Olga Francis Keane has the distinction of being the only Jamaican designer to show her designs at the Ebony Fashion Fair showcase in Jamaica in the nineties. The legacy of Olga Francis Keane is more than cutwork embroidery, wedding dresses, and fashion shows; it’s the legacy of a trailblazer, pioneer, devoted wife, mother, loyal friend…
Save The Date: Lagos Fashion Week 2022 Is All Set to Return This October
Heineken Lagos Fashion Week in partnership with BestSeller Foundation, TECNO, Lush Hair and Style House Files (SHF) gets prepared for workshops, retail activations, runway shows and presentations. Since its inception in 2011, #LagosFW has been integral to shaping Africa’s fashion future. Lagos Fashion Week gets set for the season with a continued resolve to strengthen our ecosystem together. This year, Lagos Fashion…
5 Pieces By Black Designers To Add To Your Fall Wardrobe
Can you believe Labor Day weekend is already among us? It felt like we just ushered in the beginning of summer, drinks in hand, and vibing to “Last Last” by Burna Boy. The weeks after Labor Day weekend can be confusing when deciding what to wear. We’re in a transitional period from summer to fall, where the…
Brand Licensing Europe announces Culture & Unity catwalk show in support of Black Lives Matter Movement
Designers, collections and models will drop fresh from the prestigious London Fashion Week runway to appear at BLE. Brand Licensing Europe’s Culture & Unity catwalk show will be an unmissable showstopper during the event’s Sustainability, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Day on Thursday 22 September, with Black and LGBT+ designers, fashion, models and crew – some…
I sold my house in Totteridge to fund Africa Fashion Week, London – Ademiluyi
Ronke Ademiluyi is royalty born to a scion of the royal family of Ile-Ife. She is the founder of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) now UK’S largest annual fashion event that promotes and nurtures African and African-inspired design talent. In this interview with IFEOMA OKEKE-KORIEOCHA, she shares success stories of the event and why she’s…
AFI launches digital magazine
African Fashion International (AFI) has launched a digital magazine. The HON by AFI digital magazine will be released every quarter with each edition having a different theme. First issue The launch issue, which is the Spring issue, will be released on the AFI website on 1 September 2022, and will be covered by four Banyana Banyana players…
Ooni Hosts Dignitaries For African Fashion Week Nigeria
L The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, is scheduled to host other top dignitaries at the closing ceremony of the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria on Friday, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos State. According to a statement by the Ooni’s Director of Media and Public…”…
Black-Owned Fashion Labels to Watch This New York Fashion Week
Celebrate Black Business Month by supporting these runway-ready fashion brands. August is Black Business Month, and with New York Fashion Week approaching, we’re taking a closer look at some of the Black-owned brands that will take the runway. It’s important to support Black businesses all year round, but fashion month is one of the largest platforms for emerging designers to…
South African actor Charlbi Dean — star of Cannes Film Festival award winner Triangle of Sadness — dies aged 32
Charlbi Dean, the South African actor and model who had a breakout role in Triangle of Sadness, which won this year’s top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, has died aged 32. Key points: Dean was born and raised in Cape Town, South AfricaThe 32-year-old starred in this year’s winning film at CannesRepresentatives have not provided details…
Ankara Fashion & Music Festival Los Angeles (AFLA) September 2-4, 2022
The 13th annual Ankara Festival Los Angeles is a celebration of African fashion, culture, heritage, music, dance, and art. The elaborate annual African cultural festival was created in 2010 by Founder and Creative Director, Peter Lentini, with intentions of creating a social landscape for cultural pride in the U.S., increasing visibility of African culture, and…
Asantii Aims to Become the World’s First African Global Fashion Brand
Rwandan-born textile entrepreneur Maryse Mbonyumutwa is positioning the label in the affordable luxury segment, with an eye on a global consumer. PARIS — Could Asantii become the first African fashion label to compete with the likes of Sandro, A.P.C. and Ba&sh? Rwandan-born entrepreneur Maryse Mbonyumutwa believes the world is ready for what she bills as…
Vlisco commits €7.3m to environmental, social issues
VLISCO has committed to spending €7.3 million in the next five years on initiatives that will add value to textiles and expansion of production in Africa. “We have materialised this commitment via 15 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives built under seven of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are: quality education, reduce inequality,…
Fashion For A Cause: HUMANx Takes The Runway At Africa Fashion Week 2022
Socially-conscious Nigerian fashion brand, HUMANx, is set to unveil its latest design collection on the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) and Lagos Fashion Fair (LFF) platform at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos from 7th to 9th September 2022. Each in its 8th edition, the combined AFWN and LFF event represents the largest stage for emerging…
Kenya fashion: The designers giving Nairobi a fashionable name
In our series of letters from African journalists, Ismail Einashe visits two designers offering distinct visions of Kenyan fashion today. It is an overcast afternoon in Kenya’s capital city and two tailors are using sewing machines to join, hem and make beautiful, patterned bags – while on the walls in the workshop hang tote bags…
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF LAGOS FASHION WEEK WITH SOME OF AFRICA’S BEST DESIGNERS
October ended with Lagos Fashion Week (LFW) celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Presented by Heineken, the biannual event that showcases the collections of African designers to the world took place October 27–30 at the Federal Place Hotel in the vibrant city of Lagos, Nigeria. “I am honored to celebrate this 10-year milestone of Lagos Fashion Week and…
Malvern designer set to empower local youth with skills
With 35 years of experience, the Malvern East resident went to Joubert Park College to acquire her qualification in Fashion Designing. Cynthia Hovelmeier, a Malvern East-based fashion designer, shared her knowledge and skills with young people who aspire to be fashion designers. Passionate about sowing and fashion designing from a young age, Cynthia empowers young…
Fashion from the #SAMA28 pink carpet
Read more l Five minutes with South African actress Nozipho Mclean What is an award ceremony without the glitz and glam of the red carpet, or in this case, the pink carpet? For this year’s South African Music Awards, stars came in unconventional and daring looks.DJ Cleo shut the house down by revving onto the pink…
All the South African Music Award winners!
Over two nights on 27 and 28 August, the South African Music Award winners were announced. Among some of the most popular winners was sultry vocalist Nomfundo Moh. She scooped the Best Afro Pop Album award for Amagama which spawned crowd favourites Phakade Lami and Soft Life. Deep house maestro Chymamusique emerged victorious at this…
On the pink side of life..
Feeling shy about wearing pink or not sure how to wear your pinks? Did you know that this dusty rose or dirty pink like some may refer to it symbolises love, affection, tranquillity, and timeless elegance. Like many pinks, dusty rose is often linked to femininity, yet with a more mature tone than a pastel…