Showing posts with label African fashions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African fashions. Show all posts
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
"Satolicious" by Tanzania’s Mustafa Hassanali
As African fashions continue to gain momentum the world over, seasoned African fashion designers are stepping up the ante and in instances delving into markets you wouldn’t typically find them. For Tanzania’s Mustafa Hassanali, it was a combination of both with the showing of his new collection titled ‘Satolicious’ at Tanzania’s New Mwanza hotel in Tanzania's second largest city, Mwanza.
His collections encompassed bridal gowns, traditional African fabrics sewn into Afro-Western fusions and beautiful strapless multi-colored silk chiffon gowns that appeared to move with such fluidity. Hassanali’s ‘Satolicious’ opened with a line up of top models [from both Dar es Salaam and Mwanza--popular cities in Tanzania] to an audience that included Tanzania’s elite such as Christopher Gachuma, Subhas Patel and Mohammed Fazal. Famous Tazanian comedian Steve Nyerere along with Dogoli Culture Group provided the entertainment.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Africa Fashion Week 2009, An Intercontinental Experience on a Global Scale
Inaugural Africa Fashion Week to bolster continental design industry
Johannesburg, South Africa. The African fashion industry will be scoring the winning goal during the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup in June, with the announcement of the inaugural Africa Fashion Week taking place in Johannesburg in June.
African Fashion International (AFI), which runs Cape Town, Joburg and Durban fashion weeks, will present an eight-day showcase of the continents’ leading designers from 12 to 19 June 2009 at the Sandton Convention Centre, culminating with the African Fashion Awards. Africa Fashion Week will replace the more localised Joburg Fashion Week on this years spring/summer calendar.
"Global attention will be firmly focused on Joburg during the Confederations Cup, and Africa Fashion Week will afford the continent's top design talent the opportunity to attract world's attention, says Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, AFI chairperson. " It is our mission to take African fashion to the world and this Pan-African showcase is a fulfilment of that aspiration."
Dr Moloi-Motsepe added that African Fashion Week would benefit the South African textile industry, inter African trade as well as capitalise on global interest in the continent as a creative source.
"Inter-African trade is an underexploited source of growth for Africa whose share of global trade is only 2 percent. In 2006, only 16% of South Africa’s exports were destined for the continent, yet it is widely acknowledged that increased inter-African trade is a way to improve the economic environment of the continent and establish an economic infrastructure that will attract more capital investment. "
Dr Moloi-Motsepe continued "The fashion business is a serious one and in these turbulent times, the industry needs all the support it can get. In South Africa alone, the clothing and textile sector generated sales of over R18.4 billion in 2006 and the sector contributes 1.8% to overall employment in this country. By comparison the British creative industry brings in 21 billion Pounds Sterling but there is no reason why we cannot compete in the global market by focusing on our own unique selling points, lower volumes, higher price points and creativity."
It is in the creative realm that African influences are already being seen in international collections; a trend, which Claire Hamilton of global fashion consultancy 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."
The most recent issue of T Magazine, the fashion supplement created by The New York Times, features a fashion shoot that looks at African motifs in design, showing items from Louis Vuitton, Missoni and Oscar de la Renta in this "African" context.
New York Fashion Week held in February this year hosted an African Fashion Collective featuring designers Xuly Bet (Mali), Stoned Cherrie (SA), Momo, and Tiffany Amber (Nigeria) showing off an array of African inspired collections and presidential prints.
Added Hamilton "New York's hippest boutique, Opening Ceremony, which is very influential in the young and trendy designer market, highlights particular countries when stocking its store. Previously it has looked to Sweden and Japan. But for spring 2009, it is stocking African designers."
Africa Fashion Week which will feature designers from up to 15 countries is set to become an annual event that will eventually be hosted by different countries on the continent, with organisers confident that it can evolve into one of the world’s major fashion weeks.
Joburg Tourism Company CEO, Lindiwe Mahlangu commented that by hosting the Confederations Cup and events like Africa Fashion Week, Joburg would once again be cementing its status as a world-class African city. "This initiative from African Fashion International will showcase the very best of Africa’s creative design talents to an unprecedented global audience in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup in 2010."
