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Thursday, February 15, 2007

Ladybrille African Fashion News # 5

Iwice a year, the national and global fashion industry converge in Las Vegas for the Magic Show. As the name implies, it is magical as it is the biggest and probably the most influential forum to do and learn about the business of fashion. Manufacturers, designers, retailers, public relations companies, media, celebrities and basically the "who is who" of the industry all in one spot, one week long. Amazing. One of the main highlights of the Magic show are the various seminars they put on. This year, I am glad to see they have the event above, "Africa Sourcing and Opportunities." If you happen to be at the show, be sure to check it out. A brief description of the event follows: "Africa represents new opportunities for sourcing directors in light of the various free trade agreements currently in place and allowing for duty and quota free access. The continent also represents challenges to those who source in the region. Join our panel of experts and discover the possibilities."
Enjoy the collection of Africa/Africa related news for this week and have a brilliant day!
  1. Bain makes $3.5B buyout offer for South African fashion retailer ...

  2. New York Fashion Week, Fall 2007: Designers for Darfur

  3. Proceeds from Caribbean Fashion Week to Fight Against Child Hunger

  4. Africa: The Misrepresentation of the Continent








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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

I love Africa, "We are the World"

Happy Valentine's. I hope it's an absolute love filled day for you. Since we are in a love fest, I could not help but think how trendy Africa has been these few years. From Bono [ who has been at it for aeons] to Madonna to "Designers for Darfur," everyone wants to make a change in Africa. It is still along the lines of AIDS, War and Poverty. But, there is no denying the love fest with Africa right about now. Africa's Fashion Industry should probably tap into this love fest before it dies. Remember the USA Africa Campaign with the classic "We Are the World"?If you forgot, check out the throwback video and then check out some Hollywood celebs and their connection or creation of an Africa trend.

WE ARE THE WORLD


DESIGNERS FOR DAFUR: Hollywood celebs like George Clooney and fashion designers like Heatherette, Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen and more joined hands in raising monies, through fashion, for Darfur.



I AM AFRICAN CAMPAIGN: Iman and her husband, David Bowie, is instrumental in pushing this campaign to raise money for awareness about treatment for AIDS in Africa.
BLOOD DIAMONDS-- Movie creating awareness of conflict diamonds in places like Sieria Leone. Lead Actor Djimon Hounsou at a United Nations conference regarding diamonds.
ANGELINA JOLIE: Jolie has been at the forefront of helping Africa; long before most of Hollywood and even African celebrities thought it was cool to do so.
BEYONCE KNOWLES: dazzled Nigerians worldwide. on October 1st, 2006 with her appearance in Nigeria performing the Country's National Anthem. She is also involved in charity causes benefiting Africa including Russell Simmons' Green Project.
MADONNA: Although her motive has been highly questionable by the public, she put Africa on everyone's lips with her recent adoption of an African boy.
OPRAH: "Mama Oprah" as she is fondly called by South Africa's youths put Africa on the map in a very stylish way. Her new school in South Africa for girls is absolutely brilliant and is the envy of Africans and non-Africans alike.
JAY-Z : His trip to Tanzania for a charity cause garnered so much attention. It was even aired on MTV. Supposedly, his campaign has now gone Kaput. But who knows with these rumors. The point is, he also got bitten with what I call the "I love Africa" bug.

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Monday, February 12, 2007

Celebrating Black Style Now

{Photocredit Lester Cohen/WireImage}
I could not help but notice the beautiful styles worn by all, especially Black Hollywood, at the recently completed Grammy Award Show. Mary J. Blige, for example, glowed in one of many outfits she wore during the night. I particularly loved her in the Michael Kors plunging neck line beaded dress, in platinum color. I also liked the clean simple cut of Beyonce's sequined see through gown; in which she performed her hit song "Listen". Ciara, Ludacris, TI were also samples of black celebrities that dazzled with their sense of fashion style.
The Grammys got me appreciating Black style. Last year, during NY Fashion Week , Spring 2007, I was invited and attended an event called "Black Style Now" hosted by Essence and Diddy. The goal was to showcase and pay respect to the contributions of Black Americans to the American Fashion Industry. Today, it seems only fitting to revisit the event through the video below. To me, the similarities of black fashion and the African fashions are pretty obvious. Prior to the 90s, so called "Black Style" was laughable at best by the mainstream fashion industry and considered "ghetto" or "gangster." Then, something changed. 1992 was the year that Russell Simmons launched Phat Farm and John Dammond launched FUBU [For Us By Us] clothing lines. Young black teenagers, who the industry later discovered had spending power, caught on to it. Shortly after, Black Hollywood began using their celebrity power to also diversify their enterprises into clothing brands. Before you know it, brands like Sean John, Roca Wear, Baby Phat, Phat Farm, Enycee, House of Dereon became the norm. Indeed, no one in mainstream American Fashion industry, except maybe Tommy Hilfiger, imagined hip-hop would be HUGE. The desire for "gangster" clothing expanded to white surburban teenagers and was explosive. Cash registers in retail stores across the nation kept ringing and continue to. Today, "Black Style" is a global phenomenon. It is my hope Ladybrille serves as an instrumental platform towards a "Africa Style Now."
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Sunday, February 11, 2007

Designers for Darfur

New York Fashion Week Fall 2007 is finally over. Two observations stand out which are the eco-friendly and charity themes. ECO-FRIENDLY/GREEN TREND: Green, eco-friendly fashions seem to be the theme for Fall 2007. Designers and the fashion industry as a whole seemed quite conscientious of creating, making and designing clothes that are environmentally friendly. Hooray! Although, the concept of corporate responsibility has been around for a while. It's great to see the industry pushing it very aggressively this season. Let's see if it recurs next season.

DESIGNERS FOR DARFUR: Spearheaded by Malcolm Harris of Mal Sirrah, Inc., all kinds of designers collaborated for a charitable fashion show with monies raised to benefit Sudan and specifically the Dafur region. Great! These days, it seems everyone wants to do something for Africa, America's Fashion Industry is no exception. Nevertheless, as to the Africa trend,it is always a delicate balance when it comes to doing things that are helpful to Africa. Africa does need help, although that is debatable depending on who you ask. However,in giving help, we must be careful how we brand Africa's image in the minds of fellow fashion lovers, America and the world. Fashion should be used in a positive light, not to stigmatize Africa. Seemingly innocent and helpful charitable causes like "Designers for Dafur" is great to help Africa BUT such campaigns should be balanced with high end fashion shows by African designers, with a platform in North America and Europe, that focuses on designs that do not necessarily promote saving dying/starving/AIDS ridden Africa. Below is a brief documentary on what the Darfur issue is all about. Hats off to Malcolm for his passion and pushing this charitable cause.
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