Eredappa Hart

According to her website "...Eredappa Hart, is a Nigerian born designer who has mastered theart of combining classic European lines with traditional AfricanAnkara fabrics and luminescent beadwork to create a stunningcollection that has become the talk of the fashion world.

Eredappa studied Business in England but upon her return toNigeria in 1994 she rediscovered her love of fashion. Beginning withdesigning unique footwear and handbags, her accessories were soldin France and Italy. But it was the emergence of the Eredappa label in 2006, specializing in womenswear clothing that made the fashionworld sit up and take notice.

Debuting at the "This Day" FashionShow, Nigeria, the buzz spread and her customer base grew. Shewent on to showcase her collections at Pret-A-Porter, Paris, the"True Love" Fashion Awards, South Africa, and "Arise Magazine"
Fashion Week in Nigeria, 2011. This recent showing earned her thecoveted Lifetime Achievement Award.

Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi

According to the LDA website "...Lanre Da Silva Ajayi (LDA) is the founder of eponymous self-named design label. In seven years her passion for fashion has gotten stronger making the label a fashion favourite among the media, celebrities and fashion lovers.
LDA the brand first arrived in the fashion scene in 2005 with iconic 1940’s couture signature designs - a result of what has evolved into a much more modern and cutting-edge brand and a full-blown fashion house. The label’s collection includes couture, prêt a porter, and accessories such as hairpieces and statement jewellery.

Regardless of the label’s strong historical design roots, LDA’s creatively combines pattern, print, exquisite and even traditional fabrics to produce day wear, evening wear, gowns and cocktail dresses that bridge time and make the label successful within and outside Nigeria.

LDA produces six major collections every year and has showcased locally in Nigeria and internationally including the Thisday Africa Rising Festival, London (October 2008), ARISE Africa Fashion Festival, South Africa (June 2009) and the New York Couture Fashion Week (September 2009), Arise Magazine Fashion Week, Lagos (March 2011) and the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring 2012 Made in Africa by Arise magazine, (September 2011).

She has also created four different collections for international Dutch wax print giant, Vlisco-Urban Beat, Gallery of Poems, Reflet de Lumie`re and TresorBrillant.

An LDA woman is the personification of sophistication, femininity, brilliance and boldness, which are the inspiration for each of her collections. Lanre states “Couture, colour and boldness with an edgy twist are the signature of my designs”.”.

In 2009, the first flagship boutique was launched in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. The label is also stocked at Temple Muse in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Other retail stockists will be coming soon to various major cities across Africa, United Kingdom and the United States.

LDA has been featured in various African and international media including Vogue Black, ARISE Magazine, Daily Mail, Essence.com, Fashion Bomb.com, Zimbio.com, WWD.com, ITN News, NTN24.com, ABCNews.com, ITN News, Reuters UK and Centric/BET.

Lanre’s academic qualifications include a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Coventry University and a Masters degree in Finance from University of Leicester.

For her contributions to the Nigerian and African fashion industry, Lanre has received numerous accolades and awards for excellence.

She is married with two children..."

African Fashion Week New York

CNN says "...Thirty designers, three days and one all-important catwalk -- welcome to Africa Fashion Week in New York.

Now in its second year, the show, is already an established event. Between July 11 and July 17, fashion elites from across the African continent converged on New York to showcase their distinctive styles and talents.
"Many of these designers, of course, they're big in Africa," said founder Adiat Disu. "But people need to hear and see what is going on in Africa without having to travel there..."

Tanaya Henry

This hardworking multi talented Lady from Minneapolis has not only worked with MICROSOFT, L'OREAL, CATHERINE MALANDRINO etc but has also appeared in Jamies foxx's ft Drake "Fall for Your Type" video.Tanaya's website also has an elaborate portfolio of her works We would like to know more about her.

MATAANO

According to their website ".....Born to Somali parents and raised in both their native country and Washington DC, identical twins Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim are anything but ordinary. Having fled Somalia at the age of nine to escape the country’s civil war, both Idyl and Ayaan completed their college education at University of Michigan and Boston University, respectively, before making the bold move to Manhattan where they aimed to stand out from the rest in the world of fashion and design. Experiencing the industry from the ground up through careful study and practice, they slowly crafted their talent, weaving their cultural influence throughout each meticulously designed piece in their studio with only distant dreams of launching a collection..."

