We wrote about it before, African fashion. And how fashion from Africa globally is gaining ground. Let’s have a closer look at some of the game changers from the African fashion scene. Explorer Tara shares her top 7 in 3, 2, 1:
1. Maki Oh, Nigeria
Then there is label Maki Oh, from Nigerian designer Amaka Osakwe and with the likes of former First Lady Michelle Obama and pop stars like Lady Gaga. To The New Yorker she once said that she’s obsessed with the female form and seduction. ‘I took anatomy classes, and I would always find more inspiration in female anatomy. I never really cared for dangling phalluses.’ Her clothes flirt with sensuality and desire and will have high slits and see-trough fabrics.
Address Maki Oh at:
Concept store ALARA
12A Akin Olugbade Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
2. Sarah Diouf, Senegal
She’s the founding mother of Tongoro Studio, the Senegalese brand Beyoncé is so fond of, and known for her flowing pieces rich in pattern who capture so beautifully the African spirit of hometown Dakar.
3. Maxhosa by Laduma, South Africa
South African designer Laduma Ngxokolo celebrates tradition, too. With his exclusive knitting label MaxHosa by Laduma, Ngxokolo wonderfully documents and reinterprets clothing habits and traditions of his people, the Xhosa. Its delicate beadwork, rich patterns, symbolism and colors Ngxokolo has translated into quality knitwear for which a new generation is excited (looking to you, Alicia Keys, and to you, Beyoncé). The colors and patterns you’ll find on a MaxHosa piece all have a meaning. A zigzag motif refers to rivers in the Transkei, the color white symbolizes purity. All clothes are made in South Africa from local raw materials such as mohair, which the designer gets from his Xhosa residence and mecca for mohair Port Elizabeth. Consequently, Ngxokolo collections meet a lot of ethical and sustainable guidelines.
Address Maxhosa by Laduma:
Newtown Junction Mall
Work Shop Newtown,
100 Carr street,
Newtown, Johannesburg
4. Lisa Folawiyo, Nigeria
Another Nigerian designer to watch: Lisa Folawiyo. Folawiyo has transformed the iconic West African cloth Ankara through the use of ornate embellishment with which she created contemporary garments for the contemporary woman. Touches of playfulness elevate the clothes above the ordinary. Her clothes have been stocked at prominent stores such as Moda Operandi, Mytheresa.com, and Selfridges (in case you’re not going to Nigeria anytime soon and you’d like to buy some).
Address Lisa Folawiyo:
13 Ribadu
Off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi
Lagos, Nigeria
+234 1 463 1707
5. Emmy Kasbit, Nigeria
Nigerian designer Emmy Kasbit got the opportunity to dress one of the most powerful women in the world on her first official visit to Nigeria: British Prime Minister, Theresa May. For his latest collection he made a nostalgic journey into the past, to hometown Calabar. Wild colours run through the collection, which symbolizes the rich culture of the place. The comb motif represents the idea of a traditional marriage, the fingerprint motif is from the palm structure at a garden that plays host to lovers.
Address Emmy Kasbit:
The Zinkata Store
13b Awori Road, Dolphin Estate,
Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria.
+234 90 90 40 48 86
6. Orange Culture, Nigeria
Adebayo Oke-Lawal is the creative mind behind this Nigerian menswear brand who through its designs investigates and reevaluates what it means and what it could mean to be a man in Nigeria. Oke-Lawal isn’t afraid to fight imposed stereotypes, nor to give men the opportunity to dress less masculine than the Nigerian norm. Besides standing ovations he also got to deal with death threats from the more conservative Nigerian considering his clothes infernal.
You’ll find Orange Culture everywhere, check:
orangeculture.com.ng/home/stockist
7. Aprelle Duany, Kenya
Though Aprelle Duany is not a clothing label, but one that creates contemporary accessories, it sure is a label you’d like to know. Duany, women-led and founded in Kenya, draws inspiration from the pioneering stories of their ancestors. The handcrafted leather items show signature silhouettes, vibrant color offerings, and minimalist aesthetic. ‘Like you, we started with a dream, a desire to accomplish something that had never been accomplished, yet was too compelling to ignore. The dream was to see our culture and heritage authentically represented in the luxury realm,’ writes founder Aprelle on her website. And so she did.
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