Made was started in 2005 with 5 employees and now employs over 100 full time employees in their very own Made workshop, located in Nairobi, Kenya, that is continually expanding to accommodate their growing team. We recently featured Made here on AFG and again mention them as Made are delighted to announce the launch of their inaugural leather collection that will be available on the Made website and in-store with House of Fraser from mid March 2012.

All purses and bags are handmade in Made’s Kenya workshop using 100% genuine leather sourced in Africa and feature an eclectic mix of unique finishes ranging from chain straps and bag charms to whipstitch and kanga lining. The collection comes in chocolate or tan coloured leather with inside bag pockets and credit card purse pockets incorporated throughout. The beautiful oil pull leather softens with age allowing the bags and purses to grow in beauty the more they are used. Effortlessly versatile, these chic designs can be worn with luxury daywear or dressed down for a more casual vibe.

This zip purse is our absolute favourite piece.

All the large leather totes also include a beautiful Kanga drawstring bag that can either be used as a dust bag or as an inner lining inside the bag. Kanga is a brightly coloured and patterned traditional African material. Made work with Kenyan co-operative SOKO to produce all their Kanga bags.Prices range from £32-£220 and are all available from Mid-March 2012 at www.made.uk.com and through House of Fraser stores.

NEW!! SAVANNAH COLLECTION FROM £18

Loza Maléombho is a women’s ready to wear clothing line based in New York and supporting women empowerment, social and economic trades in Cote d’Ivoire. Their designs and development take place in New York employing experienced patternmakers. The patterns and garment samples are then sent to be produced in Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa, by a small group of trained women.

Loza Maléombho is a designer born in Brazil and raised in Cote d’Ivoire and the United States. With work experiences with designers Yigal Azrouel, Cynthia Rowley and Jill Stuart all this adds to her experienced worldwide exposure at a young age which has inspired her artistic expression through Fashion Design.

“I believe fashion is at its’ raw shape when it exudes a true culture’s aesthetic and authentic traditions” says Maléombho.We first came across Loza and her eponymous label through the Ethical Fashion Forum as her design aesthetic in relation to Africa stood out amongst many as well as her desire to create a sustainable business model too.

This season, for Autumn/Winter 2012/2013, Loza makes a focus on tailored jackets and cropped vests with curved heavily piped detailing. Toureg’s were the inspiration for the full skirts and low slung trousers and these are paired with turbans for styling along with backless dresses for added accent. It is a true African journey through the medium of fashion and textiles you will find here. Once again she uses kente fabric which has been hand woven from 100% cotton from the Akan’s tribe in Ghana along with that made by the Baoule’s tribe in Cote d’Ivoire. Along with this Ankara (Wax print poplins) are added to give a culturally eclectic mix.

These are my favourite pieces – beautifully crafted and with a great use of fabric and inspiration. This collection exudes style and originality.

Loza intends on building a successful and visible company that hires local Ivorian women and their talents, and as a result provide fair living wage compensation, employ ethical business working practices and showcase some of Cote d’Ivoire’s artistry with positive and lasting social and economic development. Above all Loza and team intend on setting foot in the fashion industry as a successful sustainable modern label for an intellectual and socially conscious woman. With the recent accolade of ‘Emerging Designer of the Year’ at Arise Magazine Fashion Week 2012 and the promise to show with them at their Made in Africa fashion show during New York Fashion Week in Sept 2012, it is looking very promising from this culturally eclectic brand.

For more information contact info@LozaMaléombho.com

See the website at www.LozaMaléombho.com