Showing posts with label African fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African fashion. Show all posts
Monday, August 20, 2012
Music artist Mya in the design for an African clothing brand
Mya, an
American music artist, is set to design pieces for the next African brand
Kosghie O collections as part of “Koshie O Woman” campaign. The campaign is an initiative which
celebrates a strong, self-assured and bold woman who is capable of juggling
various daily activities while maintaining her fashion and being stylish. Mya is a Koshie O lady and will be
co-designing the name pieces for the spring/Sumer 2013 collection in support of
this campaign.
According
to Nina Baksmaty, founder and director of Koshie O, ‘everyone in the team is excited
to work with Mya. We love her talent and her fashion. It's our belief that
Koshie O and mya will give a storm magic together’.
Samples
of the pieces will be made available for buyers this month and will be
available for buyers in spring next year. Mya is expected to donate 5% of the sales
from her collection to Mercy corps, a global humanitarian agency.
This
will mark the first Koshie O collection where its prints will be applied on
fabrics. The Koshie O woman campaign is allowing women who embody that the
brand stands for to co-design few pieces for Koshie O 2013 spring/summer
collection. Fans of Koshie O will follow the progress of events in the design
process of the celebrities through social media outlets before the pieces are
made available for sale come 2013.
The
brand has become the new flag bearer for the new concept in luxury which teams
the urban aesthetics with refined African craftsmanship in absolutely a contemporary
project. The designer has a focus on premium fabrics that are selected, processed
and hand sewn by Ghanaian dressmakers and artisans. A distinctive way of mixing
style and culture references the represents
African fashion and a step higher.
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African fashion
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Saturday, August 18, 2012
Fashion and model casting
AWFL
casting was considered a fun and memorable day for those who took part at
Grange Coty Hotel, London. The place boasts a classic but sophisticated layout
which portrays an elegant casino feeling. The model casting took place in the conference
room of Grange where AWFL team shook hands with employees who are setting up.
Away from the stereotypes, the day has a prompt starting and by the after noon,
you could see influx of fashion models,
who would shortly leave and meet industry experts on the panel. Among those on
the panel were editor in chief and director Sinem, Fashion Stylist Sonia, catwalk
Choreographer Julius.
As hours
passed by, more and more talented faces came in, making the judges get spoil
for choice. Though they were able to whittle it down to the best among them,
the judges had a challenging time too the fashion
models on that day of event were definitely set to wow the crowd and confirm
that Africa fashion week London is not only one of a high standard event, but
one which will be remembered.
AWFL fashion fun day flyering at Spitalfields
In that connection,
the Africa fashion week London team,
not long ago, took a trip to Stratford Westfield to grace public with their lovely
faces while informing them more of the AWFL 2012. Everyone who attended the
flyering day was highly enthusiastic and had fun and a very enjoyable time, so
if you were not, you definitely missed a lot.
Most
members of the public enjoyed specifically the sessions of photo taking which
made people look as if they had become fashion models. The enthusiasm was
enjoyed by those who were in the event. The team also gave out 3000 flyers in a
day to the busy crowd of Westfield Street. All this is in the effort of making African fashion shine on the global scene, and that makes another reason for you to
smile.
Labels:
African fashion,
AWFL
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Wednesday, August 8, 2012
From the books of memory-Nigerian fashion week highlights top African designers
The African influenced
fashions, from Proenza Schoulerr to Yves St. Laurent’s 1960 collections and the
Derek Lam’s spring 2012 shows, all have featured in designs for last decades.
However, more African designers are using both heritage and
international trend in gaining attention on the world stage.
Some few months ago, Arise
Magazine Fashion week in Lagos, Nigeria for the second year, drew attention to
the different works of the African influenced designers. Around 77 designers presented
their variety of outfits mixing traditional fabrics with the international
aesthetics to elevate the mundane with stylish women’s dresses and offering a
flavor of haute couture in hotel –turned fashion haven separated from hustle
and bustle of megacity of Lagos.
