Runway Africa ....Celebrating African Fashion

Their website says "...Runway Africa is a stylish and elegant fashion extravaganza scheduled for September 2007. Runway Africa takes an intimate look at Africa’s creative fashion industry and is a celebration of “Africhic” style...."

Photos Courtesy of Runway Africa.

bhf Magazine

As the Nigerian Fashion industry grows, the need for more African fashion magazines that will express the views of African models,designers,entrepreneurs becomes necessary. A new Nigerian fashion called BHF Magazine will be launched in Summer to tap into this growing Nigerian reader base both at home and diaspora.

According to their website "..bhf Magazine is an exciting and dynamic new African Lifestyle Magazine launching Summer 2007. With a boldness and edge, the likes of which has never been seen before, this quarterly publication is the brainchild of visionary entrepreneurial power couple Geoffrey and Jennifer Olisa.

Our mission is simple. To shatter the narrow view of NIGERIANS that exists today by looking through the lens of the lives of modern Nigerians. We will introduce to the world our fashion, art and vibrant culture..."

Joelle Kayember

The South African TV Authority says "...Joelle Kayembe is a Congolese-born South African model best known for her role as a suitcase model in the game show Deal Or No Deal.

Kayember has appeared in Ludacris’s Pimpin All Over The World music video, she was a finalist in the International Supermodel 2005 competition in China and is included as a Global Honey on SKY TV in the UK.



In 1994, Kayembe and her family left the Democratic Republic of Congo for a holiday to South Africa. Political turmoil in their home country ensured that they never returned. Joelle and her siblings had to learn English as their ‘holiday’ was extended indefinitely..."

Photo courtesy of Next Models

Isabelle Béké

Isabelle Béké is multi talented model and actress from Cote de voir and based in Paris. She made her debut in acting in the movie Le Pari De L'Amour (Betting On Love).

Bineta Salsao

Bineta Salsao is one of the top Senegalese fashion designers that has influenced the style of traditional Senegalese 'Bubu' fashion.By incorporating customised fabrics, designs and intricate embroidery she has succeed in creating a fabulous collection. The foundationolive website says"...A Graduate of the Institute of Cut, seams and of Mode (I.C.C.M.) in 1974, Bineta Salsao did not engage in unknown ground while launching out in the fashion industry. Mother of a dressmaker, Bineta started designing as at the age of thirteen..."

Photos courtesy of foundationolive

Amias Project

The Amias Project website says "...In the ancient African language of the nomadic Barabaig tribe, Amias means beautiful. The Amias Project specializes in hand-made, fair-trade accessories inspired by traditional Barabaig fashions. Whether you buy for yourself or a gift for others, you are spreading the story of Africa, hope and something beautiful..."

Founded by Nichole Smaglick, Amias is a project that"...has mobilized over 200 Barabaig men and women in central Tanzania to design and craft jewelry and handbags inspired by traditional fashions. The project aims to uplift and empower traditional culture. It also helps generate significant income and educational opportunities for disadvantaged communities..."

"...Amias and its fair trade mission have allowed families to find stability in a region wracked by hardship and frequent drought. More parents now send their children to school, and they have enough food in times of need. They are increasing their livestock and making plans for the future.


Amias, in the ancient language of the Barabaig, means "beautiful." So when wearing Amias jewelry or handbags, always remember that you are wearing hope, the story of the Barabaig, and something beautiful..."

Photos courtesy of Amias Project.

Kamla Millwood

Her official website describes her as a "...6 foot tall high fashion model... born in beautiful St. Vincent and the Grenadines -a tropical island nation in the Caribbean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.

She has set the fashion industry ablaze, modeling with a confident and sophisticated style that has made her a media star and international celebrity. Her tall and toned frame, angular beauty, electrifying smile and intimidating presence, propelled her out of the Caribbean and into New York at breakneck speed..."

Photo Courtesy of Kamla Millwood's website.

Annansi Chronicles

Annansi Chronicles is a blog that focuses on the trend of African Style in the International scene.

Highlighting trends from African designed and manufactured trendy footwear to numerous other fashion accessories.

Trio Magazine

Trio Magazine according to their website "..is a fashion and entertainment magazine that will be published quarterly, and initially circulated online. TIRO seeks to establish and maintain a unique position amongst culturally themed publications within the United States, and the continent of Africa. Its goal is to be the magazine of choice for females interested in fashion emphasizing African & Western Cultures. The majority of fashion and entertainment magazines on the market today are primarily concerned with fashion trends in the western world, ignoring the uniqueness of the African fabric and its impact on the western world.

The idea for TIRO came from Helen Eferakorho, a female of Nigerian descent, raised in the United States. Having lived in Nigeria (one of the focal venues for African Fashion) in her youth, Helen developed a strong appreciation for the uniqueness of the African fabric. On the other-hand her tenure in the US exposed her to a variety of culturally stimulating fashion styles via fashion oriented periodicals, trade shows, and day-to-day observations. Her passion for this venture was as a result of the opportunity to observe the best of both worlds. Helens goal is to use TIRO to expose the enormous possibilities within this sector of the industry, and provide a vessel for individuals within its target audience to enhance their lives.