"...In 2008, the Mohallim sisters took their first step together, launching a new brand, Mataano (meaning “twins” in Somali) and furnishing a platform to express their vision and bring forth their creations to the marketplace. Mataano’s premier Spring 2009 collection launched in New York City on November 1, 2008 featuring a boutique preview of ten dresses, many of which received notice in the industry. Oprah Winfrey, the queen of daytime television, invited both siblings onto a recent show via Skype featuring the Olsen twins and young millionaire moguls. Paralleling their success with the Olsen sisters, Oprah lauded the duo for their inspiring story and much deserved success, and gave them the national credibility that will undoubtedly launch Mataano as an emerging brand with a rich cultural heritage...."

Photos courtesy of Mataano

Jo & Joe

Joel and Jolene Lim are super sibling duo based in Hong Kong as well as Singapore, are one of the rising talents in Fashion Photography, styling and Art Direction in the region.They have worked with high profile clients which include Audi, Elle, Samsung etc.

Photos courtesy of JO & JOE

Campala Photography

According to his website Campalaphotography"... Alex Ade Ogundiran is a Celebrity beauty and Fashion Photographer making waves in the world of Fashion. This successful former model-turned has worked with the best of the best and is passionate about redefining BEAUTY with one click of the camera. He has recently worked together with Nicole Fox, current winner of America's Next Top Model and face for Covergirl cosmetics.
Photos courtesy of Campalaphotography

Swahili Fashion Week

According to their web page "...An eclectic mix of Swahili culture ensconced with chic style; Swahili Fashion week is the dawn of a new era. Initiating a dynamic and promising platform for the fashion industry in Tanzania, the Swahili Fashion Week is a coming together of talented designers from across the country under one stand to showcase their unique and truly African creations. This is not only a potential point for existing designers but also an opportune moment for upcoming aspiring designers in the country..."

A|X:TV

A|X:TV, is an online video platform by Armani Exchange, which will target the A|X Generation.It also gives people interested in fashion an inside look at the hottest people, looks, and lifestyle of the behind-the-scenes of fashion with the new A|X:TV from Armani Exchange.

"...A|X:TV also brings up close and personal interviews with the worlds hottest DJs, giving exclusive glimpses into never-before-seen footage from the DJs point-of-view..."

Poodle Pusher

Bella Naija writes about a fashion stylist company called Poodle Pusher started by Ogo and Chi Chi.BN says "...Capitalizing on what came naturally to them both, they set up Poodle Pusher in November 2008; a wardrobe and fashion stylist company that allows them to explore their interest and be creatively self- expressive. Surprisingly, fashion seems to be a realm where a bit of distinction lies with these two; and it is in this distinction, their many similarities, shared experiences and ideals that their business continues to thrive!.."

Chanel Iman

According to Wikipedia "...Chanel Iman Robinson (born November 30, 1989), better known as Chanel Iman, is an American fashion model.Robinson was born in Atlanta, Georgia to China Robinson of African American(father) and Korean heritage. She grew up in Culver City, California and attended Fairfax High School in Los Angeles currently she is home schooled.

...Iman walked down the runway for the first time in the Fall/Winter 2006 season for high-end brands like Custo Barcelona and DKNY; since then she has modelled for many top designers, including Dolce & Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Dsquared, Hermès, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney. In her short career, she has appeared in advertising campaigns for Bottega Veneta, GAP, Victoria's Secret Pink, and United Colors of Benetton..."

She appeared with models Du Juan and Coco Rocha in the Spring 2007 issue of TIME Style&Design. In the May 2007 issue of US Vogue she was featured on the cover with fellow models Doutzen Kroes, Caroline Trentini, Raquel Zimmermann, Sasha Pivovarova, Agyness Deyn, Coco Rocha, Jessica Stam, Hilary Rhoda, and Lily Donaldson as the new crop of supermodels. Chanel also appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue alongside fellow American teenage models Ali Michael and Karlie Kloss in 2008.


In October 2007, Chanel appeared with her mother on an episode of the Tyra Banks Show. Chanel is also close friends with model Dani Evans.


Photos by Marcio Madeira, Don Ashby and Olivier Claisse courtesy of Style.com

Mimi Blix

With her fabulous name and exotic looks, Mimi Blix who is of Ugandan and Norwegian roots is not only a top fashion model but also a talented singer/guitarist/drummer for a rock band.

