Our contributing editor Tina Adomako reviews “Afrika in Mode. Luxus, Handwerk und textiles Erbe”, a new book written by Ghanaian designer Ken Kweku Nimo, in which African fashion designers narrate African fashion history. “African” fashion has found its way into the Western fashion world for over a hundred years. Even when Black people were downgraded as primitive, it was and …
Read More »Germany: Yoruba Community celebrates 10th anniversary
The Association of Yoruba Progressive Community (AYPC) Bayern e.V. is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding. The group’s members are from the Yoruba-speaking areas of Nigeria living in the state of Bavaria and they support each other as well as promote their culture in Germany. Events commemorating the milestone commenced on 1 June in the Bavarian city of Munich …
Read More »Nigerian fashion house opens debut store in Europe
A Nigerian fashion brand, Deji & Kola, has opened its first store in Europe, part of its global expansion drive. Deji & Kola, founded in 2017 by two brothers – Deji and Kola Olabintan, has made its debut in the United Kingdom with the opening of its store in Kent. In a statement released by Kola Olabintan, the creative lead …
Read More »Fashion: Nigerian brand sets standards for Africa
Lagos-based Africana Couture with the opening of its new classy outlet in Abidjan has made a significant statement of intent of taking the lead in the propagation of African fashion on a global scale The merry sound of clinking glasses, hearty laughter and afrobeats music permeated the cool September evening at Rue Marconi Zone 4, a posh business district in …
Read More »AfDB, partners launch new fashion competition for African designers
Fashionomics Africa, an initiative of the African Development Bank, has launched its second online competition, offering $6,000 in cash prizes, mentoring, new branding packages and other support for winning African designers of sustainable and circular fashion. Fashionomics Africa, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, Parsons School of Design, strategic consulting and communications agency BPCM, and the Ellen MacArthur …
Read More »Importance of ‘traditional’ dresses to Africans in diaspora
Clothes are important to us humans in our daily activities as they do far more than covering our nakedness. Clothing and dress as a social activity and obligation show our sex, profession, social status/class, and are symbols of communication, have aesthetic value, indicates one’s nobility, shows one’s ethnic or other identities, protect from the environment etc. We give impressions and …
Read More »Germany-based Ogalady hosts virtual African fashion business show
Creative fashion designers, fashion bloggers, jewellery makers, make-up artists, models, fashion brands and influencers from across the globe will gather virtually at the ‘Fashion Major Event’ on 29 May. The creatives will showcase their designs and discuss the post-Covid world for fashion at the online exhibition-fair-conference themed Your Fashion Sense. The pandemic has changed the way we live, work and …
Read More »Kenyan eco-friendly footwear brand wins sustainable design contest
Pine Kazi, a women-led shoe design house based in Kenya, is the winner of Fashionomics Africa’s sustainable fashion competition. The fashion company, which converts pineapple leaf and recycled rubber into fashionable footwear, wins a $2,000 cash prize, access to media exposure opportunities, and mentorship and networking opportunities from competition collaborators. Fashionomics Africa is an initiative of the African Development Bank, …
Read More »African designers championing sustainable fashion
Across the globe, Africa is putting its spin on the fashion industry. Major fashion markets like Berlin are embracing African fashion, art and culture, and locally, the apparel market is worth USD$31 billion, according to estimates by Euromonitor International. While the African fashion retail industry remains in its infant stages, there has been notable progress in recent years as the industry embraces …
Read More »Maisha – Empowering Female Returnees in Ghana
Maisha Akwaaba Project raises awareness of the dangers and risks of irregular migration through advocacy work of the returnees but also to empower them to be able to build a decent and sustainable livelihood in Ghana
Read More »‘Africa’s Business Heroes’ Competition Announces Top 20 Finalists
The Jack Ma Foundation’s search for Africa’s Business Heroes continues, with the top 20 finalists revealed on 19 August – representing over 50% female candidates, 11 key sectors and 14 countries: the twenty finalists have impressed the judges with their vision and entrepreneurial prowess, and are ready to progress to the semi-finale stage of the competition, for a chance to …
Read More »Berlin Exhibition showcases Fashion, Art and Design from Africa
It was a mammoth crowd, which you would normally expect at a big music concert or sports event, that turned out Friday for the opening of Connecting Afro Futures. Fashion x Hair x Design. The venue was the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) in Berlin. The exhibition, holding from 24 August – 1 December 2019, showcases ‘Fashion, Art, Design, Music, …
Read More »Noel Yengong showcases Africa at Europe’s biggest men’s fashion exhibition
Noel Yengong, aka Manlikeclix, and other African models represented Africa at the 2019 Pitti Uomo, Europe’s biggest men’s fashion exhibition, recently. Pitti Uomo is a 3-day event at which the biggest fashion brands, designers, influencers and partners from all over the globe gather to showcase their new collections and styles. Manlikeclix, who was born in Cameroon and came to …
Read More »Casting Call for Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam 2018
Organisers of the Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam (AFWA) have opened the casting call for the 2018 event, which will be held on 21 January. Casting calls are similar to job interviews. Runway model castings are normally held in a space that allows each model to walk prior to being chosen for a fashion show. It also involves a short interview …
Read More »Africa fashion designers change marketing strategies in the face of economic crisis
Designers in Africa have seen their business suffer as a result of the economic crisis which has hit the continent. Many in different countries want to make fashion count as a burgeoning investment market and are looking at agencies to help them achieve their goal, as in Angola. “It’s time for those in the government to try and revive the …
Read More »Images from Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam 2016
The fashion industry event, Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam (AFWA), took place on 25-27 August at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. Emerging fashion designers from 24 countries took part in the three-day event, celebrating African and African-inspired fashion, art and cultural heritage. AFWA is an event for designers and brands to showcase upcoming collections to press, media, stylists, buyers, fashion …
Read More »Africa Fashion Week holds in Amsterdam
This year’s Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam (AFWA) takes place from 25 to 27 August at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. Emerging fashion designers from 24 countries will take part in the three-day event, celebrating African and African-inspired fashion, art and cultural heritage. AFWA 2016 kicks off with a press conference on 24 August, providing an opportunity for the media …
Read More »Festivals: African music, dance, fashion and more across Germany
From May to September, African festivals take place across Germany. From the southwestern city of Emmendingen (near Freiburg) to the federal capital and cultural metropolis of Berlin, events celebrating African music, arts and culture are being held. About 80,000 visitors made this year’s Africa Festival, which took place on 26-29 May in the Bavarian town of Würzburg, one of the …
Read More »Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam 2016 – Register Now!
This year’s Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam (AFWA) will take place from 25 to 27 August at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, organisers have announced. Emerging fashion designers from 24 countries will take part in the three-day event celebrating African and African-inspired fashion, art and cultural heritage. AFWA 2016 kicks off with a press conference on 24 August, providing an …
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