"Just as all the infrastructure and investment tied to the World Cup will benefit the continent as a whole in years to come, this fashion showcase should also leave a lasting legacy beyond 2010, stimulating the sector by taking African fashion to the world" says Dr Precious Molo-Motsepe
For more information visit www.africanfashioninternational.com
About African Fashion International (AFI)
African Fashion International (AFI), founded, owns and operates the African continent’s most respected and directional fashion weeks, namely Cape Town Fashion Week, MTN 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.
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Johannesburg, South Africa. The African fashion industry will be scoring the winning goal during the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup in June, with the announcement of the inaugural Africa Fashion Week taking place in Johannesburg in June.
African Fashion International (AFI), which runs Cape Town, Joburg and Durban fashion weeks, will present an eight-day showcase of the continents’ leading designers from 12 to 19 June 2009 at the Sandton Convention Centre, culminating with the African Fashion Awards. Africa Fashion Week will replace the more localised Joburg Fashion Week on this years spring/summer calendar.
"Global attention will be firmly focused on Joburg during the Confederations Cup, and Africa Fashion Week will afford the continent's top design talent the opportunity to attract world's attention, says Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, AFI chairperson. " It is our mission to take African fashion to the world and this Pan-African showcase is a fulfilment of that aspiration."
Dr Moloi-Motsepe added that African Fashion Week would benefit the South African textile industry, inter African trade as well as capitalise on global interest in the continent as a creative source.
"Inter-African trade is an underexploited source of growth for Africa whose share of global trade is only 2 percent. In 2006, only 16% of South Africa’s exports were destined for the continent, yet it is widely acknowledged that increased inter-African trade is a way to improve the economic environment of the continent and establish an economic infrastructure that will attract more capital investment. "
Dr Moloi-Motsepe continued "The fashion business is a serious one and in these turbulent times, the industry needs all the support it can get. In South Africa alone, the clothing and textile sector generated sales of over R18.4 billion in 2006 and the sector contributes 1.8% to overall employment in this country. By comparison the British creative industry brings in 21 billion Pounds Sterling but there is no reason why we cannot compete in the global market by focusing on our own unique selling points, lower volumes, higher price points and creativity."
It is in the creative realm that African influences are already being seen in international collections; a trend, which Claire Hamilton of global fashion consultancy 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."
The most recent issue of T Magazine, the fashion supplement created by The New York Times, features a fashion shoot that looks at African motifs in design, showing items from Louis Vuitton, Missoni and Oscar de la Renta in this "African" context.
New York Fashion Week held in February this year hosted an African Fashion Collective featuring designers Xuly Bet (Mali), Stoned Cherrie (SA), Momo, and Tiffany Amber (Nigeria) showing off an array of African inspired collections and presidential prints.
Added Hamilton "New York's hippest boutique, Opening Ceremony, which is very influential in the young and trendy designer market, highlights particular countries when stocking its store. Previously it has looked to Sweden and Japan. But for spring 2009, it is stocking African designers."
Africa Fashion Week which will feature designers from up to 15 countries is set to become an annual event that will eventually be hosted by different countries on the continent, with organisers confident that it can evolve into one of the world’s major fashion weeks.
Joburg Tourism Company CEO, Lindiwe Mahlangu commented that by hosting the Confederations Cup and events like Africa Fashion Week, Joburg would once again be cementing its status as a world-class African city. "This initiative from African Fashion International will showcase the very best of Africa’s creative design talents to an unprecedented global audience in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup in 2010."
"Just as all the infrastructure and investment tied to the World Cup will benefit the continent as a whole in years to come, this fashion showcase should also leave a lasting legacy beyond 2010, stimulating the sector by taking African fashion to the world" says Dr Precious Molo-Motsepe
For more information visit www.africanfashioninternational.com
About African Fashion International (AFI)
African Fashion International (AFI), founded, owns and operates the African continent’s most respected and directional fashion weeks, namely Cape Town Fashion Week, MTN 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.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Design Indaba 2009: Karen Monk Klinjstra Winter Collection '09
Winter Collection '09 for Karen Monk Klijnstra was defined as "a cross-pollination of urban wasteland, recyclable fabrics, interesting textures and futuristic, psychedelic colours."
