Nigerian/Jamaican designer Duro Olowu has been busy. Since wooing fashion royalty with his “stunning fluid dresses”, and winning the 2005 New Designer of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards, he has continued to take his Africa-influenced designs mainstream. Now comes news of a new Duro Olowu boutique in the ultra fashionable Dover Street Market, owned by Commes des Garcons’ Rei Kawakubo. Olowu joins cult brands like Number (N)ine, Undercover, and Visvim, and popular brands like Givenchy, Lanvin, and Thom Browne in one of the most creative fashion spaces in London. The Duro Olowu boutique is sure to be a hit when Olowu makes his debut this February 12th at London Fashion Week.
Anyone willing to sponsor a ticket for me to attend?
Illegal Senegalese immigrants model in Spain
In a “show of solidarity toward immigrants” Spanish fashion designer Antonio Miro caused a stir during his Fall/Winter 2007-2008 fashion show in Pasarela, Barcelona yesterday, by allowing eight Senegalese illegal immigrants to model his collection. Mr Miro, who has featured prisoners in past shows, said he wanted to draw attention to the migrants’ plight. The show also featured a battered boat, commonly referred to as a cayucos (crowded open boat), similar to the ones that transport thousands of Africans to the shores of Spain’s Canary Islands each year. At least half of almost 30,000 illegal arrivals in Spain’s Canary Islands, off West Africa, in 2006 were Senegalese. Though Mr. Miro paid some of the immigrants for the work, featuring them has immigrant rights groups divided. Representatives of Senegalese immigrants have called the move frivolous and say the designer is celebrating the dangerous trip the migrants take. Pro-migrant groups though says it’s good that someone other than NGO’s denounce the situation the immigrants are going through when they come by boat to Spain. What do you think?
TED conference heads to Tanzania
One of the most influential annual conferences for technology, entertainment, and design (TED) is touching down in Africa for the first time. Though the main conference will take place in Monterey. California in March as it usually does, the smaller TEDGlobal win be hosted at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha, Tanzania, at the edge of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Previously held in Oxford, UK in 2005, this years TEDGlobal conference entitled “Africa: the next chapter” will take place June 4-7. Sponsored by AMD, GE, Google (Yes, Google), and Sun Microsystems, TEDGlobal conference will be held in Africa for the first time and promises to be an unforgettable experience with more than 50 extraordinary speakers (inventors, business-leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, designers, artists, writers, activists, musicians and mavericks) who are “shaping Africa’s future though innovation and world-changing ideas.” In the past the TED conference has included speakers such as Al Gore (currentTV, Apple, VP of the USA), Richard Branson (VIrgin), Bono, and Peter Gabriel. TEDGlobal 2007 is organized by Emeka Okafor: entrepreneur, analyst and creator of two of my favorite blogs, Africa Unchained and Timbuktu Chronicles. One of the speakers at TEDGlobal will be Carol Pineau, CNN journalist and producer of the World Bank-sponsored documentary “Africa Open for Business.†The documentary is now on DVD.
Trailer: “Africa Open for Business”
Via AfricaIncorp and LunchOverIP
New (RED) sneakers in NYC and Hawaii
It was only a matter of time until the NY streetwear scene contributed to the African charity trend. SlamXHype points to Complex Magazine’s news that one of NYC’s popular streetwear boutiques, Dave’s Quality Meat, has teamed up with Converse for it’s contribution to the Product (RED) campaign. Dave’s Quality Meat (DQM) has designed a limited-edition (of course) custom Chuck Taylor which will be available at the DQM store in early February. The sneakers will retail for $100 with 10% of sales going directly to Product (Red)’s Global Fund. DQM’s owner, Dave Ortiz, adorned the re-designed Chuck Taylors with hieroglyphics and other esoteric symbols such as the ankh (to symbolize life) and the Egyptian Chnoubis serpent symbol (that represents protection from diseases and poison). Dave said, “Because Product (RED) is about ending AIDS in Africa, I wanted to tie-in symbols from Africa that would represent the fight.â€
This is the third effort from Converse for Product RED. The first was a mud cloth Chuck Taylor, and the second is a collaboration between Hawaaiian streetwear boutique KicksHI, Converse, and Hawaiian designer Sig Zane. The Sig Zane designed Converse will be available at KicksHI in early 2007. Soon you’ll be able to wear African culture from head to toe.
