THE LIFESTYLE SPREAD: African fashion

INTRODUCING ILLUDED: AFRICA'S FIRST STREET STYLE PHOTO SHARING COMMUNITY

Illuzion is a Pan-African Independent Digital Magazine that definitively delivers a rejuvenated perspective on African Fashion inspired by African Art and Pop Culture through the most visually stunning, Avant Garde editorials and exclusive content, aimed at a specialist and general audience.

Illuzion magazine has introduced Illuded, a Pan-African street style photo sharing community created by digital high fashion magazine:ILLUZION.
Illuded allows users to upload images that are immediately uploaded on the community's general homepage making it visible to all Illuded users and none users. Only registered users can however; like, dislike, comment and share images across twitter, facebook and google+.Illuded seeks to create a community where stylish Africans can snap, share, connect, inspire and be inspired by like minds, with photo categories including; Selfie, Ankara, Chic, Bohemian, Casual, Grunge and Artistic

Illuzion Features:

Illuded+ a street style photo sharing community where users and creatives share their personal style images.
Shop Illuzion an e-commerce shop featuring curated pieces from each monthly issue as seen in the magazine by our team of fashion experts. Readers can buy items at a 15% lower than the retail price.
The Magazine a monthly free publication featuring avant-garde portrayal of African Fashion, articles, celebrity features and covers, reviews from industry experts.
Celebrity Diary a weekly journal penned by leading African celebrities and fashion creatives, chronicling their most private thoughts exclusively for our readers.

To join in the trend go to http://illuzionmagazine.com/ and follow the easy steps. Get Illuded!!

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, by Olav Arthur

100 DAYS OF AFRICAN FASHION

SNEAK PEAK - DIANA OPOTI'S DRESSING ROOM

Diana Opoti and I having some wine and fun while taking pictures in front of her "NYC" fabric feature wall by an artist who's name I forgot…..

So you all know Diana Opoti has been running a fashion campaign, 100DaysOfAfrican fashion (I posted about it here )

I know she has been working on a dressing room for all the clothes and I asked her if I could have a look. So The room is half done (there are unpacked boxes of artifacts Diana has been collecting as well as custom storage and display shelves she is still expecting )

Here are some shots of the room

In her dressing room...Diana Opoti curates more than apparel.

"I see traditional wooden carvings as a great way to curate how society has evolved in the way we dress. Take for instance the wooden carved soldier who represents how colonial guards (Askari Kanga) dressed in the "kaptula" (shorts) and the shirt with box pockets.
This look would later inspire safari apparel

Notice the cute box clutch from designer Doreen Mashika .

Diana also has quite a collection of African Fashion literature and coffee table books - placed in different parts of her house. This one in particular is on African textiles.

The large basket at the corner is made by a Turkana cooperative and has a lampshade made from a guard /calabash

The bench in the room is a collectors item, inspired by a "Swahili Dhow" and made from old dhow wood.

This life size mannequin is so "real" Diana says it was a gift from the designers of the fashion label "Mille Collines" who are also her Fashion PR clients…notice the black linen Kaftan embroidered in gold thread from Ghana...

..The mannequin called "Goldie" has a Vlisco limited edition silk scarf wrapped around her head and is wearing a jacket in African textile from designer, Anne McCreath of Kikoromeo (Kenya)

The room, like I mentioned is still a "work in progress space". Diana is working with local artisans to create custom shelving and display shelves. A cow hide skin carpets the center of the floor

Collector items galore in this room. I love the tall, skinny wooden men from Cameroon. It's funny how traditional artisans described the man under western influence in the colonial era. Man in blue depicts a doctor (notice his stethoscope) and the one in a red jacket carries a briefcase which likely makes him a teacher or a business man.

These cast iron sculptures also describe another period in Africa. This ones are from Benin and also represent a King and a musician because of the way they are dressed.

...and the wooden afro comb ..

That's all folks. Can't wait for her to complete the rest of the room.

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, by Olav Arthur

Africa

TANZANIAN BORN DESIGNER ANNA LUKINDO S/S14 COLLECTION.

The Tanzanian born, London based designer behind the Anna Luks label, Anna Lukindo is known for her unique use of zips, ropes, cords and yarns to create exquisite pieces.

Working with organic fabrics, Anna Lukindo’s signature styles create natural, flowing garments that explore femininity and modernity, with an Anna Luks twist.
The Spring/summer 2014 collection features bold colour palettes, prints, dyed and manipulated fabrics which are from her African background and roots. This has been a growing focal point of her work through the years.

According to Anna Luks, “I am totally devoted in creating, I have this insatiable hunger for style and it translates in my work. My inspiration can come from anywhere be it art, architecture, nature or our human differences and my life’s work is to translate this inspiration into wearable fashion.”
What do you think of the collection.
For more information please visit:
Website: www.annaluks.com
Facebook: Anna Luks
E-mail: info@annaluks.com
Phone No: +442083652824
Photo Credit : www.annaluks.com |Fab magazine

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, by Olav Arthur

African fashion

MY INTERVIEW WITH DIANA OPOTI-HOST OF DESIGNING AFRICA.

Diana Opoti has become a great influence in the fashion industry across Africa and the World with her great show called Designing Africa with Diana Opoti. She has given designers the voice to be able to express themselves in terms of the challenges they are facing but also helping them be able to showcase there collections which gives them a broader recognition. I was able to have an interview with her and this is what she was able to say.

1:To introduce yourself what are your full names

DIANA OPOTI – short and sweet.