Photocredits: Simon Deiner/SDR Photo
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
West Africa's Next Top Model Steps into the Heart of Africa [Nigeria]
For Immediate Release
WEST AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL STEPS INTO THE HEART OF AFRICA (NIGERIA)
FOR 3 CASTINGS IN 3 MAJOR CITIES ON MONDAY, MARCH 9 IN PORT HARCOURT, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 IN ABUJA AND ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14 2009 IN LAGOS
NEW YORK, NY February 27, 2009 – The West Africa’s Next Top Model show scheduled to begin production in West Africa, in the second quarter of 2009, is scouting for models in 3 major cities in Nigeria[the Heart of Africa]: Port Harcourt, Abuja & Lagos. Scouting for Port Harcourt will be on March 9th, 2009 at Arriva Hotel off Stadium Road Port Harcourt at 8am. In Abuja on March 11th, 2009 8am at The Mediterranean Recreation Center Plot 1141 Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja and in Lagos on March 14th, 2009 at 8am in the True Love Magazine Office 13b Bishop Oluwole, Victoria Island, Lagos. Applicants must be of West African heritage to qualify.
The show will be produced by StatsMedia Group an international production company owned by Tope Esan StatsMedia is the only company granted the exclusive rights from CBS Paramount International Television to produce this reality show in Africa. With the initial start up being in West Africa, the format will be produced every season by region on the African continent. True Love West Africa is the media partner and official magazine for West African’s Next Top Model. Soundcity/Spice TV is the broadcast partner for the show. The winner will receive a lucrative international modeling contract, a cover of True Love magazine and numerous endorsement deals from various companies in the fashion industry nationally and internationally.
WEST AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is a format of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL®, which is produced by 10x10 Entertainment and Bankable Productions. Executive Producers are Tyra Banks, Ken Mok and Daniel Soiseth. The dramality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. ANTM is licensed in over 100 countries. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL and the AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL format are sold internationally by CBS Paramount International Television.
This version of Next Top Model will not only highlight the models of West African decent but the continent of Africa for its tourist attractions, cultures, values and its booming 21st century economy.
Contact Details
For more information about Sponsorship & Advertising on West African’s Next Top Model, please contact Executive Producer Tope Esan e-mail tope@wafntm.com. For all other inquiries on the show please contact ICY Public Relations at 305.940.0067 and Bola Atta (Bolaatta@gmail.com)
# # #
Read More
WEST AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL STEPS INTO THE HEART OF AFRICA (NIGERIA)
FOR 3 CASTINGS IN 3 MAJOR CITIES ON MONDAY, MARCH 9 IN PORT HARCOURT, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 IN ABUJA AND ON SATURDAY, MARCH 14 2009 IN LAGOS
NEW YORK, NY February 27, 2009 – The West Africa’s Next Top Model show scheduled to begin production in West Africa, in the second quarter of 2009, is scouting for models in 3 major cities in Nigeria[the Heart of Africa]: Port Harcourt, Abuja & Lagos. Scouting for Port Harcourt will be on March 9th, 2009 at Arriva Hotel off Stadium Road Port Harcourt at 8am. In Abuja on March 11th, 2009 8am at The Mediterranean Recreation Center Plot 1141 Kwame Nkrumah Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja and in Lagos on March 14th, 2009 at 8am in the True Love Magazine Office 13b Bishop Oluwole, Victoria Island, Lagos. Applicants must be of West African heritage to qualify.
The show will be produced by StatsMedia Group an international production company owned by Tope Esan StatsMedia is the only company granted the exclusive rights from CBS Paramount International Television to produce this reality show in Africa. With the initial start up being in West Africa, the format will be produced every season by region on the African continent. True Love West Africa is the media partner and official magazine for West African’s Next Top Model. Soundcity/Spice TV is the broadcast partner for the show. The winner will receive a lucrative international modeling contract, a cover of True Love magazine and numerous endorsement deals from various companies in the fashion industry nationally and internationally.
