5 COMPELLING REASONS TO ATTEND FASHION WEEK.

Fashion

Moyo

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October 16, 2022

5 COMPELLING REASONS TO ATTEND FASHION WEEK.

Fashion week sets the trend for the next season and allows us to know what to expect in stores and gives an idea of how people will interpret it. It’s fashion month in Africa and as the fashion industry gets together to put on an amazing show for us, here are some reasons why you should attend:

ESCAPISM

Fashion shows are a work of art hence, the popular saying ‘’Fashion is Art’’. A lot of people use fashion as a form of escapism or fantasy. Attending one will allow you to connect to the designer’s world who, most times tries to review present happenings or play with your imagination to envision the future. Other times the designer takes you back in time and tries to connect the past, present, and future in a captivating manner. In this escapism, the brain is thrilled and relieves every moment in a matter of minutes with the feeling of attainability.

The Andrea Iyamah Spring-Summer ’22 Collection seeks to embrace the journey to a triumph.

FASHION WEEK — The 1970s collection by Banke Kuku- Bellanaija

NETWORKING

You’ll definitely meet interesting people when attending a fashion show no matter what position you are in the industry whether you have a career in fashion or you’re a fashion consumer. Networking when done effectively will add to your network base and can give room for collaboration or give more insight into the fashion industry. It increases your customer base, helps with the exchange of ideas, builds strong relationships, helps propel careers, increases sales due to more exposure, etc.

HANGOUT

Fashion week is another event you’ll want to attend and try asides from the regular events you are used to. If you haven’t attended one, it will be nice to give it a try as research done on first-timers at fashion week shows that they are fascinated by it and fall in love with it right away.

FASHION TRENDS

Attending fashion week keeps you abreast with the latest trends in the fashion industry, technology, manufacturing, textiles, fashion consumption, etc. Even if you aren’t in the fashion industry it’ll give you different ideas on how to update your wardrobe.

SUPPORT

Most people have brands they adore or are directly connected to through designers, fashion houses, or collaboration. Attending their event at the fashion week gives them much-needed support and helps them know you admire and appreciate their work and that they are satisfying your fashion needs.

Whether you are a regular at fashion shows or you plan on attending for the first time, what do you think are the benefits of attending fashion week, and which one will you be attending?

AAKS- EXQUISITE ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE RAFFIA HANDBAGS

Moyo

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October 9, 2022

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AAKS- EXQUISITE ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE RAFFIA HANDBAGS

The AAKS brand is one of great craftsmanship and beauty, owning one or more of its handbags makes you feel like you were a part of the design and production process. This can be seen in the perfect combination of; an old Ghanaian weaving technique that is done by women in Ghana, use of raffia, behind the scene process, interplay of bright African colors, unconventional style, smooth texture, ethical production, and the promotion of sustainable consumption.

AAKS

AAKS which is located in Ghana, West Africa, was founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi in 2014. It is a luxury brand that seeks to preserve a particular art of weaving synonymous with the Northern part of Ghana. AAKS’s success can be linked to the identification of a gap in the market by Akosua for colorful handcrafted raffia bags combined with its ethical and sustainable production. The brand takes us through the production process of how the raffia is sourced and dyed and the ancient skillful technique known only by the local artisan into different contemporary shapes, completed with linen lining and some leather details.

Each bag produced is unique and can take up to two weeks to produce. AAKS has done so many collaborations which includes a recent collaboration with J.CREW, were each bag has the weaver’s name on the swing tag. In addition to its luxurious handbags, AAKS produces beautiful raffia woven lamps holders an initiative that is done with refugees in Burkina Faso which provides a noble and impartial job for them. It also produces multifunctional baskets with the same aesthetic as the handbags.

AKOSUA AFRIYIE-KUMI- AAKS FOUNDER

Akosua Afriyie-Kumi the brain behind AAKS, graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fashion from Kingston University London. From her early childhood, she had a passion for art which her parents identified and encouraged her to study even though arts as a profession was not appreciated. She has interned and worked with a lot of brands such as William Tempest, Peter Pilotto, and Mathew Williamson.

The building of AAKS wasn’t straightforward as she didn’t want to spend a lot of time looking for a job after graduation and foreigners had to work more to get recognized in London. Her mum on a short visit advised her to move back to Ghana to realize her dream of exploring art and design to make luxurious products with the sourcing of products, and local skills she had always loved as a child while growing up in Ghana.

She traveled far and wide in Ghana before discovering a group of artisans whom she envisioned could bring her design ideas to life. There was a language barrier between them and their art was dying because people at that time didn’t place much value on the art of weaving. She started with three women and the number has grown since inception due to the impact of their craft in the World.

