Ubong Attah

Businessweek says "..Ubong Attah describes herself as a serial entrepreneur. She ran a tutoring business in high school, taught herself Web design in college, then started a Web design firm her senior year called Studio10Fourteen, which she says is profitable and continues to operate. Ubong recently sold another business, an online jewelry shop, for around $55,000.

Because she was recently diagnosed with systemic lupus, she has turned her attention to starting a home-based business. Her new company, Prolete Medical Billing, makes use of her health-information management degree from Saint Louis University in St. Louis and her experience doing administrative work for her mother's two home health agencies. Ubong expects Prolete to have revenues of around $4 million in 2008..."

Avant Gaudy

In an article featured in Businessweek which says"..."I'm looking to learn how to create a more socially responsible business," says Deborah Umunnabuike, a political science major at the University of Chicago and co-founder of Avant Gaudy, an online vintage clothing shop she started with her sister, Jessica, an undergraduate at Hofstra University, in the summer of 2005. The daughters of Nigerian immigrants started the three-employee business because they were passionate about clothes and saw a growing demand among their peers for vintage clothing. And they soon realized that there was a growing demand abroad as well, specifically in parts of Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia, based on analyzing Web traffic to their site, almost 26,000 visitors from more than 30 countries. The sisters recruited Hong Kong native Vincent Choi to bring a global perspective to the business and better reach shoppers in Asia.

Deborah says running the business has made her want to become a serial entrepreneur, but until she graduates in 2009, she will continue to run it conservatively. She is also involved with the Forte Foundation, a group dedicated to creating young women business leaders, and is interested in continuing community work in the spirit of Avant Gaudy's DIY/Smashup Chicago, a daylong networking and trade-show event she organized in 2006 for craftspeople and entrepreneurs..."

Photo Courtesy of Businessweek

Chinedesign

"...Chinedesign was founded by Chinedu Ukabam four years ago. Today,Chinedesign-apparel has expanded from just graphic T's to skirts, dresses and jackets which are widely available in Toronto, Vancouver and Nova Scotia; while a Toronto store is currently in the works..."

Born in the UK and raised in Nigeria, Chinedu has lived many parts of the world which include Dubai and Canada have played a part in inspiring how he designs.

Chinedesign is a fashion design outfit founded by multi talented Chinedu Ukabam who is also a music producer.
In a recent interview conducted by Spectrum women we asked Chinedu the following questions about his work;

Q.What inspired you to become a fashion designer?

I have always been into fashion and clothes but I did not set out to become a fashion designer. I kind of stumbled into it. Music was my first passion: I produce, write and perform. About four years ago, I designed and produced a few t-shirts to promote my upcoming album called Love.Life.Music. It was a relatively simple design based on a newspaper article about me. The response was great. I sold about 300 of those shirts within a few months then people started asking me what my next design was going to be or when my fashion show was taking place. Initially, I had no grand vision of what I was trying to do with my clothing label or what sort of impact I wanted to make in the fashion world, I just made it up as I went along. I am still learning and feeling my way around.

Q.Are your designs slightly influenced by Urban Hip Hop Culture?

Hip-hop culture definitely influences my designs, from the themes I explore in some of the graphic tees all the way to my "cut, paste and manipulate" process of designing garments which to me is a lot like sampling in hip-hop production. In addition to hip-hop, I am also inspired by Japanese culture and Nigerian Nollywood films. My upcoming Gold Standard line is influenced by Victorian fashion trends and Prep-school uniforms. I am open to anything that ignites my creativity.

Q.Do You plan to host a 2008 fashion show?

I am definitely going to be having a few shows in 2008. All my fashion shows have been in Toronto, Canada but next year the plan is to reach New York, London, Los Angeles...

Q.Do you see what your currently doing in the fashion industry inspiring other African kids in diaspora into doing their own thing?

I hope so. Inspiration is cyclical. I am inspired by African designers such as Moshood and Deola Sagoe and in turn I hope someday I will be able to inspire others.

Q.Is going into fashion accessories something you might consider in the future?

My fall collection has some amazing belts in it and this October we'll be launching a line of ties and scarves called Deez Knots which is a joint partnership with Sophia Ho. I am very excited about Deez Knots and I can't wait for you to see what we are working on. We want to revolutionize the way people perceive and wear ties.

Q.What type of fabric do you prefer to work with.

I work with anything I can. Sometimes the fabric itself inspires the garment. I love the loud Ankara textile designs from West Africa and last year, I made Kimonos out of them. This year, I took the classic hounds tooth pattern, altered it so that it fades into a solid color and silk screened it onto neon-bright t-shirts and tank tops. I like to re-imagine fabrics. Make them do something different from what they are supposed to. Right now nothing looks better than raw selvage denim. That's what I am feeling right now.

