.com)
Tall Sasha (supperclub / DJ4LIFE)(www.tallsasha.com)
Dirtyhertz (www.dirtyhertz.com)
Rondo Brothers (www.rondobrothers.com)
LARON (http://www.myspace.com/laronakaswan)
DJ Eddy Bauer (KALX, Go BANG!)
Irene Hernandez-Feiks (www.chillinproductions.com)

Live screen-printing by:
San Franpsycho
(www.sanfranpsycho.com)

When: June 13, 2009
8:00pm-2:00am
Where: Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street, SF CA 94103
(www.mezzaninesf.com)
$7 at the door
Must be 21 + ID


For more info go to:
Www.chillinproductions.com

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Hip-Hop World Awards 2009 Winners

This past weekend was all about the much anticipated Hip-Hop World Awards 2009 which was relocated from Lagos to Abuja, Nigeria for the first time. The very brilliant lyricist/rapper/producer aka "Hip-hop Messiah" M.I. walked away with two awards including Best Rap Album while the equally brilliant 9ice, the King of 'Gongo Aso,' walked away with three. Stay tuned for more pictures from the event.

Hip-Hop Awards 2009 Winners

Artiste of the Year- 9ice

Album of the Year- 9ice

Song of the Year- Gongo Aso by 9ice

Recording of the Year- Michelle by Etcetera

Producer of the Year- ID Cabasa

Best Music Video- Roll It by Jude Okoye

Best Reggae/Dancehall Album- Gift and Grace by Timaya

Best R and B/Pop Album- Gongo Aso by 9ice

Best Rap Album- Talk About It by M.I

Best Collabo- Good or Bad by J. Martins featuring Timaya and P Square

Best Rap Single- Ki Ni Big Deal by Naeto C

Best Vocal Performance (male) - Don’t Break My Heart by Banky W

Best Vocal Performance (female) - In The Music by Omawumi

Next Rated- Omawumi

Hip Hop World Revelation- M.I

Lyricist on the Roll- Mode 9

Best Street Hop- 04 Ka Si Be

Hip Hop World Hall of Fame- Phillip Trimnell
GML

~Photocredit:Eddie Madaki

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Follow Ladybrille on Google Friend Connect!

Dear Readers,

We've just added a really cool tool to the Ladybrille Blogazine site called Google Friend Connect!

Some of you might know about it. We are just discovering it and we love it!

This cool gadget allows you to engage more deeply with our very rich content [celeb features, fashion weeks, events, awards, music, film] and with each other!

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
NO NEW ACCOUNTS.
NO NEW PASSWORDS!

Just sign in with your existing Google, Yahoo, AIM or Open ID Account. VOILA!

You can post comments, start a discussion, make new brilliant friends, invite your friends to join us and more!

We would love to see you join and become even more engaged in the Ladybrille African Fashion movement :) so do follow us on Google Friend Connect!

Check out the gadget on the right side bar!

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Sasha P-The Only One

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African Designer, Olasunbo Lawal, Launches a Line of Classic Yet Functional Handbags for the Stylish Woman on a Budget!

May 18th, 2009
For Immediate Release

Los Angeles, CA — Los Angles based African designer Olasunbo Lawal owner of Handbags by OLAS, recently moved to Los Angeles California to launch a Chic yet affordable line of handbags for the modern fashionista.

Olasubo Lawal owner of Handbags by OLAS got inspired to open her own line of handbags after a life changing trip to China in 2007. Her goal was to create a line of stylish handbags that caters to contemporary, young, and fashion conscious women. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco and years of experience working with today’s top fashion brands and retailers like Macy’s, Gap Inc, Christine Foley, Issey Miyake and Karen Millen, Ola completed her Masters in Fashion Marketing from the London College of Fashion In December 2008. She moved to Los Angeles thereafter to grow a fashion brand that offers simplicity, fashionable edge, and subtle yet drastic details.