She has received several awards and recognition for the job she is doing. She was an Honoree at the Reconnect Ghana Spotlight in 2014, one of the three finalists of Vogue Italia Scouting for Africa in 2015, an Honoree at the Future Awards Fashion and Design Prize Ghana in 2018 and in 2019 she was a nominee at the Fashions Finest Africa, Bag designer of the Year. The AAKS brand has been featured in CNN, Elle, Business of Fashion, Africa Forbes woman, Harper Bazaar, Fashion Revolution, The Times, etc. AAKS has been able to revive a generational skill that was declining and also satisfy its consumers with its beautiful, ethical and sustainable raffia products.

AAKS is stocked in major stores worldwide and online.

Shop at: https://www.aaksonline.com/

4 EFFECTIVE NETWORKING TIPS FOR FASHION WEEK

Fashion

Moyo

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October 2, 2022

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4 EFFECTIVE NETWORKING TIPS FOR FASHION WEEK

NETWORKING FOR FASHION WEEK

As we approach some of the major fashion weeks on the African continent and all stakeholders prepare for it one very sure thing behind everyone’s mind is how to make the most of the event by networking properly.

There are so many opinions on networking and how to go about it. Up until now, very few people know the importance of networking and some people are still in the dark about its value. Having tried networking myself, professionally here are some insights on how to go about it.

WHAT IS NETWORKING?

Networking is a way of meeting new people with similar interests and staying connected to them afterward for the exchange of information or ideas and most times some new acquaintances grow to become lifelong friends.

Networking is all about self-mastery which is learned over time. Meeting new people can be a bit uneasy for people who are new to it. A million and one thought flashes through your mind before making that first move, it could be that everyone there knows they’re all there to network and you don’t know how to start. Here are some basic steps to help you network like a Pro.

PUT DOWN YOUR GOALS

networking goals — Set Goals for the Event

Make a goal to attend the event, and plan your logistics around the event putting your budget into consideration. Have a goal in mind of the kind to people you want to connect with but do not discard some others you may meet, make it a specific and realistic number of people.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Research the show and know what you can about it, the guests that have attended before and will be attending now, brands that will be showcasing their products, models, stockist, media houses, blogs, etc. This will give you some confidence when approaching people and knowing what angle to speak to them from. Depending on what you are there for you can decide to volunteer backstage or work with some organizations that will be working there and build up from there.

PRESENT YOURSELF

In presenting yourself, you want to be remembered after the event. Prepare and practice an elevator speech, keep it short, and simple to understand, and remember to make it unique. When connecting with someone it shouldn’t be all about you, give them space to talk about themselves. Listen to them, show interest in their craft or product, avoid awkward silence, and keep the conversation going.

Don’t stick to a person or a particular group of people, socialize and mingle keeping in mind the goal and target number of people you want to meet. Pick stylish outfits that you feel most comfortable in this will help you move around comfortably and confidently. Put a smile on that face. Use your strength to your advantage.

FOLLOW UP

After the event follow up immediately with a call or on social media and know what platform they are most active on. Following up later than a day or two may get you forgotten. Try to genuinely get involved with what they do but don’t overcrowd their space. Make important contributions on their social pages and when referring people or products to them do your due diligence so that it doesn’t leave a sour or bad experience with them.

Most importantly show up for fashion week, meet people, follow your instinct, don’t overthink anything, and enjoy the show.

Here’s a short video on how to network.

Effective Networking tips- How to make a connection

NUBIAN SKIN- NUDE HOSIERY AND LINGERIE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR

Fashion

Moyo

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September 25, 2022

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NUBIAN SKIN- NUDE HOSIERY AND LINGERIE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR

Every woman loves a pair of undergarments that matches her skin tone perfectly with great comfort and sexiness. This was the very thing Ade Hassan was looking for when she was shopping for hosiery and lingerie. Ade found a void in the market for women of color in a limited range of skin-tone hosiery and lingerie choices.

Hosiery and Lingerie — Ade Hassan, Founder of Nubian Skin- Harper’s Bazaar

Trying to fill this void in the market and inspired by her entrepreneurial parents and groundbreaking fashion mogul women, Eunice W. Johnson and supermodel Iman, creators of Fashion Fair and Iman cosmetics, led Hassan to found Nubian skin in October 2014 in London, United Kingdom. Upon inception, the first pictures from the launch went viral on social media which reaffirmed her notion and filled in the gap in the market.

Nubian Skin’s goal is to offer a different kind of nude and it started with a carefully selected collection of hosiery and lingerie to satisfy the needs of women of color. The collection featured four different range of colors berry, cinnamon, caramel, and café au lait. The hosiery and lingerie are made from stretch tulle that feels soft, lays flat, and is lightweight on bare skin. It caters to all sizes for women and also has nude undergarments for men.