Photos are courtesy of Chinedesign

dorothyduncan

dorothyduncan are a company that sells a dare to live attitude and lifestyle though unique and exclusive pieces by independent fashion designers from various parts of the Africa.

"...dorothyduncan is an online boutique that carries a collection of chic, eclectic, and culturally inspired pieces from independent fashion designers around the world. their mission is to serve the woman whose style is distinctive, daring, and inspired by offering edgy, dressy fashion pieces that add flair and personality to her great wardrobe of basics..."

Their website says "...Dorothy and Mandy are the co-founders of dorothyduncan. For two friends who had always wanted to work together, this turned out to be the perfect ad-venture for allowing them to combine their love for fashion and their entrepreneurial skills.

"...Our mission is to sell a dare to live attitude and lifestyle. At the heart of dorothyduncan is the idealistic appeal of being true to oneself and living the best life possible.

Our products are designed for women of all ages, who already feel great on the inside and want to look just as amazing on the outside. dorothyduncan aims to serve women who identify themselves as distinctive, daring, and inspired. We offer edgy, dressy fashion pieces that add flair and personality to an already existing wardrobe of basics.

We carry unique and exclusive pieces by independent fashion designers from various parts of the world. dorothyduncan adds spice to your wardrobe by offering a collection of chic, eclectic and culturally inspired pieces.

At dorothyduncan, we believe in living life by one's own rules. Our intent is to share this philosophy and infectious dare-to live attitude with our customers.

Dorothy is from Kenya. Mandy is from Guyana. They both live in Canada..."

Photos courtesy of dorothyduncan website.

aRUDE Magazine

aRUDE is a New York fashion-Art-Photography magazine founded by Ike' Ude'. His Androgenous/erotic style of art is very impressive and has brought him recognition in the international world Fashion-Art-Photography.

The website Indepth art News says"...From his provocative Cover Girl series featuring photographic portraits of himself on the cover of popular magazines to his writing on sexuality and identity, the work of Nigerian-born Ike Ude explores a world of duality: African/postnationalist, photography/performance artist, artist/spectator, male/female, mainstream/marginal, seduction/narcissism, and fashion/art..."

MC Magma also says "...Ike' Ude' Was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He is an artist, aesthete, writer, and publisher of New York based aRude magazine.
After studing in Nigeria and United States, Ude' started his artistic career, first as a painter, in the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, he began using photography to explore and deconstruct issues of representation and identity. His ongoing research has broadened the scope of his inquiry beyond the conventional parameters of photography to engage forms of mass comunication, including magazines, video, film, and television..."

Craig Native

According to his website Native is a streetwear brand launched by Craig Native in 2000, who derives from the Cape Flats in South Africa. Historically these area were plagued by apartheid and poverty in the old political system. A diverse mix of cultures mixed with ghetto lifestyle and improvisation in everyday life, is what led to the birth of Native.

Graphics are the big part of the collection and are derived from very African iconic images like wild animals, vegetables, African tribes and particularly everyday life in South African society..."

Photos courtesy of Craig Native.

New African Design

The rundetaarn website says that "...New African design is haute couture, streetwear, graphics, ceramics, furniture and industrial design - combining cutting edge design with traditional crafts and visions of building a new and better Africa.

The exhibition will present 30 designers of 12 nationalities addressing issues such as: cultural strength and identity, empowerment, sustainability and low-cost housing, improving living conditions through design.

Many African designers have a great social awareness, and their product development often takes place in collaboration with craftsmen from rural areas. Local women from the Limpopo area weave the seats of Haldene Martin’s famous café chairs, while the industrial design group XYZ is developing life-improvement products such as a hand-driven radios and condoms with built-in applicat.

The exhibition will showcase design from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe. After the launch at Rundetaarn, the exhibition will proceed on a world tour ending in South Africa in 2010 – the year South Africa will be hosting the FIFA World Cup..."

Images courtesy of the rundetaarn website.

Azza Fahmy

Azza Fahmy's website says "...Since 1969 Azza Fahmy Jewellery has become one of the foremost luxury jewellery brands in Egypt..."
"...Azza Fahmy was born and raised in Sohag, in Upper Egypt. She graduated in interior design from the Faculty of Fine Arts and studied jewelry craft at the City of London Polytechnic before becoming the first female apprentice to several of the best jewelers in Cairo..."

This "...Cairo-based jewellery designer who developed from an artisan selling to a small circle of friends, to the founder of a business which employs 180 people and has showrooms in Egypt, Jordan and Dubai. Drawing from a range of Egyptian, Arab and Oriental traditions,her instantly recognizable pieces in silver, gold and semi-precious stones have long been favourites with Arab Royalty an celebrities..."