“Our customers have fallen in love with the “Fancy” Collection from Handbags by OLAS! We keep hearing it’s the perfect bag. Not too big, not to small and it is a stylish yet classic piece to add to their handbag collections. It is becoming our customer’s new everyday bag! We are looking forward to her Spring/Summer 09 Collection and color ways!”- Manager Darla’s Closet

OLAS offers exclusive handbags designed for the modern woman who is stylish, without the appeal of trying too hard; the brand offers simplicity, fashionable edge, and an ideal price point that can fit into a true fashionistas budget. The handbags are made from top quality leather sourced from all parts of the world with gold hardware and cotton lining complimentary to the line.

“For my line: art helps to showcase my designs, connect with people and helps people to express their individuality.”- Olasunbo Lawal

Handbags by OLAS will be launching its newest collection in July 2009. For more information on the collection please visit www.handbagsbyolas.co.uk

To see the profiles of our clients, please visit us online at www.icypr.com

For more information contact: ICY Public Relations Yetunde O. Taiwo T: 305.549.3676 F: 215.326.7302 E: info(at)icypr.com W: www.icypr.com

###

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Tony Hsieh, CEO Zappos, Says You Can Build Brands that Matter and Be Happy!

Tony Hsieh, CEO Zappos, appears to be convinced happiness is a serious problem, at least among today’s entrepreneurs. It might be the basis for why he delivered a keynote speech titled, “Delivering Happiness,” to TIE CON 2009 mostly entrepreneur attendees on May 16th, 2009 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley, California.

Hsieh made it unequivocally clear that entrepreneurs can build a brand that matters while being both happy and successful. As one of the entrepreneurs listening to him, I didn’t know whether to believe him. Half the time it appears idealistic to think you can build a brand “that matters,” make money and be happy. I found myself asking quite often, "is this guy for real” until I heard him make what was, to me, a compelling case with his own personal story.


Hsieh was a student in college about 1994-1995 when he began operating a pizza shop. Along the way as he continued operations, he became friends with his #1 loyal customer, Alfred Lin, an avid pizza lover who took to purchasing large Pepperoni Pizzas from Hsieh, routinely. Unbeknown to Tony, Alfred was reselling the large pizzas he purchased from Hsieh upstairs in his dormitory, by the slice. Alfred, needless to say, is now the COO/CFO of Zappos. But, I digress . . .back to the story.

After college, Hsieh began a business called Link Exchange [LE]. For Hsieh, however, in focusing mostly on the bottom line at LE, he got to a point where he hated getting up in the morning to go to work. His bottom line attitude had caused him to compromise his values and hire people who made the workplace . . . you guessed right, an unhappy place. “I thought to myself, if I was feeling this way about getting out of bed to go to work as a founder, how were my employees feeling?” explained Hsieh. Two years after establishing LE, Hsieh sold it to Microsoft for $265million dollars.

By 1999 Hsieh was ready for a new venture. He established Venture Frogs, LLC an angel investment fund which would later fund Zappos. Of all the investments by Venture Frogs at the time, Zappos was the most promising. A year later, Hsieh joined Zappos as CEO and quickly set out to establish his ideal company, one he could look forward to going to, everyday. He placed great emphasis on a work environment whose core values encompassed “WOWing” every customer, building a positive and family spirit, growth and doing more with less. Also, in his commitment to “wow every customer,” Hsieh/Zappos established a 24/7 1-800 number on every page, free shipping, free return shipping and a 365 day return policy.

“Everyone regardless whether they are lawyers or accountants, if they work for Zappos, must go through a five weeks course of culture, core values, customer service, warehouse training,” explained Hsieh. For Hsieh, this training is a way to emphasize in the minds of employees the critical importance of customer service.

“People may not exactly remember what you did or said but they will always remember how you made them feel.” Yes indeed. Today, under Hsieh’s leadership and philosophy, Zappos now grosses over a $1billion in sales from a little over $1million when he joined Zappos in 2000.