The Independent names 50 best African artists
This is an excellent article from today’s Independent newspaper. As part of the World AIDS day Product (RED) issue, the article emphasizes the importance of African cultural expression.
“African leaders need to be more conscious of the role that culture can play, particularly economically. Many Western economies – such as Britain – have benefited hugely from the showbusiness and music sector. It generates huge amounts of money and provides significant opportunities to work. Everyone in Africa – whether a politician, musician or businessman or woman – needs to appreciate the role that culture can play in our development.”
The full list is below and the full article is here
The 50 greatest cultural figures shaping a continent
• Oga Steve Abah, Playwright (Nigeria)
• Chinua Achebe, Author (Nigeria)
• David Adjaye, Architect (Tanzania)
• Newton Aduaka, Film Director (Nigeria)
• Mahmoud Ahmed, Musician (Ethiopia)
• Ama Ata Aidoo, Playwright (Ghana)
• Amadou And Mariam, Musicians (Mali)
• Ayi Kwei Armah, Author (Ghana)
• Les Ballets Africains, Dancers And Musicians (Guinea)
• Biyi Bandele, Author (Nigeria)
• Sokari Douglas Camp, Artist (Nigeria)
• Boyzie Cekwana, Choreographer And Dancer (South Africa)
• Souleymane Cisse, Film Director (Mali)
• Lueen Conning, Playwright (South Africa)
• Tsitsi Dangarembga, Author (Zimbabwe)
• Toumani Diabate, Musician (Mali)
• Dilomprizulike, Artist (Nigeria)
• Cesaria Evora, Singer (Cape Verde)
• Samuel Fosso, Photographer (Cameroon)
• Flora Gomes, Film Director (Guinea-Bissau)
• Pierre Atepa Goudiaby, Architect (Senegal)
• Mahamat Saleh Haroun, Film Director (Chad)
• Delia Jarrett-Macauley, Author (Sierra Leone)
• Salif Keita, Musician (Mali)
• Khaled, Musician (Algeria)
• Abdoulaye Konate, Artist (Mali)
• Konono No 1, Musicians (Congo)
• Femi Kuti, Musician (Nigeria)
• Faustin Linyekula, Choreographer And Dancer (Congo)
• Vincent Mantsoe, Choreographer And Dancer (South Africa)
• Zola Maseko, Film Director (South Africa)
• Souad Massi, Singer (Algeria)
• Youssou N’dour, Musician (Senegal)
• Kettly Noel, Choreographer And Dancer (Haiti/Mali)
• Idrissa Ouedraogo, Film-Maker (Upper Volta/Burkina Faso
• Tracey Rose, Artist (South Africa)
• Ibrahim El Salahi, Artist (Sudan)
• Ousmane Sembene, Film-Maker (Senegal)
• Abderrahmane Sissako, Film Director (Mauritania/Mali)
• Wole Soyinka, Dramatist, Novelist, Poet (Nigeria)
• Rachid Taha, Musician (Algeria)
• Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, Author (Kenya)
• Tinariwen, Musicians (Mali)
• Rokia Traore, Musician (Mali)
• Binyavanga Wainana, Author (Kenya)
• Zola, Musician (South Africa)
• Athol Fugard, Playwright (South Africa)
• K’naan, Rapper (Somalia)
• Oumou Sy, Fashion Designer (Senegal)
Alek Wek – from supermodel to fashion designer
Since 2002 Sudanese supermodel Alek Wek has been steadily transforming her modeling career to one as a top handbag designer. Back in 2001 Alek’s jet-setting lifestyle gave her an idea to use her love for design (she was studying fashion technology and business at the prestigious London College of Fashion before becoming a model) to develop a line of fashionable handbags.