Nduka Obaigbena, This newspaper and Arise Magazine
publisher explained that its time the Africans demonstrate that they can also
contribute to be the best and world class in fashion scene. However, the
struggles affecting the poor and the rich brought havoc in this event which was
meant to run six days. Despite the problems of electricity that hit on the first
two days, the show finally began and drew crowd that embraces African
fashion, not as a sideshow but main component of international fashion and design.
Some of the highlighted African designers included:
Tiffany Amber
Under Folake Folarin, a
creative director of Tiffany Amber, he has been making dresses with Nigeria’s
rich content for 13 years.
Tsemaye Binitie
Paris exhibition on the Alix
Gres. His textured collection included sleeveless and black catsuit festooned
with hand-embroidered vinyl to create a kaleidoscopic effect. He is a young designer
with an experience from a British designer (Stella McCartney) and markets his
designs in London, New York and Lagos.
Loza Maleombho
Is a New York based designer
who unveiled a collection that draws from nomadic Tuareg based on the Sahara desert.
She brought a twist by using West African fabrics such as colorful Ghanaian
kente and Ankara print of Nigeria.
These are some of the
designers whose work has gone to international levels. Their African fashion results are what most African fashionistas
are proud of till to date.
Should you want to get any
of the African fashion clothing form the top Nigerian designers, including plus
size clothing and jackets, we are here to help you get the best.
Labels:
African Designers,
African fashion
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Thursday, July 19, 2012
Dakar becomes the Capital of Franco-African fashion
It may not have all the
allure of New York or Paris but Dakar is quickly making its name as a force to
be reckoned with in fashion stakes.
The recent 10th
annual Fashion week in Dakar attracted an international audience to showcase
what they got in terms of African collections. It is a decade since Senegalese
designer Adama Ndiaye unveiled first show. The city has now earned itself a unique
title-Capital of Franco African Fashion.
This is a very important
milestone for this country and everyone who is an associate of high-end African
fashion.
Helen Jennings, fashion
analysts says that 2012 event was attended by the godfathers of the African fashion who cemented the Dakar’s reputation.
Jennings who is also the
editor of Arise, A London-based fashion magazine that campaigns for the African
fashion, pointed the important difference between English and French inspired
fashion in Africa.
“The Anglophone Africa is
more westernized on the whole and hence gets more attention from the
international community, while Francophone designs, though still contemporary,
veer towards more traditional styles, especially the North African kaftans and
Senegalese Boubou.”
If you are an African
fashion enthusiast, you understand well that this must be a refreshing change
to see such influences on the catwalk. It also helps the same collection to
have a placer in international markets.
However, Jennings added that
Dakar was not the capital of African fashion. There are other capitals such as
Nigeria and South Africa which are the host of Arise Fashion magazine and
Africa fashion week runners respectively.
It’s very interesting to see
how growth has taken place in the African fashion industry in the recent
past. In fact it as become a wider economic boom on this continent, as Jennings
says.
While Africa was previously
seen as a source of anthropological inspiration for international brands only,
the homegrown talents are now standing up to be counted too and riding wave of interest
in Africa’s cultural and economic ascension.
Labels:
African fashion,
African Fashions
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
African fashion taking over London
Flowing unprecedented
success of last years event, AWFL (Africa Fashion Week London) has now
relocated to London Spitalfields, the recent winners of Best New Open Space
award. 2012 event is scheduled to take place from the August 3rd-4th
and is set to be bigger and better with larger venue, tons of exhibitors and fashion
designers. It will also be featuring catwalks showcasing designs from the
casual wear to elegant evening outfits, garments and accessories too.
AFWL is a teamed up exhibition
which highlights the fashion industry premier, African designers and prints.
It’s the first large event to showcase in UK and non-UK based seasons and
emerging fashion designers from Africa. This event is open to all
fashion designers from all nationalities who are inspired by the Africans
designs. The glowing press reviews and high attendance in last years event have
boosted the AFWL profile top captivate winder audience come this years event.
