AFRICAN FACES

STELLE JEANS..

                         I JUST LOVE HER MARVELOUS WORK!!!

                                                                                                                         Haitian italien Stella Jeans the Designer

32 years old Italian–Haitian woman. I find in fashion the necessary room to maneuver, to make my two opposite identities breathe and finally conciliate.
I've start with something that belongs to me and my origins. Now I would like to show how it is possible to melt very different cultures with no limits, but at the same time keep the respect and the consciousness of the traditions. In my video Madeleine I am trying out new combinations such as Hawaiian fabrics and wax prints. And for the F|W 13 collection I've melted Scottish fabrics and wax. I will keep melting….

AFRICAN WEEK LONDON 2013

 AFWL has not only expanded to three days but also moved to a bigger venue, Old Truman Brewery F Block, a recently redeveloped and formidable warehouse in hip and happening Shoreditch.

the difference between Aztec print and African print

Tribal Fashion: Aztec vs. 

                       African Tribal

The colours are bold, the prints are elaborate and the attention to detail is flawless.

I’m a huge fan of the tribal trend: tribal leggings, tribal headbands, tribal jewelry, tribal straws even. Put a skwigly shape on something orange & black and I’ll buy it!

Often I see a collection of Aztec and African looking garments all classified as tribal and it makes go woes! Do the designers and manufacturers not know that there is a distinct difference between African tribal designs and the Aztec looking tribal that has become “mainstream” so to speak.

                                                Aztec Tribal Print vs. African Tribal Print

Afrocentric prints are tribal prints that come in a contemporary style. The line placement, thickness and structure is more prominent on the Aztec designs, while the African designs focus more on the overall flow and vision of the garment. Aztec designs are often surrounded by muddy looking colour palettes, while African designs tend to be more vibrant in colour. African designs also tend to be based on stories and/or represent a symbol of some sort.

Traditional African Tribal Designs vs. Modern Mainstream African Tribal Designs

It must be noted that there is a difference between traditional African clothing and the ‘mainstream’ African designs we are witnessing today.

Traditional African designs are widely worn in West Africa and were adapted from traditional Indonesian batik. These days West African prints have evolved beyond the abstract and patterns often depict important current events, like world cup games or presidential victories.

Designers wanting to feel the African Sun within them have also began utilising the patterns in their designs.

Gwen Stefani:with her a ‘African’ dress.

Traditional African wear is also a sign of wealth and status for many African women and men. The more expensive the fabric and elaborate the design, the more wealth the wearer is supposed to possess.

All we would have to do is look at any day in Parliament and we would know who the high rollers are:

Adelaide Frances Tambo is not messing around in her gold number! Seen here with South African designer Gavin Rajah at the opening of Parliament.

Modern day mainstream designs are referred to tribal designs as a collective, rather than African tribal, Aztec tribal and Red Indian tribal (which is where these designs are essentially drawn from).

Magazines, stores and designers tend to steer away from using the words African tribal, as they tend to evoke images of naked bushmen with loin cloths covering their gogos and pippies. Local and international designers have come to embrace the African tribal trend and have even gone as far as to incorporate it into modern day trends.

The July issue of Elle South Africa had the most stunning African tribal pieces on showcase in their feature on the opening of Jozi store Loin Cloth & Ashes, while Lalesso shined at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Cape Town with their African tribal pieces:

Loin Cloth and Ashes store in Jozi

Lalesso SS13 – SA Fashion Week

Lalesso SS13 – SA Fashion Week

If you want to feel like an African Child and rock the African tribal but don’t want to look like an African explosion, try these simple tips:

1. Try piecing the tribal item with a plain shirt or jacket for that POP effect.

2. Mix and match assymetrical prints with your tribal.     

3. Opt for one POW tribal item such as a scarf, kimono or bold tribal accessories to add that extra Africanness to your outfit.

 African Swag

AIR PURIFYING HOUSE PLANTS..

Any houseplant produces oxygen, as well as adding to the beauty and coziness of your home. These plants are especially good at being “air filters” which is great for someone with asthma, allergies, or just likes the idea.

1. Bamboo Palm: According to NASA, it removes formaldahyde and is also said to act as a natural humidifi

2. Snake Plant: Found by NASA to absorb nitrogen oxides and formaldahyde.

3. Areca Palm: One of the best air purifying plants for general air cleanliness.

4. Spider Plant: Great indoor plant for removing carbon monoxide and other toxins or impurities. Spider plants are one of three plants NASA deems best at removing formaldahyde from the air.

5. Peace Lily: Peace lilies could be called the “clean-all.” They’re often placed in bathrooms or laundry rooms because they’re known for removing mold spores. Also known to remove formaldahyde and trichloroethylene.