2: Where is your ethnicity – KENYAN

3: Where are you situated at now – I LIVE IN NAIROBI

4: When did you enter into the world of Fashion and Media

ENTERED MEDIA IN 2008 – First as host for Africa Rising on Africa Magic Plus, later as co-host on ZindukaSasa on Citizien TV and then went behind the screen as a senior content producer for MNET’s Patricia Show and more recently as series producer for Mashariki Mix on Africa Magic Entertainment.

As I have always worked in lifestyle tv content development, I have covered fashion stories since 2009 but only started to specialize in this genre exclusively in 2012 when I conceptualized Designing Africa with Diana Opoti

5: What's your favorite thing about being the host of Designing Africa? I have made so many friends on the continent. I get to have soulful conversations with some amazing people in the fashion industry on the continent, that as well as the opportunity to travel across the continent and attend amazing fashion events. I also have access to great African fashion apparel that isn’t available in Kenya.

6: What do you regard as the most important asset in your work

I was gifted with networking, that, coupled with Research, a genuine interest in what other people have to say have made producing this show so much more fulfilling, respecting other professionals

7: What is your bitter sweet moment - none that I remember but I regretted not being more aggressive about getting an interview once and didn’t sleep for days thinking about how much more I could have pushed

8: What can't you live without and why? Enthusiasm, keeps me going event after event.

9: What Inspired you to start your show Designing Africa with Diana Opoti?

The conversation about African Fashion has been going on for a while, but the industry wasn’t growing as a business in most parts of Africa. I felt that designers were challenged financially as they didn’t have the marketing advantage most international brands had – the show profiles these designers with the aim to promote them outside their countries. I imagine that if we grow fashion brand names on the continent, Africans will proudly seek these brands and wear them.

10: In regards to your work what do you specify on to give it 100%

Research and keeping relationships. By the time I sit down with a designer I must have been in communication with them for at least three months and have followed their brands growth.

11: Who do you work with to make your work a success. Aside from my production team, the success of designing Africa is largely because of some amazing professionals in the fashion industry across the continent. Event owners such as Omoyemi Akerele (GT Bank Lagos Fashion And Design Week), Dr. Precious Moloi- Motsepe (AFI) Ann McCreath (FAFA) Beatrace Oola (Africa FashionDay Berlin) Mustafa Hssanali (Swahili Fashion Week) Shamim of Tribal Chic among others and their PR teams have opened access to designers. Other fashion professionals have played a big part; photographers like Simon Deiner (SA) Fashion PR friends such as Robyn Cooke and Kyle Boshoff, Vista Kalipa, Hannelize Robinson, stylists like Dimeji Alara (Lagos) show producers like Jan Malan and so many other people have been with me through this journey – allowing access and making introductions and I will forever be grateful to all of them.

12: Whats your take on Kenyan fashion and Retailing?

What Kenya has in creativity, it lacks in business acumen/ fashion business. This sounds really harsh and perhaps the environment doesn’t always favour new and emerging designers. New online retailers like Ichyulu and Chico Leco are a step in the direction of distribution but they are not enough to support the numbers of designers in the country. The Tribe Pop-Up shop has been a great driver for more consistent retail spaces and admittedly fairs and events such as Biz Buzz and Nairobi Fashion Market, Kitenge Festival have played a big role in connecting designers and consumers. This as well as magazines with a fashion focus like Couture Magazine.

I would love to see designers teaming up to create concession stores as well as boutiques selling more local designers at far more affordable prices.

13: Is Africa on the right track on building up the Fashion industry to be as big as the ones in other European countries?

In as far as fashion goes – countries should be looked at in isolation. Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa’s fashion industries are so different so I will give my views on Kenya and how it can borrow a leaf from the other countries mentioned.

First we must make clothes then compete to be fashionable. What happened to manufacturing apparel? Fashion designers should strive to create a business and catwalks in my opinion to show ready-to –wear avant garde/couture, as we know it only serves stylists in this country.

I’d say Fashion weeks in Kenya have been our biggest downfall. We have run ahead of ourselves to compete at an international level yet our designers barely have a presence beyond celebrity status. Where are the clothes?

There are too many platforms and few serious players. The fashion industry is more than models, fashion events and designers. Perhaps we can start to properly formalize different sectors and grow them to their succession. One fashion week per country with many local events and a bigger one or two for the continent.

14: What should we expect from Diana Opoti in the future?

I will be addressing the issues of the fashion business. There are plans in the making but for now expect more amazing content from designers across the African continent.

15: How can people reach you through the social media or email

@dianaopoti on twitter and Diana Opoti on facebook

email: diana.opoti@artemismedia.tv

16 Apart from being a great influence in the fashion industry in Africa what other creative stuff are you into

I am working on a novel… that’s a passion I put aside to pursue a professional career but I now feel it’s something I must continue to do.

17: If you had one super power what would it be and why

That’s easy – teleportation. Imagine no long flights and hours wasted sitting in airports. #Sigh

18: If you could change one thing in the world what would it be and why

Isn’t it obvious? New colonialism and how our African governments are serving up pieces of land and business spaces in exchange for money in the name of “development” projects.

THANKS FOR VISITING :)

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, by Olav Arthur

2013

HOW MENSWEAR BECAME THE HIGHLIGHT AT MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK CAPETOWN 2013

South African menswear remains quite small in comparison to womenswear. With David Tlale’s showcase of a full menswear collection for the first time this past weekend at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Cape Town I can honestly say menswear was the highlight of the event. Not a soul was left questioning Tlale’s beautiful execution of what I unreservedly thought was a triumphant display of menswear I am so desperate to get my hands on.

A lot can be said is inspired from streetwear as the silhouettes are full of creativity and edgyness that we all love. David Tlale can identify himself with his brand as he always brings 100% to the table each and everytime.

SEE MORE OF DAVID TLALE SHOWCASE COLLECTION BELOW.