Last year’s show debuted
with an impressive turn-out of over 4,000 attendees. The two day extravaganza
created unparallel platform for more than 50 international designers to
showcase their fashion collections. With the Olympics this year, its estimate4d
that 7 Million London visitors are setting into the capital, with every one
from every corner of the world focusing on what London has to offer.
AWFL is now at the front of
capturing the surge of African inspired trends in fashion industry and
time has come to highlight Africa as a front runner in international fashion
community. This years event is hoped to each a higher magnitude. Be promoting African outfits globally, AWFL is hoping to integrate
different African countries into the fashion industry and contribute to
reducing the rate of poverty by developing fashion and textile industry, says Ronke
Ademiluyi AWFL CEO.
With a capacity of above
10,000 visitors, Spitalfields is seen as the perfect location for the 2-day
fashion display.
Labels:
African fashion,
Fashion Designers
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Monday, July 16, 2012
African fashion in new shape
The days when settling on a
skirt that was too baggy around the waist because it fits around the hips may
be facing an edge for many African women. Thanks to mother-and-son team who are
cracking a sizing system that is conforming to the black women unique contours.
“The shape of the clothing
in the shop doesn’t solidify, compared with the shape of An African woman”
Fikile Nxedlana says over the phone from Vunula fashion workshop (Her House) in
Durban.
Ask most of the African about
fashion and they will tell you,
from a mother of sixty, that since they were teenagers, if they are lucky to
get an outfit that was fitting, that would either be a fitting top but
unfitting bottom. Either it’s too baggy or stands out at the back such that you
can never find pants. Jamal Nxedlana agrees with this wholeheartedly “the
problem is usually the hip-to-waist ratio”.
Western patterns have no
room for natural hourglass figure. Facing facts, women have more dramatic
curves than what the stores suggests.
It’s through such things
that young fashionista, styled with the likes of Loyiso Bala and Spoke
Mathambo, and his traditional mother have teamed to create new label called the
misshape. The label was instantly aimed at the young professionals, boasting
chic silhouette courtesy of Jamal and new sizing system, a basic reality of the
African measurement, developed by Fikile.
“I
would buy clothes and change them” discloses Fikile. “Soon
I was modifying all my friends’ outfits. I then took a design course and
started to make clothes. That is what inspired me to push Jamal and let people
know that there is a market here. In trying to correct the patterns, I came up
with new ways of working things out.”
Fikile
creates the look while the mother creates the pattern. He chooses the fabric
while she produces the outfits at her factory. It’s the same place that she trains
the unemployed women to help them make a living out of fashion.
Labels:
African fashion,
Fashion,
outfit
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African fashion finds home in Dakar
Dakar fashion week last
month celebrated its 10 years with biggest lineup yet. Organizers of the event
aimed to reach the heights of fashion weeks in New York and Paris while maintaining
African. High fashion is not as new
thing in Africa. According to Adama Ndiaye “the fashion had its own special
quality.”
“We do one by one. We do not
send it to the factory because we lack a big factory. This is a thing we’ve
been doing forever.” Continues Ndiaye. However, like any other industry in the continent,
African fashion is still developing.
To assist in make some
milestones, Ndiaye started the Dakar Fashion Week. Ten years along, the event
has drawn attention of industry notables from different parts of Africa and the
entire world as well.
Originally, Marcial Tapolo
from Cameroon came from Paris to participate for a 2nd time. “Its
like one of those high-class shows she’s trying to do a very sophisticated and
rare fashion show in Africa.” Puts Marcial.
Despite the presence of
international designers, most of the talent is local, in deliberate
effort to showcase models and designers from Senegal. Arame Sarr is another person
who has been attending both the Paris and New York fashion weeks, but in her view,
“I prefer this one because I myself am a Senegalese. So for me, its one of the
best because we can show to everyone in this world that fashion is great in
Africa and it began here.”