Now at the age of 18 she is said to be very focused on her career. She is currently doing lots of photo shoots around the world. Formerly a ballet dancer she was discovered by a photographer in Oslo. We are interested to know more about her.


Mimi Blix Slide show

Photos courtesy of The fashion Spot

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

Bridget Awosika

According to Bukky's website "...Bridget/Bukky Awosika was born in Washington DC. At the age of ten, it became apparent that she would purse a career in Fashion design as she displayed more appreciation towards sketching, collecting fabrics, art and hand sewing than anything else.
Realizing that she would want to design womenswear/menswear professionally and ultimately run it as a successful business, Bridget attended Howard University in DC and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Management.She later proceeded on into New York City, where she attended the prestigious Parsons School of Design to work on her following degree in Fashion Design..."

Excerpts and photos are from Bridget Awosika's website.

Aschobi Designs

According to her Facebook page "...Aschobi Designs is a dualistic fashion company in post independence Africa catering to the fashion identity of the global man and woman living in Freetown or Paris a l’ancienne colonie au metropole..."

"...Started by Adama Kargbo who is a 24yr old Sierra Leonean-American recent graduate of Parsons School of Design (Paris, France). She has recently returned to Sierra Leone from New York City to launch her first collection;

"...Her collection gives a modern twist to vintage 1960s African couture. Although she could have launched her collection anywhere, Adama chose her ancestral home as the birth place of ASCHOBI because of her unshakeable conviction in the rebirth and redevelopment of this country. This initial collection is a celebration of the career minded African woman who balances family, community, and work obligations with grace, elegance, and beauty. In short, the ASCHOBI woman is Maya Angelou's phenomenal woman..."

"...Aschobi Designs is a dualistic fashion company in post independence Africa catering to the fashion identity of the global man and woman living in Freetown or Paris a l’ancienne colonie au metropole..."


Photos courtesy of Aschobi Designs

NYAKIO

Ladybrille writes about Nyakio Kamoche. "...The first generation American with Kenyan heritage who launched NYAKIO, a successful skin care line based on family recipes and ingredients from Kenya. Nyakio's skin care line is sold online and in over a hundred and eighty nine boutiques around the country. Just recently, the fierce entrepreneur diversified her portfolio to launch a fragrance line, Safi Fragrance. Of course Ladybrille had to catch up with the very Ladybrille woman to see how she does it..."

Photos courtesy of Ladybrille and NYAKIO

African Design Hub

The Design Africa website has continued to evolve into a very interesting hub for design trends in Furniture, Fashion and Fabrics in Africa. Their website says that"...Design Africa is a portal, your portal, to designers with uncommon vision, to potential partners, to beautiful products and striking design statements, and to statements of another kind: Stories of the designers, artisans and communities involved in the creation process, stories of the materials used and the meaning behind the items produced, and of course, stories of dreams turning into business plans and reaching around the world from the original design source, Africa. Design Africa’s mission is twofold: to help today’s distinctive African design emerge, and to accelerate the economic development of the communities and countries involved through the positive impact of exports. That started with our presence at SIDIM 2006. Building on its success, we are pleased to present 19 companies from five countries that span the continent..." Enjoy!

Barcelagos Clothing Co.

Barcelagos Clothing Co. is a Nigerian t-shirt company also featured in Timbuktuchronicles whose goal is to target the huge potential market of Nigerian and African kids living in diaspora.

Their t-shirt collection are in some cases designed around the iconic images of interesting Nigerian, African and Asian personalities. writes aboutBarcelagos Clothing Co. .

Barcelagos clothing line also includes hoodies and jackets whose designs are themed with Nigerian colloquial expressions.

Photos are courtesy of Barcelagos Clothing Co.

CosWeAfricanWomenAreDoin&DoinItWell Blog

CosWeAfricanWomenAreDoin&DoinItWell is a blog that writes about Fashion,music,movies and the arts from the African Francophone perspective.It also has very cool link to African Pop,Folk,Etc music via Playlist.com

African Delectable Headress'es

With amazing photos courtesy of the Mursi, Surma people of Sudan/Ethiopia, Hans Silvester(photographer)and published by Daily Mail it does show that amazing fashion style can come from anywhere.

Like many other African tribes in Sub-Saharan Africa the use of the natural flora and fauna, natural dyes from plants and rocks as well as bird feathers has ben used to beautify themselves in the most creative way.