WEST AFRICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is a format of AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL®, which is produced by 10x10 Entertainment and Bankable Productions. Executive Producers are Tyra Banks, Ken Mok and Daniel Soiseth. The dramality series was created by Tyra Banks and developed by Mok and Kenya Barris. ANTM is licensed in over 100 countries. AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL and the AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL format are sold internationally by CBS Paramount International Television.
This version of Next Top Model will not only highlight the models of West African decent but the continent of Africa for its tourist attractions, cultures, values and its booming 21st century economy.
Contact Details
For more information about Sponsorship & Advertising on West African’s Next Top Model, please contact Executive Producer Tope Esan e-mail tope@wafntm.com. For all other inquiries on the show please contact ICY Public Relations at 305.940.0067 and Bola Atta (Bolaatta@gmail.com)
# # #
Monday, March 2, 2009
Design Indaba 2009, UNDACOVA Winter Collection '09
Photocredit: Simon Deiner/SDR Photo
Design Indaba 2009, Carducci Women Winter Collection '09
Francois Rall for Carducci Women Winter 2009 incorporates a lot of juxtapositions. For example, straw hats juxtapose finely tailored suits while long dresses are contrasted with platform strappy sandals. Nevertheless, the collection does not lose focus, which is to remain timeless, especially in this recession prone times.
Design Indaba 2009, Hip-Hop Winter Collection '09
South Africa's Hip-Hop Label showed a funky yet elegant collection for Winter '09
Photocredit: Simon Deiner/SDR
Design Indaba 2009, Fashion Shows-Backstage
Design Indaba is one of South Africa's largest trade event representing various sectors of South Africa's design industry. The trade event has two major offerings, the Design Indaba Conference and the Design Indaba Expo. The Conference gathers the brightest minds in graphic design, advertising, film, music, fashion design, industrial design, architecture, craft, visual art, new media, publishing, broadcasting and performing arts to do and talk the business of design.
The Expo on the other hand, is an opportunity for all the aforementioned stakeholders to showcase their works. Specific to fashion, it's an all out event as designers get even more creative and models can break a smile and bring out their inner actresses and actors. This year's fashion designer participants at the Expo were some of the strongest of names in the industry including fashion labels like Stoned Cherrie who just showed at New York Fashion Week Fall 2009, Hip-Hop, Craig Native, Karen Monk Klinjstra and many more. Enjoy the Backstahe pictures at the event as we bring you more images from the fashion show:
Photocredits: Simon Deiner/SDR Photo
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Momo Introduces the Nigerian Gele "Proper, Proper" at London Fashion Week
Fati Asibuela, the brain behind the Nigerian fashion label MOMO which showed at New York Fashion Week Fall 2009, is on a roll! Just completing New York Fashion Week, she headed to London Fashion Week to show another collection. While most of the clothing designs remained the same as what she showed in New York, she did something different with accessories.
The MOMO collection displayed a unique point of view that is very Nigerian, the gele, in a very "proper, proper" way. While Western designers such as Christain Lacroix in his Spring/Summer 2008 Collection took a good swipe at the gele,none, so far, have delivered the gele with the precision and regalness that the MOMO London Fashion Week Fall 2009 collection did. Also, for the Ladybrille Western woman who tends to wear regal stylish hats to upscale functions, particularly African-American and British Ladybrille women, it can easily blend into your wardrobes if you are looking to spice things up a bit.
Briefly, the gele is a head accessory [more like a cultural hat] that embodies glamour, power, royalty, regalness, chicness, sexiness and the beauty of the Nigerian woman. It is loud, colorful, creative and says, “I am all that and a bag of chips AND MORE. Whether man, woman, boy or girl, “don’t step to me unless you have a clear understanding of this fact.”” The fabrics used to make gele range from the traditonal locally made Nigerian textile, the Aso Oke [a hand loomed cloth woven by the Yoruba people of the South West], to damask, taffeta and organza. These fabrics are stiff because the gele stands tall and elongated above the heads of many. In certain instances, depending on the wearer, the gele can have the effect of a 5inch stillettos as it is a really exaggerated elongated look. "Umbrella," "Ceiling Far," "Human Diesel," "Satellite," "Overload," "Boys Follow me" are some of the unique names associated with the gele and its varying heights.