Everybody should understand
that fashion is not for people who can afford it. Fashion is like music, it’s like
painting. Fashion makes you feel good and it’s the same here in Dakar” Diaye
says.
In the marketing of 10th
year and confront the exclusivity frequently found in the fashion industry, the
first show of the week was open to the public thousands of people came to the
middle of Dakar to view different African fashion
collections.
Since it’s entirely
self-sustaining, the fashion week is a net boost to the economy of Senegal and
fashion scene as well.
Labels:
African fashion
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Sunday, July 8, 2012
Wearing African Clothes
Wearing African clothes is very prestigious to the black
people of Africa and America. Most of the clothes that African and African American
people wear are vibrantly colored and nicely designed. However, it is to admit
in some countries where black people reside, there has been a replacement of
these traditional clothes by European dresses. This is a big question if the
other parts of the world where black people reside are going to adopt these
western dresses casting away the thousand year old African clothes. However, in
the northern part of Africa (Egypt for one) the conventional pinkish thongs
worn by women there are basically influenced by the Middle Eastern culture and
it will be obvious to you when you see the embroidered Jellabiya dresses. But the
northwestern part of Africa is actually less influenced by the western culture
and is still contented with antiquity. The very common and popular African clothe
Djellaba has the same properties as the Dashiki, the Grand Boubou and the
Kaftans.
Within Sahelian African continent, the actual Dashiki,
Senegalese kaftan, and also the Grand boubou tend to be worn much more
prominently, although not solely. The Dashiki is actually highly stylized and
it is rendered by having an ornate V-shaped collar. In comparison with that, the
Great Boubou is very simple, even much more than the actual Djellaba, although
the color styles reach amazing proportions, especially one of the Tuareg, who
are recognized for their superbly dyed indigo robes. The great majority of
fabric produced within the African continent in the centuries had been simple
designs made by combining the actual natural whitened (as well as sometimes
beige) of the cotton fibers with stripes of numerous shades of indigo azure.
Depending upon the relative density of the warp as well as weft posts, the
ensuing cloths might have stripes down to the strip- warp faced-or over the
strip –weft faced. They mainly wore the skin of the pet and a few times wove
the actual fur right into a piece of clothing. You should remember a few things
when you are planning on wearing African clothes. For example, putting on
African clothes having socks in your feet has a tendency to expose a person and
make you a beginner in your dressing design. You can all kinds of fashionable African
clothes at www.afrawear.com
Labels:
African Clothes,
African dress styles,
African fashion
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Saturday, July 7, 2012
The Art of African Fashion
There are so many women who have already figured out how to
master the art of African fashion. However, I have seen a lot of women who are
still trying to figure this out and they keep worrying about how to look
beautiful in African dresses. There are actually no exceptions to looking beautiful
everyday in whatever dresses you wear. All women do want to look beautiful wearing
the perfect African dresses for them. As children, many women were dressed up
by their parents. As teens, you probably just followed the style. But when you
are adult, the alternatives are ceaseless for the reason that options are
generally so substantial, how could you possibly go to your individual method?
In fact, pretty much like the same way as you often find your one real love
after dating a dozens of people, you can fall in love with a dozens of pairs of
shoes at a single shop by yourself. And you will also be astonished by the play
of colors throughout these African dresses and accessories for females. The
prosperous, vibrant colors plus the elaborate embroidery are common hallmarks
involving African clothes for females. Some of the extremely famous fabrics
used by making African attire for females are Aso oke, kente towel, mud towel,
Adire and the like. These clothes are produced by distinct tribes residing in
Africa and perhaps they are all side woven with a great deal of love along with
care.
Now, the excellent conclusion for many would always be to appoint a private shopper and leave your decision-making to expert hands. Unluckily, few people have enough money for that option. So the subsequent best strategy should be to gain a greater understanding of tips on how to develop your own style. These alternatives of editorials gives you all the details you'll want to begin that will process. And you can find all the latest and fashionable African dresses and accessories at www.afrawear.com
It is kind of hard to find the best fashionable dresses that
are in vogue right now since each fashion season brings out new dresses and accessories.