"...Azza Fahmy's jewellery uniquely blends the mystique of the ancient world with the cutting edge of the new. In her signature pieces the finest stones are set in gold or silver inlaid with gold and inscribed with Arabic calligraphy. Her exclusive lend of the very best of traditional classic style and modern is key to all four collections - culture, exclusives, fashion and gifts and to her bespoke jewellery too..."

Excerpts and Photos of this article are from the FT and the Azza Fahmy's website.

Design a Uniform, Shape a School

The African Leadership Academy is a world-class boarding school opening outside Johannesburg next year with the aim to develop a new generation of African Leaders.One of the the core elements of their philosophy is that young people cab and will change the world.

They are selecting a design for their school uniform by organizing a pan-African competition open to students and schools from all over Africa . They believe that by doing this, they will be living their belief that young people can be given great opportunities for impact and trusted to deliver on them.

The competition will be judged by a panel of internationally renowned African fashion designers.

Akua Adoma's Nana Boateng

Nana Boateng's website talks about his love for fashion and how he had to decide to be a designer rather than an athlete.The Sartorialist blog which according to Time magazine is one of 100 top Design Influences describes Nana as "...a guy that loved life and used his clothing as a way of expressing that joy..."

Akua Adoma also says "...A Ghanaian proverb instructs: “Let not what you cannot do tear you from what you can do.” These ancient words undoubtedly resonated with the gifted designer Nana Boateng, as in 2001, he pondered a major decision to make a radical career shift to fashion. Up to then, the Ghanaian, New York-bred designer’s sights had been set on athletics: once it became evident that this would no longer be a viable option, the designer looked about him and drew inspiration for his nextsteps from the powerful, stylish women of his family.

Nana’s aunt, Afia Akoto, studied design at the highly-regarded Scuola di Moda Ida Ferri in Roma. Ms. Akoto has in fact made her home and livelihood there for the last twenty years, and was Nana’s entrée to the concept of meticulous tailoring, clearly evident in his work since. The innate sense of style routinely displayed by Nana’s mother, Akua Adoma, had an invaluable influence as well. Mrs. Adoma is also an artisan of the exquisite lace used in the traditional clothing of Ghanaian women. It was no stretch for Nana, then, embark upon this career shift, and simultaneously to honor the legacy of his family’s women by naming his firm Akua Adoma.

The shirt collection, presented in Roma and London, was exceedingly well-received. The attention garnered provided the impetus for the line’s growth. Nana then turned his attention to the vast United States market. He soon established an atelier in the
luxury capital of Beverly Hills, where his sophisticated turn on men’s suiting has gained an intensely loyal following amongst Hollywood’s style elite.

Sony Pictures Entertainment provided the catalyst for Nana Boateng’s West Coast success. The relationships forged at the film conglomerate enabled extensive exposure for the Akua Adoma line, through costuming for major films and executives alike.

With an inborn design compass, a sensitive world-view shaped by his Ghanaian ancestry
and the classic eye of the revered European design tradition, Nana Boateng is infinitely well-suited to conquer the 21st century fashion universe..."

Excerpts and Photos courtesy of Akua Adoma. website

Bezemymalian

According to RunawayAfrica the founders of Bezemymalian are "...Both 24 years old, Bezem and Mai Lan are fashion designers. One is Franco-Vietnamese; the other is of Russian and Togolese origin. They have directed their talents in creating costumes with a strong ethnic influence. Inspired by their multicultural descents and their frequent trips to their homeland, they have mastered traditional crafts and techniques of Asia and Africa (embroidery, weaving, dyeing, painting)

Self-taught, they started creating their own pieces, while majoring respectively in the History of art and in Vietnamese. They decided to take a course in the making of historical costumes.

While attending university, they stepped foot in the entertainment world, contributing to different projects as costume designers for feature films, plays, musicals, carnivals… They had the opportunity to expose their work at several competitions for young designers, including "Le TrophÈe de la mode". The prestigious jury composed by representatives of l'Oreal, Hermes, XulyBet, and Galeries Lafayettes awarded them first prize. They also obtained a grant from La Maison Hermes.

Encouraged by this success, Mai Lan and Bezem conceived a unique and colorful world presented in a series of festive events. At their shows, dance and music performers, sharing similar influences, sport their pieces on stage.

Their goal is to associate this ancestral craft with modernity

In our cosmopolitan society, Mai Lan and Bezem stimulate, on European youth, a new interest in their roots..."

Photos courtesy of Bezemymalian

Jacqueline Rabun

Jacqueline Rabun is a self taught American Jewellery designer that started designing in the 1980's. She now designs for the famous Georg Gensen brand. The popular brand brand she's currently involved with include their Cave collection.

According to the Georg Gensen website "...Jacqueline Rabun began her journey into the world of contemporary jewellery design in 1989 when she arrived in London from her native America.

