Birimian, the investment company dedicated to connecting African luxury and heritage fashion brands with international investors, has announced a strategic partnership with European asset management firm Trail Capital to scale up support for African fashion houses and brands. To mark the partnership, Paris-based Trail has invested an undisclosed sum in Birimian’s dedicated investment vehicle. This…
Author: fresco
First ever 'Africa Fashion' exhibition opens in London
Britain’s most extensive exhibition of African fashion is set to open in London, showcasing designers past and present, as well as the continent’s diverse heritage and cultures. “Africa Fashion”, at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum from Saturday, is also the country’s first exhibition dedicated to the medium. Project curator Elisabeth Murray said the show…
Africa’s first B2B wholesale fashion e-commerce startup, Folklore picks up $1.7M funding
A fashion e-commerce startup, Folklore, headquartered in New York has picked up $1.7 million pre-seed funding. The investment was led by Slauson & Co. alongside participation from Fearless Fund, WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike, Backbone Angels, Fab Co-Creation Studio Ventures, Untapped Capital, True Capital Management’s Culture Fund, and a number of family offices and angel investors.…
AFI Cape Town Fashion Week goes to Abu Dhabi
JOHANNESBURG, 15 FEBRUARY. African Fashion International (AFI) is taking continental aesthetics to the United Arab Emirates. AFI’s partnership with Forbes, for the upcoming 30/50 Summit to mark International Women’s Day, is a boost for the selected pan-African designers who will platform their creative perceptions to the most powerful women in the world. The summit will…
Meet One Of The Youngest Black Women To Raise Over $1M In A Pre-Seed Round For A Fashion & Lifestyle Company
As an entrepreneur with a new idea, before the investors and capital come, you become your own biggest hype man. When Amira Rasool first launched The Folklore Group — an e-commerce retailer for African fashion brands — in 2018, she full-heartedly believed in her platform with the mission of helping African designers gain more support…
Best Black Hair Moments Of The Decade
As we approach the year 2020, we can’t help but reminisce about the Black beauty moments that influenced the culture over the past decade. The period was marked by ground-breaking beauty launches that served as a call to action to diversify the beauty industry a la Fenty Beauty, and bossy beauty moves, that inspired companies…
The Best Websites To Find The Natural Wig Of Your Dreams
FOR THE LADY WHO LOVES WIGS OR WANTS TO GIVE THEM A TRY, GIFT HER A LUXE HAIRPIECE FROM ONE OF THESE TRUSTED RETAILERS. If you haven’t seen funny memes floating around about women rejecting traditional Valentine’s Day gifts for wigs, then you clearly have been on a social media hiatus. As the taboo around…
Africa CDC in ‘advanced’ talks to obtain monkeypox vaccines
But a clinical trial is underway in Congo for a vaccine. Africa’s public health agency says the continent of 1.3 billion people still does not have a single dose of the monkeypox vaccine, but “very advanced discussions” are underway with at least two partners. The acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ahmed…
Monkeypox (MPV) racial disparities remain a concern as White House announces new actions
Advocates say the Biden-Harris administration’s latest measures are welcomed, but it must do more to ensure MPV services are distributed equitably. The Biden-Harris administration announced new actions to combat the monkeypox (MPV) outbreak in the United States, including increasing shipments of vaccines and targeting resources in vulnerable communities. However, advocates remain concerned racial disparities could…
Will Smith’s planned biopic ‘back in pipeline with streaming giant’
Will Smith’s planned biopic is reportedly back in the pipeline. Insiders said Netflix, which halted talks over a film of the actor’s life in the wake of his Oscars slap scandal, are reportedly looking to reopen stalled negotiations. A source told The Sun on Friday night: “Will was left out in the cold by Netflix…
How SA Fashion Week's New Talent Search has lasted 24 years
How SA Fashion Week’s New Talent Search has lasted 24 years Fashion in South Africa has enduring talent pipeline challenges. Standardising accredited education and training, creating more entry level opportunities for design graduates and improving access to funding for young, first-time fashion entrepreneurs are all long-standing problems the industry doesn’t have scaled, widely accessible solutions…
LagosPHX Fashion Week Aims To Make Downtown Phoenix A 'Global Culture And Fashion Destination'
The vibrant and trendsetting styles of Africa are coming down the runway in Downtown Phoenix. African Fashion Week, presented by LagosPHX, takes place Aug. 19 to Aug. 21 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. The weekend is jam packed with events in-style perfect for any fashionista. Guests will get an exclusive look at the latest styles, a…
South African Fashion Week Focuses on Job Creation
The event celebrating its 25th anniversary saw 20 designers take part in shows at the Mall of Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa. The spring/summer 2023 edition concluded over the weekend, featuring highlights such as Amanda Laird-Cherry, Ntando Ngwenya, Olé Ledimo’s Loxion Kulcha and Artho Steenkamp. This season opened with the South African Fashion Week (SAFW)…
The Women Initiating Change for African Designers at Portugal Fashion Week
With Spring comes beginnings — new leaves, new experiences and in fashion, new collections. Following AMAKA’s coverage of the Spring/Summer edition of Portugal Fashion Week last year, we are excited to once again be bringing you insight into this landmark collaboration between Afreximbank’s CANEX (Creative Africa Nexus) program and Portugal Fashion Week to platform the creativity of African designers.…
Chicago Fashion Week set to honour African fashion trailblazer
As the Chicago Fashion Week beckons, those who have distinguished themselves and contributed their quota to the fashion industry are being recognised. One of such persons, is Lexy Mojo-Eyes, African fashion ambassador and the Chief Executive Officer of Legendary Gold Limited. He will be bestowed with this special award at the upcoming International Arts Awards…
THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF AFRICAN FASHION MONTH
From Glitz Africa to AFI, this year’s SS‘22 presentations proved why Fashion Week in Africa still matters, as local designers turned the dial up on cutting-edge design. After a year of social-distanced showings and live-streamed events, African Fashion Month made its welcome return this October. Comprising Glitz Africa Fashion Week, Lagos Fashion Week, AFI (African…
AUTHENTIC EXPRESSIONS OF AFRICA.
The BE YOU campaign for this spring/summer season centred on enabling greater inclusivity within Africa’s fashion network. Twenty months into the pandemic, fashion designers and other creatives are still reeling from reduced demand for their garments and the closure of physical stores during lockdown. African Fashion International (AFI) launched Fashion Week Joburg with a no-fee payment structure, allowing established and up-and-coming designers to…
AFI CAPE TOWN FASHION WEEK GOES TO ABU DHABI
JOHANNESBURG, 15 FEBRUARY. African Fashion International (AFI) is taking continental aesthetics to the United Arab Emirates. AFI’s partnership with Forbes, for the upcoming 30/50 Summit to mark International Women’s Day, is a boost for the selected pan-African designers who will platform their creative perceptions to the most powerful women in the world. The summit will be Chaired by co-host of…
Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu’s Parisian show stands out by blending in
Thandiwe Muriu’s CAMO series celebrates being African by playing with colour and culture. Kenyan photographer Thandiwe Muriu’s journey into photography began at 14, when her father taught her and her sisters how to use digital cameras. “I like to say before then that I had all this art inside of me that was looking for…
A golden milestone
Cape Town’s beloved Irma Stern Museum celebrates its semicentennial with a line-up of exhibitions, events and talks. Once the home of one of South Africa’s most famous artists, Irma Stern’s Rosebank property was bequeathed to UCT and opened up as a museum in July 1972. The house has been perfectly preserved just as Irma herself…