To accomplish this, our vision is to create the type of fashion magazine that has never been seen before. Its premise: the intentional merging of African and western styles, the concept that created TIRO. TIRO is an Urhobo (Tribal Language) word used in Nigeria to describe a woman that is full of grace. Grace is a charming and attractive trait, one that will be evident in every issue of TIRO and will be the watch word for staff, articles, exposés, reviews and advertising..."

Photos courtesy of Trio Magazine

Nayo

Some say she is the "New Sade" but we think she is one of the new gem's in the Nigerian music industry. One of her singles "African Girl" is one of the best R&B singles we have heard recently.

Her Myspace bio says "..NAYO (N-áá-y-Ò) jumps out from within the Yoruba name of Temitope Odunayo Abidoye, born in Lagos, Nigeria and singing from day one. Her Nigerian culture traveled with her around the world as a girl, while she incorporated its rhythms into the new beats and sounds she found in England, the United States, and the rest of West Africa. At that young age of 10, Nayo began writing songs and found her influences in artists such as Madonna, Seal, Annie Lennox and Carole King..."


"...Nayo returned to Los Angeles with renewed purpose and independently released a limited single 'Party Fever' which found its way on the Billboard Club Play charts and various charts in Europe by late 2005. Then she began collaborating with producers and songwriters from New York, Los Angeles and the UK, where her true love for music first began. With her debut album to be released next year 2007, Nayo is her name and her voice speaks for generations of people and millions whose voices have not been heard for years..."

This is Nayo's alternative music website.

Photo courtesy of Nayo's Myspace page

Kati Torda Dagadu

Kati Torda Dagadu website says "...she is a Hungarian-born artist who has lived more than half her life in Ghana. There she touched upon a fading bead culture and successfully initiated a new consciousness of it. She has combined the cultural heritage of her two homes to create internationally celebrated bead work that reflects her considerable knowledge of Ghanaian and other West African bead traditions.."


Her beautiful handcrafted glass bead work designs are a combination of her artistic talent and ideas she has borrowed from traditional West African bead making techniques, which I think started in the ancient empires of Ashanti, Songhai,Benin and Mali.

Photos Courtesy of Beads.com.gh

Burka meets Haute Coutre

Beautiful Burka (Burqa) inspired fashion by Fashion East designer Louise Golden where shown at the catwalk of the London Fashion Week 2007.

Other designers like Lela Ahmadzai "Burka meets Haute Couture" have shown that the Afghan Burka could me remodeled to look interesting and trendy.




Photos courtesy of Burka meets Haute Couture and Yahoo images.

Noella Coursaris

Noella is a trailblazer in the world of fashion modeling, this lady of Congolese and Cypriot parentage has achieved a lot as a black model in today's international modeling market. MIMI magazine says "..Coursaris accomplishment's are no small feat considering that in the fickle world of fashion, it takes more than just beauty to succeed-especially for African
models..."

In her brilliant interview with Africaincorp blog, she talks about a lot of issues ranging from what inspired her into fashion modeling, what she thinks would create a successful fashion and modeling in Africa and finally the expectations of the fashion modeling world.

She also has a outstanding interview with Kaysha filmed in New York shown below.


Photo courtesy of Jambomagazine.

Honorine Uwera

This model originally from Rwanda moved to Canada in 1998 were she was found by the IMG modeling agency. She is presently one of the hottest black models on the Catwalks of Milan, New York, Paris and London. She has an interesting weblog at Myspace.com

Photo courtesy of fmd1.com

African Waistcoat Company

Started by Calum Robertson in 2003 at Candem, London the African Waistcoat Company combines the finesse of Savile Row's craftsmanship and exotic Nigerian Aso Oke fabrics, to make fantastic waistcoats. Aso Oke Fabric is a hand loomed fabric worn by both women and men of the Yoruba people of south-western Nigeria.

The African Waistcoat Company website also features an article written by William Georgiades of the New York Sun ".... Located in a passageway off a narrow road, The African Waistcoat Company headquarters sits between antique shops and stalls in a former cobbler’s shop. Inside the space is both tight and expansive — there’s little room to move but the colors on display vibrate.

The process of having a waistcoat made begins with a measuring followed by some rather serious decision-making, as dozens of patterns and swatches, of increasing vibrancy are brought out. For now all waistcoats are custom made, though in the future there are plans for off-the rack items. African beads and cufflinks which recall Ghanaian Adinkra designs are also available, along with textiles.

Once the decision has been made, the materials and measurements are constructed within two to three weeks for an average price of about $300.