If you feel confused and do not know which dress to choose, you are not alone
in this. Factually thousands of African clothes designers all over the world
are creatively turning out mountains of threads. So pick the best African dress
for you.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The Rich Colored African Attire
Women are normally fascinated by the colorful looks of
dresses. Sometimes we just love the color of a dress so much that we happen to
overlook the materials the dress was made of. This is something we need be careful
about at all times. Normally, cotton brocade, lace, linen and satin are the
best materials for African dresses which can enrich the colors of a specific
dress too. Most African brides and grooms don white on their wedding morning.
White features significant metaphors for the two Christians or Muslims
throughout Africa. Pertaining to African Christian believers, white presents
purity along with salvation. Pertaining to African Muslims, white presents
purity as well as equality towards the faithful ones. Couples who choose to
never wear bright usually select either orange, the coloring of tranquility, or
violet, the coloring of African royalty. Brides and grooms normally wear a
similar color or distinct shades in the same coloring.
All the African style clothing is made with natural fibers
and this contributes to their functionality and sensibleness. As they are made
with natural dyes, the patterns that form the African style clothing are very
unique and beautiful. In typical African style clothing, you will see woman
wearing a wrap skirt, a buba (blouse), head gear and shawl. Some women wear peculiar
African style clothing that is not cut or shaped in anyway. They are simply
adorned in the form of a sari. It is possible for you to find clothes from the
very complicated styles to the simplest ones. To do so just visit: www.afrawear.com
The fabrics and the colors of the African dresses are the
most important things you need be concerned about. Actually these are the major
factors that determine the style and pattern of African style clothing. The
reason I am saying that colors of an African attire is important is that nobody
wants to wear same colors all day. You can wear white for the office and orange
for hanging out with friends or so. Also you would need attractive colors business
trips, shopping, casual and formal events. The internet would be the best place
for anybody to find some authentic designed African dresses. You sure will find
a huge collection of beautiful African attire of your favorite color.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Traditional but Fashionable African Dresses
It is always a great idea to incorporate some cultural ideas
and traditional tastes into your marriage ceremony. In this kind of case,
traditional dresses would be the best thing to follow. If you are interested in
traditional and fashionable African dresses, there are so many options that you
can choose from. African wedding ceremony traditions are actually part of many
United States wedding events. Wedding customs vary broadly around the African areas
though. Each group and cultural group has its wedding own customs. However,
through the continent, many aspects of traditional wedding ceremony attire
would be the same.
Let us know about the Background of African dresses. Traditional
Africa weddings as well as clothing acquired popularity within the West in the early
1960s throughout the Black Pride movement. Based on the Oakland Art gallery of
CA, Ghana's very first president, Kwame Nkrumah, wore kente fabric during a
good historic trip to Washington, D. C., in 1958. Therefore there was an
establishing of the cloth like a potent emblematic image with regard to
Africans as well as African People in America. Sophisticated versions of
components of African clothing which were popular throughout the 60s and 70s,
such as the dashiki, are a part of traditional Africa wedding clothing. You would
be amazed to see that you look gorgeous in these fashionable African dresses. To
find some of these African traditional yet fashionable dresses you must visit www.afrawear.com
You should definitely check out some party gowns if you are shopping
African bridal dresses. These bash dresses appear in exotic crimson, orange,
platinum, mustard discolored, elegant violet, emerald natural colors – colors
you can find irresistibly interesting to yourself. You could wear a party dress
following wedding purpose. One of the extremely common textiles for African
bridal dresses is your Kente cloth constructed with nature-friendly hues. The
Africans make full use of natural dyes to generate the African bridal dresses
unique of their own appropriate purpose. As a bride you would always want to
wear some expensive and fashionable African dress on your long dreamt wedding
day. Most of the African brides as well as grooms put on white colored dresses on
their wedding day. White color has important imagery for both Christians and
Muslims in the African areas. For African Christians, white color stands for cleanness
and salvation. So choose the best African dress that is traditional yet
fashionable to your culture.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Some Of the Best Women’s African Dresses
The same way in most of the countries of the world, African women
also wear expensive and fashionable dresses on any special occasions. The
Western African wrapper set is put on widely in marriage ceremonies. It
includes a buba -a conventional African shirt- and an iro -an extended wrap
dress. Also another good type of African dress is gelee –a head-wrap. As the
wrapper set itself isn't considered official attire, sets put on for weddings
are constructed with fine, stitched fabrics. Gelees put on for wedding
ceremonies can really be big and sophisticated. You might have heard of the
boot-cut pant. These pants go well with
the platforms or heels but must never been worn with the flat shoes. The last
thing to consider is wearing tapered pants as they only works for the
model-thin figure women. Pair of black dress pants is definite plus size
dresses apparel essential. It works best with fitted suit jacket and
button-down short with a collar. It can also work out with sexy camisole and
cardigan set.