Since she was “scouted” at a London market in 1995 and scored the cover of American Elle’s November 1997 issue, Alek has become a trendsetter in the modeling business; she’s been named Model of the Decade by i-D magazine, was picked as one of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People and has worked with some of the most influential photographers of our time including Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, Annie Leibowitz, Nick Knight and the late Herb Ritts.
Everyone knows the modeling business is a cutthroat one and careers are often short. Even though Ms. Wek continues to be at the top of her modeling game, it’s her talent as a designer which is beginning to re-define her success and reposition her in the fashion world for the long term. . Called Wek 1933 (the 1933 is a reference to the day her father was born) the collection of fashionable bags has been featured in numerous magazines and even earned a spot at the Spring 2005 Olympus Fashion Week accessories exhibit . Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld paid her the ultimate compliment by pronouncing the début spring 2002 collection ‘chic’ and backed up the statement by purchasing pieces for his Paris gallery. Wek 1933 bag prices range from $325 to $5,500 and are available at high end stores such as Barney’s and Maxfield and online at Fragments.
Cape Town Fashion Week dates announced
One of the largest gatherings of African fashion talent will take place this July in Cape Town, South Africa. Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week will take place 11th -15th July 2006 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
With the rising interest in African fashion, Cape Town Fashion Week is positioning itself as the gateway to Africa and its fashion talent. Known as the place where many foreigners first experience Africa, Cape Town looks to be the center of African fashion as well. Guest designers, from over ten African countries such as Nigeria, Namibia, Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania, will join local designers such as Stoned Cherrie, and Sun Goddess to showcase their Spring/Summer 06/07 collections.
Duro Olowu site launches (sort of)
For serious fashionistas owning a Duro Olowu dress is a true status symbol. Since winning the British Fashion Awards in November and being “discovered” by Vogue’s Sally Singer and Julie Gilhart, of Barneys, the Nigerian designer can’t seem to keep his dresses on the racks at Barneys and other high-end retailers. Models, actresses, and socialites can’t seem to get enough of his Empire-waisted, kimono-sleeved dresses. Offered in various limited edition combinations of vintage and modern ethnic prints, the 1970’s Nigerian and Jamaican-inspired dresses are ultra wearable and highly original. If you can’t get to his shop OG2 on Portobello Road in London,, check out the new site for stockists and get yours before it sells out again.
House of Boateng coming to reality tv
If you haven’t heard already, on June 22 the Sundance Channel will air the first of an eight-part documentary series tracking the journey of Savile Row designer Ozwald Boateng as he launches his Bespoke Couture line in America. The series follows the Ghanaian born designer as he strives to duplicate his overseas success in the United States. Since becoming the creative director of men’s wear and haute couture house Givenchy, and dressing actor/singer/comedian Jamie Fox for his award win at the Academy Awards, Boateng’s celebrity has been catapulted to global proportions. The weekly series will air on Thursdays at 9:00pm e/p through August 10. Mark you calendars.
African designers go global
The International Herald Tribune published a good article about a new generation of enterprising African artisans who are creating cosmopolitan designs referencing Africana. The article highlights Ethiopian designer Sara Abera and Kenyan Julia Doig who has been successful in redesigning the kikoi, a traditional Kenyan wrap, for the global market.
The article makes a good point about how African brands can compete in the global design market using heritage and local craftsmanship as a selling point. This is a good point considering most African countries cannot compete with Asia when it comes to providing cheap, skilled labor and an robust industrial production. Popular apparel lines are further solidifying this point by looking to African craftsmen for just that. Premium denim line PRPS promotes it’s use of African cotton in it’s $200+ jeans, while Edun, founded by Ali Hewson (wife of U2’s Bono) and denim designer Rogan Gregory, proudly publicizes it’s use of family-run factories in South America and Africa for production of its collection which is sold at stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Fred Segal.