Celebrities Kerry Washington, Thandie Newton, and Beverly Knight tweeted about the products. Also, Beyonce and her dancers wore the Nubian Skin undergarment for her 2016-2017 Formation World Tour. Hassan also mentioned in her interview with the LA times that her brand also caters to other ethnicities. Nubian Skin also got featured in Forbes magazine.

Three years after the Launch of Nubian Skin in March 2017, it added a selection of shoes to its hosiery and lingerie line. The shoes come in the same nude shades as the undergarment with an additional color- Champagne. It comes in two styles- a classic 3.5-inch (85mm) pointed stiletto with a soft upper leather upper and a lining with a synthetic sole. The other, ballet flats are made from butter-soft leather (upper) and lined with canvas, with cute bow detail on it.

Hassan’s work has been acknowledged by winning the Great British Entrepreneur Award for fashion in 2015 and receiving an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to fashion by Prince William on October 31, 2017, at the Buckingham Palace, London. The brand is now stocked in leading stores online and offline worldwide.

Ade Hassan after receiving her MBE at Buckingham Palace

Ade Hassan’s inspiring Ted talk – The reality of reaching your goal

To shop the Nubian Skin products visit https://www.nubianskin.com/

Andrea Iyamah x Revolve at New York Fashion Week 2022

Moyo

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September 18, 2022

2

Andrea Iyamah x Revolve at New York Fashion Week 2022

This year’s New York fashion week (NYFW) featured one of our favorite fashion and principal resort wear brand from Africa; Andrea Iyamah (A.I) in collaboration with Revolve gallery. The A.I brand is famously known for its unconventional swimwear designs, with an exquisite and versatile take on its bridal and ready-to-wear lines.

The brand serves females worldwide who are fearless, confident, and adventurous with wearing statement pieces. From its inception in 2011, the A.I brand has continued to expand by satisfying its customers, serving creativity, and doing great business collaborations. For this year, one of its collaborations is with the Revolve gallery at the NYFW.

The revolve gallery returned to the NYFW this year for its second installment with a huge variety of brands. The Revolve group from Los Angeles popularly known for being the fashion retailer for Millennials and Gen Z consumers launched its first installment in 2021.

This year’s event was a four-day gallery experience that launched on September 8 and was strictly by invitation. The rest of the experience was opened to the public from 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm daily on September 9,10 and 11. This was done to provide a platform to aid emerging designers while satisfying their customers and staying true to their business model.

The Andrea Iyamah and revolve collaboration allows A.I to reach out to new customers with Revolves platform which has an extensive community of millions of consumers and thousands of global fashion influencers. It allows A.I create more options for its consumers and satisfy their needs through celebrating ethnicity with a modern twist while keeping its standards on quality, details and making figure-flattering silhouettes. This collaboration also helps Revolve expand its business and reach a wider variety of Millennials and Gen Z who can relate with the A.I brand. Holistically, it’s a win-win for both brands.

Andrea Iyamah at the new York Fashion show 2022

A.I dresses are on sale on on Revolve.

A.I Gallery at the 2022 New York Fahion Show

Wattkaf

IMPORTANT AFRICAN FASHION EVENTS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

Moyo

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September 11, 2022

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IMPORTANT AFRICAN FASHION EVENTS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

There is so much anticipation for various African fashion weeks which will hold from October to November 2022. Here’s a list of some you should save the dates not to miss.

AFRICA FASHION WEEK LONDON (AFWL)

Africa fashion week was founded by Ronke Ademiluyi in 2011 and it is the biggest fashion week aiding the growth of African fashion in London. AFWL aims at featuring emerging African designers and the apparel industry also putting a spotlight on the rapidly increasing African fashion industry. This year’s event will hold between the 7^th & 8^th of October, 2022. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

AFRICA FASHION WEEK LONDON | 9th OCTOBER 2021 | HYBRID SHOW – Arican Fashion Week London

HUB OF AFRICA FASHION WEEK (HAFW)

Founded in 2010 by Linda Murithi and Mahlet Teklemariam for the purpose of giving the vast talents in Africa international visibility and connecting the different sectors in the fashion industry. This annual event is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This year’s event will hold from the 19th to 23rd of October 2022. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Hub of africa 2022 fashion week – Amanuel Asrat

SOUTH AFRICAN FASHION WEEK

South African Fashion week which holds yearly in Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa was established in 1996 by Lucilla Booyzen. SA fashion week is the only business-to-business fashion platform in the country. It is seen as a major player in the growth and development of the fashion industry in South Africa. This year’s event will hold from the 20^th – 22^nd of October 2022. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

HELON MELON | SPRING-SUMMER 2022 | SOUTH AFRICAN FASHION WEEK – World Fashion Channel

GLITZ AFRICA FASHION WEEK

Glitz Africa fashion week is one of the top fashion weeks in Accra, Ghana. Founded in 2012 by Glitz Style Award and Glitz Africa Magazine founder to nurture and grow emerging designers and create a platform for the African fashion industry. This year’s event is to hold from the 21^st-23^rd of October 2022. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Glitz Fashion Week 2020 – Visit Ghana

LAGOS FASHION WEEK (LFW)

Lagos fashion week was established in 2011 by Omoyemi Akerele and produced by style house files. LFW hosts one of the leading fashion events on the African continent. It is an annual event that is always held in Lagos the commercial capital of Nigeria. It drives the Nigerian and African fashion industry by bringing together all stakeholders involved in the fashion scene from designers, buyers, consumers, and media houses to a four-day event where they all interact.