Large African women should try avoiding stretchy black pants
which have elastic waist lines. Instead, they should select pants tailored to
fit for their bodies. However, you should always pay heed to colors and prints
of the African attire you are about to buy because some of the traditional
features of African clothing relate to colors and prints. The modern age has
taken a hugely popular, however highly questionable, type of clothing to
Africa. Recognized in Far eastern Africa as mitumba, or even white male's
clothes, they are the second-hand clothes delivered to Africa in the Western
globe. Although mitumba is really a popular customer item, even offered in
areas where it's been outlawed, it's ravaged the neighborhood textile producers
who cannot contend with the marketplace of donated items which are after that
sold for gaining from companies.
If you are planning on putting on African dresses on any
special occasion, you must consider the religious facts too. Know beforehand
about any religious obligations relating to any African dresses before putting
them on. Know about the material used to make the dress. Normally locally grown
cotton is used mostly in producing the fabrics but sometimes camel and sheep
wool are used instead. You can know so more things and buy Africa fashionable
dresses from www.afrawear.com
Things You Need To Know Before Buying African Dresses
To look pretty on special days is what every woman wants. And
it is possible if you can get on the best African dress that suits your body’s
shape and size. It is not all about the dress all the time rather it more about
the shape you have. The perfect combination of your body and the African dress
is what can make look beautiful. For the best types of African dresses you can
visit www.afrawear.com
Discuss with a fashion designer before you buy African
wedding dresses. You need to understand the attractive features in your figure
and try to cover the negative ones. You must look your glamorous best on your
wedding day; a day when the whole world will be watching and rejoicing with
you. So you most look infinitely beautiful. And top off your lovely African
wedding dress with a bridal crown. Go for crowns that will complement your
wedding gown, both in design and in pattern. And next, you must get a veil; it
will make you look your seductive best. A fabulous veil will make even an
ordinary looking wedding gown interesting and vibrant. You should be aware that
traditional Africa wedding attire could be made by cotton brocade, ribbons,
linen as well as satin, just like Western style wedding gowns. On programs,
African textiles will also be used in wedding gowns. According to Ghana Bride
Magazine, Yoruba Ashoke fabric is particularly suited to wedding outfits due to
the softness. Brides as well as grooms can put on clothes made from the exact
same fabric.
Buy some dashing
footwear to complement your African wedding dresses. If you are still not
satisfied enough with your wedding gown accessories, you can add in some
shawls. Your fashion designer will be able to tell you what kind of shawl will
suit the particular wedding gown that you are going for. You should know that African
dresses are of versatile designs because these designs basically derive from
the many cultures of the vast African continent. It is believed that cultural
differences are the main things that influence the customs and this is what
impacts the designs of clothes in Africa. But it is all possible to get most of
the various types of African dresses on the internet. However, this is not as
tough as it might sound to look beautiful in African dresses.
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