Her debut collection was instantly embraced by the fashion and design world and quickly established her as an international designer.

Her collaboration with Georg Jensen commenced in 1999. Her premiere sculptural silver jewellery range, Offspring, celebrates the creation of life and is a symbolic representation of mother and child. The sensuous form of the Offspring collection expresses a freshness and modernity that radiates light and life. The Offspring collection has also been reinterpreted in pave set diamonds as part of the iconic Master Diamond Collection.

Recognized for her unique and poetic approach to the art of jewellery design; her fluid conceptual forms combined with lyrical symbolic features reveal a dimension that reflects her fascination with the order of the natural world and the contours of the human form. The Cave collection encourages one to seek tranquility and to retreat to ones inner space for stillness and contemplation. The Cave collection celebrates the refined and organic design language that Jacqueline Rabun and Georg Jensen has become renowned.

For Georg Jensen’s centenary celebration, Jacqueline Rabun paid tribute with the feminine yet provocative 100 collection. The digits of the number 100 are adapted into a striking silver jewellery collection. This collection has

also been reinterpreted in the iconic Master Diamond Collection, morphing the emotion and beauty of the range with pavé set diamonds..."

Photos courtesy of Georg Gensen.

Persian Fashion

Pershion website servers as a hub for Iranian Fashion and Art designers, that design from fashion accessories to best of western style high street fashion. Its not only "Islamic themed" fashion that comes out of Iran.

Their website says "...Pershion is an online gallery, introduces young Iranian fashion designers/artists. It also presents news and information about Iranian fashion designers all around the world.

This online gallery is created for designers and artists who work in fashion field or their art works are somehow related to fashion art. Pershion team was founded by Hassanali Zad and Atoosa Mozaffari on January 2002..."

Image courtesy of Persian Fashion

Mary Jean Maycon

We do not know a lot about this model from the Philippines called Mary Jean Maycon but will like to know more about her. She seems to be in the same league as Charo Ronquillo.

Selita Ebanks

Wikipedia writes "..Selita Ebanks was born on February 15, 1983 in George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. She is of Caymanian, Jamaican, Irish and Indian descent..."

"...At 17 years old, while walking through the turnstiles at Six Flags Great Adventures, Ebanks was scouted by an agent from Elite Model Management. Ebanks had worked with some of the world's most noted photographers, including Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber, Steven Klein, Carter Smith and Mikael Jansson, and for some of the most quintessential American fashion campaigns, including Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi's and Tommy Hilfiger.

Ebanks is currently working as a model for Victoria's Secret. She had previously done work for their Ipex Bra line, before being signed.

She and fellow up-and-coming model Izabel Goulart made their major début in the 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She is now officially one of the Victoria's Secret Angels.

Ebanks views Tyra Banks as a mentor. In 2005, Tyra Banks said she was proud of Ebanks to be representing for black women at Victoria's Secret...."

Photos courtesy of Actress Archives

Izabel Goulart

Her website says "...Izabel Goulart was born on October 23, 1984 in São Carlos, Brazil. She is one of seven children that include four brothers, one sister, and one half-sister. Like many other models, she has a strange way in which she was discovered. While she was out shopping for groceries with her mother one day, a hairdresser approached her and told her she should become a model. So following the advice of that hairdresser, she moved to São Paulo and began modeling.

While walking in her first runway, her bikini top fell off of her, exposing herself to the crowd. However, she remained composed and received excellent praise from numerous people in the industry. After that, her career took off quickly. She was walking in numerous runway shows around the world and soon there after she made the decision to move to the United States to continue her modeling career.
Upon her move to New York City, Izabel was named as one of the Victoria's Secret Angels. She landed a multi-year contract with the Lingerie company and made her debut in 2005 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show which was held in November of 2005. In addition to Victoria's Secret, she has also been in advertising campaigns for La Senza, Poko Pano, Valfrance, Express, Cori, Forum, Pollini, Pura Mania, among many others. She's appeared on the covers of several magazines worldwide including Numero, Elle, Vogue, and Marie Claire. She is still living in the New York City area when she isn't traveling the world for appearances, runway shows, and fashion shoots.

In her spare time she enjoys bowling, and playing tennis and basketball. In the winter of 2007, Izabel will make her acting debut, playing herself on an episode of the highly acclaimed HBO series, Entourage. In October of 2006 Izabel was named to Esquire Magazine's annual list of 100 things, people, ideas, and trends you need to know.Her star just keeps getting brighter..."

Photos courtesy of Style.com by Greg Kessler and Don Ashby.

Nina Malone

Nina is a multi talented model, actress and dancer from Cambridge with a degree in professional dancing and musical theatre.

She has worked with L'Oreal, M&S and Dyson. She loves being on the catwalk and theatrical stage.

Photos courtesy of Grid Models

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