What makes these waistcoats particularly interesting is the quality of the materials and their construction. All of the items are made from Nigerian handwoven aso oke cloth. Aso oke connotes high status among the Yoruba peoples of southwestern Nigeria, a part of the world Mr. Robertson has come to love since his first visit there in 1974. After his first visit, Mr. Robertson returned every year for five years to visit friends and returned in 1999 and again last September when the idea came to him to open a shop. He looks forward to returning once a year to keep his stock updated..."

Photos courtesy of African Waistcoat Company website.

Kosibah Creations

Kosibah Creations was founded by Yemi Osunkoya a graduate of Fine Art with a major in Textiles Design from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Nigeria.

Established since 1991 Koshibah Creations says it "...Specialises in elegant, figure-enhancing, contemporary gowns that blur the lines between bridal and evening wear. His use of corsetry, draping and meticulous attention to detail produce gowns that enhance every figure..."

Koshibah Creations has also won many international awards and showcased in a lot of international events like Encore Bridal Show, The National Wedding Show. It also won the Designer of the Year 2002 Award given by Mahogany Events.

Photo and some excerpts for this article are courtesy of Koshibah Creations.

HauTe

Their website says HauTe, "...is a 100+ pages fashion magazine. It features works of Nigerian designers all around the world. Exhibiting a taste for the cultural tempered with an appreciation of the varied degress of influence by the West in today's fashion. "Haute" Magazine has a commitment to e platform profile for Nigerian designers as an exposure in the fashion world. Started by a group of talented people namely Dammie Amolegbe (Editor in Chief), Uche Eze (Deputy Editor), Osione Itegboe (Art Director),Osifo Akhuemonkhan (Consulting Editor), Bolaji Kekere - Ekun (Editor - at - large).

Photo courtesy of HauTe,

Clam Magazine

Their website says "....CLAM is a unisex magazine whose goal is to promote creativity, concepts and ideas in fashion, architecture, music, design, the arts, free-time, travels and African design.... these different themes are approached in two main areas..."

"...Each subject is part of an original and conceptual artistic direction. The concepts are presented through the expression of the artists and creators coming from very different horizons..."

"...The place accorded to the image is central: she wants to be unusual, so as to create constant surprise for the viewer.Experimentation is one of the characteristics of CLAM which explains its layout: always changing, never fixed. Clam wants to encourage creative reflexion.The presentation is based on ideas and not the seasons.This concept confers to the magazine a collector's status..."

The Editor in Chief of Clam magazine is Amadi Okorafor who we previously blogged about his contribution to the African movie industry.


Photo courtesy of CLAM Magazine.

Gozi

Ping Mag of Japan writes about Nigerian fashion designer Gozi Ochongor who graduated as software engineer only to become a successful fashion designer.. I think her fashion rocks and its very trendy.

Ping Mag writes "...I sold at Portobello Market and Spitalfields Market in London for quite some time. People thought my stuff was really cheap and bought it like crazy! So every day, I went up a little higher with the price and they were still buying (laughs). People came up to me and wanted to borrow my clothes for shootings all the time and although I went through this unorthodox way, I slowly gained some confidence..."



Her Bio on the HBS Africa Conference website says "...Gozi Ochongor is the Creative Director of her eponymous fashion label, Gozi. Gozi graduated from Imperial College London in 1998, where she studied Software Engineering. Finally able to pursue her passion, she enrolled at Central School of Fashion, where she studied Ladieswear Fashion Design. A year later, she established her label at the Portobello Market and soon acquired a solid client base. After graduation, Gozi established her company Gozi Ltd in July 2003.

Gozi draws influences from a myriad of sources: from science, art and dance, to a love for travelling and learning about new cultures. She has visited over 15 countries worldwide and incorporates her souvenirs in her collections. Thus interwoven into each garment is the fusion of the contemporary art and culture of the West with the color and sensuality of Africa and the spirit of Asia.

Gozi currently serves on the board of the Fashion Business Club in London that provides a forum which fashion entrepreneurs engage with, inspire and support one another..."

Movie and photos of Gozi's Collection courtesy of Ping Mag

Sika

Ethnicinfluence writes about Sika which was named as one of the top five London labels in 2006 according to Draper's Women wear.

"..."Sika", the word for money in Ghana's Twi language, was the obvious choice when it came to a name for the label - it was initially Phyllis mother's nickname since she was the first in the family to arrive in the U.K..."

"... Sika is also easy to pronounce, sticks in the mind and is a little bit quirky. and of course, as the designer says, " the clothes are priceless!" The cowrie shell, a form of currency for centuries in West Africa, is a main feature of the Skia Logo..."

Zeba Mgazine.... also has has an an article Introducing SIKA as one of London's hottest new fashion designers.

Designer Phyllis Taylor is behind the contemporary women's clothing label SIKA. SIKA's current collection is called "Goldcoast" and consists of baby doll dresses, tops, wrap dresses, cropped trousers and capes in unique and quirky prints.

In February, SIKA was named one of the top five London labels to look out for in 2006 by Draper's Women's Wear.

Photo courtesy of Ethnicinfluence