There is no logic to this so don't waste time trying to figure it out. Just note the following: it is irrelevant that the wearer of the gele blocks the view of those who might be sitting behind her at an event, infringes on the space of those beside her or worse, block the view of a driver if she is sitted in the back of a car. What matters is that the gele is skillfully, artistically and pridefully placed in all of its glory, color and majesty on the head of the Nigerian woman.
While young Nigerian women are indoctrinated into the gele culture at an early age, tying the gele, nevertheless, remains quite a challenge. It almost has the same difficulty as tying the Indian sari both for young Indian and non-Indian women. This is probably why Momo’s gele pieces shown at London Fashion Week are unique as she retains the height and awesomeness that is the gele but appears to make it prepackaged where the wearer can just grab, place on the head like a regular hat and go. While we of course would prefer she use more traditional garments i.e. Aso Oke to help the crisis ridden local textile manufacturing industry in Nigeria, she nevertheless scores points by meeting the West halfway with latex and metallic fabrics that make it adventurous and playful for the Ladybrille Western woman seeking to be blessed with the majesty and awesomenes of the gele.
Photocredits: D. Martindale/Wireimage. 
Renowned Nigerian artist Lagbaja captures the essence and at times outrageousness of the gele.
Tying Gele Demo
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Aschobi Designs to Debut at Harvard Africa Business Conference
LADYBRILLE.com: Hi Adama! Good to know you will be on our shores very soon. How are you and how have things been since the last time you featured in Ladybrille?
Aschobi: Hello Ladybrille. It really feels good to be bringing Aschobi to the other side of the ocean and it just so happens to be happening at an opportune time. I am doing well. Things have been steadily moving forward, towards our goals since we last spoke.
LADYBRILLE.com: You will be showing at Harvard's Business Conference. How do you feel about that?
Aschobi: I am so excited. It is a great opportunity for Aschobi, as you know I just started my own business and they say the first 3 to 5 years are the most crucial and financially demanding; so showing at such a conference could not have come at a better time and with such an appropriate audience. It is a great platform for expansion and business development.
LADYBRILLE.com: How did the call come about?
Aschobi: A dear friend had mmentioned Aschobi to the organizers a while back, and they called. Like I [have] said, in this business, who you know or who your friends know will help. So you could imagine how elated we were when they finally did call and asked us to show. This has been in our plans to steadily move forward towards our goals.
LADYBRILLE.com: What is your inspiration for Winter/Fall '09?
Aschobi: A play on Fela's [Fela Kuti] song "She go say I be Lady" and Dr. Doolittle's "My Fair Lady".
LADYBRILLE.com: Give us a teaser. What should we expect?
Aschobi: Expect a throw back to the romantic notions of being a "lady." Red, opulent lace, with Van Gogh, impressionist prints, in clean feminine silhouettes, that satisfy the "lady" in all women.
LADYBRILLE.com: You will be showing the same day New York Fashion Week [NYFW] ends but what's your take on the African fashion Designers who showed at NYFW ?
Aschobi: I think it is very necessary and long overdue. African designers need to be showcasing their work at international fashion weeks like NYFW, especially if we are aspiring to create international brands. Showing at such events brings our work to a larger and more diverse audience. I am familiar with the designers that showed at NYFW and each one has something fresh and unique to bring to the international fashion scene. ThisDay/Arise magazine has given them a great platform to showcase their work, and we hope to be a part of the African Collection in future international fashion weeks.
LADYBRILLE.com: Is your site ready to go for e-commerce in case you run out of stock for the designs people might want at the event?
Aschobi: I am actually in Accra as we speak testing different garment production sites. Our website will be up in the next month, but I can not put a definitive date as to when you will be able to order from our website. I will say though that ordering on line is in the pipeline, it may have to be through another e-commerce site, as we are just in the beginning stages of developing our own website.
LADYBRILLE.com: Thanks Adama. Have a great show!
Aschobi: I should thank you, for giving us this opportunity. I am very grateful, please stay tuned for more to come.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Georges Chakra, Fall 2009 Collection is Res Ipsa Loquitor!
Photo credits: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
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