6. Gerbera Daisy: Not only do these gorgeous flowers remove benzene from the air, they’re known to improve sleep by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off more oxygen over night.

Tribal Fashion: Aztec vs. 

                       African Tribal

The colours are bold, the prints are elaborate and the attention to detail is flawless.

I’m a huge fan of the tribal trend: tribal leggings, tribal headbands, tribal jewelry, tribal straws even. Put a skwigly shape on something orange & black and I’ll buy it!

Often I see a collection of Aztec and African looking garments all classified as tribal and it makes go woes! Do the designers and manufacturers not know that there is a distinct difference between African tribal designs and the Aztec looking tribal that has become “mainstream” so to speak.

                                                Aztec Tribal Print vs. African Tribal Print

Afrocentric prints are tribal prints that come in a contemporary style. The line placement, thickness and structure is more prominent on the Aztec designs, while the African designs focus more on the overall flow and vision of the garment. Aztec designs are often surrounded by muddy looking colour palettes, while African designs tend to be more vibrant in colour. African designs also tend to be based on stories and/or represent a symbol of some sort.

Traditional African Tribal Designs vs. Modern Mainstream African Tribal Designs

It must be noted that there is a difference between traditional African clothing and the ‘mainstream’ African designs we are witnessing today.

Traditional African designs are widely worn in West Africa and were adapted from traditional Indonesian batik. These days West African prints have evolved beyond the abstract and patterns often depict important current events, like world cup games or presidential victories.

Designers wanting to feel the African Sun within them have also began utilising the patterns in their designs.

Gwen Stefani:with her a ‘African’ dress.

Traditional African wear is also a sign of wealth and status for many African women and men. The more expensive the fabric and elaborate the design, the more wealth the wearer is supposed to possess.

All we would have to do is look at any day in Parliament and we would know who the high rollers are:

Adelaide Frances Tambo is not messing around in her gold number! Seen here with South African designer Gavin Rajah at the opening of Parliament.

Modern day mainstream designs are referred to tribal designs as a collective, rather than African tribal, Aztec tribal and Red Indian tribal (which is where these designs are essentially drawn from).

Magazines, stores and designers tend to steer away from using the words African tribal, as they tend to evoke images of naked bushmen with loin cloths covering their gogos and pippies. Local and international designers have come to embrace the African tribal trend and have even gone as far as to incorporate it into modern day trends.

The July issue of Elle South Africa had the most stunning African tribal pieces on showcase in their feature on the opening of Jozi store Loin Cloth & Ashes, while Lalesso shined at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Cape Town with their African tribal pieces:

Loin Cloth and Ashes store in Jozi

Lalesso SS13 – SA Fashion Week

Lalesso SS13 – SA Fashion Week

If you want to feel like an African Child and rock the African tribal but don’t want to look like an African explosion, try these simple tips:

1. Try piecing the tribal item with a plain shirt or jacket for that POP effect.

2. Mix and match assymetrical prints with your tribal.     

MASAI MARA something sweet as a candy........

                                                                                  MASAI MARA RUNWAY....

                                                            A  WAY OF GIVING AND GETTING......  

                                                                                               Style Card: Zebra Showgirl Outfit

Style Card:Loose Romper (Grass)

“Nadira” is the exclusive dress made for MASAI MARA solidarity store by Ciccia Bergamasco designer and owner of the Italian brand INNUENDO Style,

you can find this beautiful dress at the Masai Mara Store, its entire price of Nadira dress will be devoluted for Mama Tunza Project that helps kids in Kenya.

I’ve matched with a jewel set Shambala in Pink by Neiva Kumasi Couture as well a benefactor designer of MASAI MARA, it looks perfect with Nadira dress.

Lets give and hand!

About 40 brands are helping us with the wonderful project to raise funds for an ngo called “Kibera Youth Initiative”, that currently is helping MAMA TUNZA’s Children Home, in Nairobi (Kenya). The brands, selling their items (some exclusive, some new and other discounted) give the total or a half of the sales to the ngo, just trying to help this wonderful woman and her children. Of course, these boys and girls are from the streets of Nairobi, with no parents, no family, some of them with AIDS and other diseases, and this woman take them as her own children and cares, loves and feeds. They live in very poor conditions, they need our help.

The store will open September 1st, and there will be a show at the Patch Tribaud Auditorium the 13th with the exclusive items we will have.

                                                                             STYLING CARD:NADIRA

                                                                                                                                                                                

            This are somethings you can find at MASAI MARA Store …let’s help children in Kenya.