LFW has various programs that provide support to the fashion industry and its mission is based on five pillars of support. They are; Creativity, Entrepreneurship, Retail, Connecting the dots, and craftsmanship. This year’s event is scheduled for the 26^th-29^th of October. To learn more, CLICK HERE. Follow on instagram @STYLEHOUSEFILES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsgyF1PBtjY

Lagos Fashion Week Complete Video 2021 – African Fashion TV

MTC WINDHOEK FASHION WEEK (WFW)

Windhoek fashion week was founded in 2015 by Kalistu Mukoroli and Luis Munana in Namibia. This event seeks to connect various stakeholders in the fashion industry and support fashion creatives. This year’s event will hold from the 1^st-5^th November 2022. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Concept Runway Collection at MTC Windhoek Fashion Week – MTC Windhoek Fashion Week

MTC Windhoek Fashion Week Models – MTC Windhoek Fashion Week

HISTORY OF AFRICAN FASHION

Moyo

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September 4, 2022

2

Fashion has come a long way from how people in time past covered their nakedness, and kept their bodies warm. Rather, it has evolved into a form of art, creativity, self-expression, and innovation by fashion designers and consumers taking into consideration the whole physical appearance from hair, apparel, footwear, perfumes, accessories, makeup, bags, lifestyle, etc. It is now a multi-million-dollar industry serving various career categories and leading to new careers.

The African fashion scene has also come a long way from what it used to be in its early days when people adorned their bodies with certain apparel and balanced it with a stylish look, making a fashion statement and evolving into what is now a focus from all over the world. The only method of documentation of clothing at the time of old was those passed on by word of mouth.

In this day and age of modernization and globalization, the diversity of culture in the continent gives its fashion depth with a rich and colorful appearance.

THE FORERUNNERS OF AFRICAN FASHION

African fashion has been greatly influenced by colonization and presently globalization. Here are some Africans who paved the way in the fashion industry and remain a source of inspiration to so many.

Shade Thomas-Fahm

Nigeria Fahion Pioneer — Folashade “Shade” Thomas-Fahm in the 1970s. Credit: Shade Thomas-Fahm/Courtesy of The Victoria and Albert Museum

Nigeria Fashion Pioneer — Designer Spotlight: Do you know Shade Thomas-Fahm is Nigeria’s Fashion Pioneer? – African Vibes

Shade Thomas-Fahm born on the 22^nd of September 1933 was one of Nigeria’s modern fashion designers. Her love for fashion started at the early age of twelve when she would pick pieces of cloth from her neighbors tailoring stores to make baby dresses. She moved to London with the intention of studying nursing but followed her passion for fashion and modeling where she earned a degree in fashion from St. Martins College of Art & Design.

Victoria an Albert Museum

Chris Seydou

African Fashion Pioneer — **Chris Seydou** – Pinterest

Seydou was born in Kati Mali’s Koulikoro Region and spent part of his infancy in Ouagadougou before returning to Kati with his mother in 1963. His passion for fashion started when he began designing and creating clothing for dolls as a child. In 1965 he became an apprentice of Cheickene Camara a tailor at Kati and then returned to Ouagadougou to establish his first tailor shop.

Afrique étoile – Défilé de Mode Africain: NKG TV Africa

WattKaffFashion Blog

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5 COMPELLING REASONS TO ATTEND FASHION WEEK.

ESCAPISM

NETWORKING

HANGOUT

FASHION TRENDS

SUPPORT

AAKS- EXQUISITE ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE RAFFIA HANDBAGS

AAKS

AKOSUA AFRIYIE-KUMI- AAKS FOUNDER

4 EFFECTIVE NETWORKING TIPS FOR FASHION WEEK

NETWORKING FOR FASHION WEEK

WHAT IS NETWORKING?

PUT DOWN YOUR GOALS

DO YOUR RESEARCH

PRESENT YOURSELF

FOLLOW UP

NUBIAN SKIN- NUDE HOSIERY AND LINGERIE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR

HISTORY OF AFRICAN FASHION

THE FORERUNNERS OF AFRICAN FASHION

Shade Thomas-Fahm

Chris Seydou

See also: Africa Fashion International Launches The FASTRACK 2025 Competition

Kofi Ansah

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