“Wow! I thought, I can build a brand that matters and be successful?” I've always believed it but at times I wondered if I was too idealistic for my own good. Hsieh must have read my mind because he began urging the now mesmerized entrepreneurs to think about implementing Zappos principles in their businesses. He explained that a company’s core values need not be a replica of Zappos but it should be spelt out and there should be a strong commitment to it.

He also gave seven tips on building brands that matter: a) You decide to do so; 2) figure out the values and culture of both you and your company. Be prepared to make sure they are both in alignment with each other; 3) commit to transparency; 4) have a vision and chase the vision NOT the money; 5) build a relationship. Truly be genuine and interested in people not “what they can do for you!” 6) build your team [hire slowly, fire quickly], and 7) think long term.

Hsieh finished his speech urging entrepreneurs to take a step back and ask the fundamental question, “What is my goal in life.” Regardless of your stated goal, for Hsieh, it leads to one conclusion: I want to be happy! If you want to be happy, then how do you define happiness? Happiness, he explained, can be divided into three broad categories: a) Rock Star- people who experience this kind of happiness are always chasing the next high; b) Engagement- these kinds of persons always have to be engaged/involved in something to feel happy; and c) Meaning/higher purpose—persons who experience this kind of happiness are part of something bigger than themselves. The last definition of happiness he suggested was the type of happiness to strive for it a much longer lasting effect.

He must have struck a chord with many, not just me, because he received a standing ovation after the conclusion of his speech.

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Vivek Ranadivé, CEO & Chairman TIBCO, Says Tap into the Power of NOW!

“What if I told you eight years ago we would have a Black President today, you would have said ‘no way.’ What if I also told you two Stanford grads would build a web search engine called Yahoo? You would have said ‘no way.’ What if I told you yet another two grads from Stanford would build an even better search engine called Google and [to top it off], a high school grad and Harvard dropout would come up with Facebook, you would have said ‘no way!’ One of the things about life is life isn’t always on a schedule.”

The above solid opening with the perfect pauses and emphasis served as the opening to Vivek Ranadivé, Founder, Chairman & CEO of TIBCO’s key note speech on May 15th, 2009 at TIE CON 2009. His remarks were instantly captivating as not even a drop of a pin could be heard in the auditorium like room at the Santa Clara Convention Center where TIE CON attendees sat to listen to his speech.

Read the rest here.

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10 Rules for Renegade Entrepreneurs

You quit your 9-5 to run your own business. Congratulations and welcome into the fold of renegade entrepreneurs. Now what? How do you figure this thing out? What are some of the essential rules for a renegade like you to run a successful business? These are the questions the panelists for the session, ‘Rules for Renegades’ set out to answer on May 15th, 2009 at the TIE CON conference.

Moderated by the Edith Yeung, Executive Producer for Biz TechDay, the panel was a healthy and productive discussion among women entrepreneurs Sukhinder Singh Cassidy- CEO-in Residence, Accel Partners, Danae Ringlemann, Founder Indiegogo, Heidi Roizen, Founder and CEO, Skinny Songs and Robin Kelley Tomb, Founder & CEO, Pooch Hotels.

The panelists shared their numerous experiences in the technology, film, and service industries touching on topics such as having the right business model, hiring, firing, financing and creating revenue from day one for your business. Here are 10 key rules they shared with the renegade entrepreneurs in attendance:

1. Have a great product/service and know your target audience. As Singh-Cassidy put it, “great press does not substitute for quality product and service.”
2. Surround yourself with smart people. Partner with people that enhance you. Let them focus on their strengths that are your weaknesses and vice versa. Also in the same regards: a) learn to get out of your head and be open to new ideas and b) don’t go to smart people with dumb ideas or talks.
3. Engage the media but again only if you have a great product/service. Many entrepreneurs rely on marketing/PR to solve their product/service problems. It doesn’t work. You are still required to come to the table with excellent products/services.
   

Read the rest here.

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