                                                                                                                  STYLING CARD:TOPAZIA

         Style Card:Mesh Gown

I love casual styling! It gives me a chance to play with my accessory collection to display the mood I am in. Chic Zafari Mara T-shirt for Masai Mara is the perfect edition to my casual wear! Its simple fit and ethnic design is a perfect match for the ethnic accessories in my wardrobe.  If you are looking to add a little ethnic touch to you SL wardrobe (and donate to a worthy cause at the same time), this is the shirt for you!

                             AVAILABLE AT THE MASI MARA STORE...

LESO FABRIC

Leso or Kanga is an increasingly popular East African fabric

GWEN STAFANI 

A growing number of American and top International designers are infusing more African prints, style and colours in their collections, like Gwen Stefani’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection for label L.A.M.B., which featured dazzling African fabrics.

KELIS  ROCKING AN AFRICAN  PRINT WRAP MINI DERSS ALL THE WAY....

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME KELIS WEARING JBL DESIGNS..

IN JBL... 

Naomi Campbell rocks African prints for July issue of W Magazine

GHANA FASHION WEEK GFDW

DESIGNERS 2012 | PAST DESIGNERS

GFDW selected Designers to showcase on the Catwalk in October 2012, is an eccletic mix of interesting Designers across the globe, and from within Ghana. This includes Ethical Fashion Designers, showcasing under GFDW ETHIKHA. Each Designer brings to the Catwalk a unique story to tell, that will be unfolded at the Shows!.The below List gives an interesting insight into the designer brands lined up for GFDW 2012.

CHRISTIE BROWN Ghana:

Launched in 2008, Christie Brown is a Ghana based womenswear fashion label that aims to satisfy the stylish urge of “that modern woman who seeks a true taste of Africa” Creative Director Aisha Obuobi began her love affair with fashion at an early age. Inspired by her grandmother Christie Brown, a seamstress. Today, Christie Brown stands uniquely as women’s apparel and accessories label, with pieces ranging from beautiful bespoke gowns, practical yet statement pieces to innovative accessories all inspired by the African culture and art. Her clothes and accessories have made a bold statement, painting the runways with a fusion of colour and culture, fit for the contemporary African woman. To date, the label has demonstrated international success, with features in magazines such as Grazia UK, Vibe Magazine, FairLady Magazine, Afroelle Magazine, Arise Magazine, Jet Magazine, and several online media features. 

JIL Ghana:

Creative Director Adoley Addo the brain behind JIL has no formal education in design. After a law degree at the university of Ghana her passion for fashion kept escalating, which led to the opening of her first multi branded boutique and the birth of her own label JIL. JIL focuses on giving exposure to what we have in Africa to the international world. Using African prints enhanced with embellishments and other fabrics like silks. Recently JIL main focus has been on the Ghanaian Kente cloth, reworking the traditional Kente cloth extensively with beads uniquely for her collection. The vibrant colours of the Kente cloth combined with beads and rhinestones give an extraordinary jewel-like appeal to the traditional fabric known globally as a symbol for Ghana. This idea is carried through JIL’s recent collection titled “Heritage”

DUABA SERWA Ghana:

Nelly Hagan Aboagye winner of the British Council Designer of the year 2011 label – Duaba Serwa is a mixture of innovative intricate detailed designs, textures, structure and new types of volumes, Duaba Serwa’s story is about bold effortless beauty and the brand prides itself in the construction of elegant tailored style lines that cater to the woman who prefers understatements elegance to flamboyant extravagance. The designer garments are made for comfort and simplicity, with harmonious lines reinforced by a bold palette of colours and fine materials such as glass beads that are woven intricately in different patterns and sizes. The brand has gained international interest at a short space of time as her work uniquely differs from other brands and innovatively in-tuned with the use of modern fabrics to achieve contemporary designs for the modern woman. 

MINI EVANS Ghana:

Mina Evans label unveils Mina’s love of fusing luxurious fabrics with Ankara and intricate handpicked embellishments to produce feminine, classic but elegant pieces. Her emerging label is built on imagination and excellence, focused on development and social awareness. Mina Evans aims to add value to her client’s lifestyle by creating simple but elegant pieces that incorporate a mixture of quality fabrics and embellishments for the Mina Evans client.

LOVE APRIL Ghana:

An upcoming designer with the modern woman in mind, Nina, the emerging designer focuses on creating a collection that speaks of comfort and freedom of expression through clothing. The Love April design ethos is about fusing of African prints, with a fresh and youthfulness in mind. The collection carries simple lines that are complimented with a mixture of colourful print fabrics. The overall look is fresh and youthful. 

MY TOP 5-10  GFDW.....

BEYOND ALL DESCRIPTION!!!!

THIS I WOULD ROCK IT 100/..

Designer: Duaba Serwa