Monthly Archives: January 2011

Innovative fashion brewed in the African pot: Kenema & Co

Posted on by under Entertainment, Fashion

STILL MAKING AFRICA PROUD

My fashionability, led me to discovering Tamu Thomas of Kenema &Co. Kenema & Co, which makes ‘magic’ out of a wide range of African Prints. K&C, started production in April, 2010, and finally got into the market fuzz in May.

The name ‘Kenema’, is a District in Sierra Leone that was really ravaged by the war from 1991 – 2002. Kenema is an area that is well know for its gold and diamond mines and abundance of palm trees.  If you were to visit Kenema today you would see that the people are poor but you would not necessary guess that they were war torn a less than ten years ago.  The people are very resilient and just get on with it.  In an interview with StyleBistro, Tamu said she hoped “Kenema & Co represents the area, resilient like the people, high quality and desired like Gold and Diamond and something that can used by all like the palm trees”

As I read more and more about Kenema& Co, and the brain behind it, I realized that, Tamu, really buys the idea of ‘universality’. According to her, most African prints are usually ‘housed’ under ‘Couture’, which limits its usage for some specific events and occasions (more like a runway thing, according to her). Tamu believes that, African Prints should be more than just a fashion but rather, a style that can be used always, by anyone.

Kenema & Co, are based in Sierra Leone (where Tamu’s parents come from, although Tamu is based in Nigeria). Tamu and her partner, seem to be of the same ‘free-spirited and free-minded’ kind, as they left for Sierra Leone, somewhere in April 2010, to ‘solidify’ their ideas. She describes the experience in her blog

Tamu and her Partner, Alize


She advices: “think about style over fashion, style is for everyone and fashion isn’t.  Look at your body shape and skin tone when purchasing clothes.  Learn to dress for you.” Her online store is open for business http://kenemaco.bigcartel.com/

Words you live by….

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again – simple really but it’s so true.  Also don’t be blinded by dreams of becoming rich you need to believe in what you are doing, if you don’t believe nobody else will.

She sure sounds spicy to me ;)

THE FASHION REVOLUTION IS ON…!

Image Courtsey: Kenema& Co

 

 

GHANAIAN FASHION RUBBING SHOULDERS WITH WORLD TRENDS

Posted on by under Entertainment, Fashion, Ghana

B’EXOTIQ BY BEATRICE ARTHUR

Hovering all over places for new trends in Fashion, I discovered Beatrice Arthur, of B’EXOTIQ and I found her designs stunning. She blends Ghanaian and Russian culture, in her designs. Her originality won her the KORA FASHION AWARDS in 2001, at the Sun City. I think she’s very creative

RED JACKET WITH BLACK GOTHIC EMROIDERY (ELMINA), WITH A GHANAIAN SUPER MODEL, IN THE MAKING

I spoke to Bee Arthur at the Kencar fashion show, yesterday night. When I asked her what to expect, in terms of design trends, she said ‘Something fresh and different’. Yesterday, at the event, her designs were stunning as usual, and the models did justice to them! I’ll bring some more pictures from the event. In the mean time, just have a look at some of her spicy designs

I like how she looks in this dress. simple and classy

Samia fitting some clothes at her showroom, in Ghana, labone

I talked about her, combining some aspects of Ghanaian culture, with Russian culture. Well look..

A display of some of her clothes at her showroom, Russian flavor, u see it?

Bee Arthur, as she’s usually known, Bee Arthur is of Ghanaian and Russian heritage. She studied art in Ukraine, and then acquired a BA in Sociology & Spanish, University of Ghana. She speaks quiet a number of languages, but I can’t figure out her accent. (lol)

nice colour combination and patterns...she is creative!

yellow dress with black gothic embroidery (douala)

And this is exactly how she looked, when I met her yesterday. Her stiffly-slightly curled-or upward curved gray hair. Don’t mind me, I can’t even describe her hairstyle. You know what? “I think I like ‘am”…and oh, she’s beautiful too (and her sweet little voice)

THE DESIGNER, BEE ARTHUR

Visit B’EXOTIQ
Catch her on facebook: Beatrice Bee Arthur
TEL:+23321780796
Email: annabetya@gmail.com

THE FASHION REVOLUTION IS ON…!!

South Africa bent on achieving ‘world-class’ status, through ‘fashion tourism’

Posted on by under Entertainment, Fashion

South African Tourism CEO, Thandiwe January Mac-Clean, says;

We are committed to promoting ‘fashion tourism’ as yet another of the many reasons for visiting our country and to promoting our established designers and exciting young talent and helping to expose their work to a global audience.

This was in-line with their partnership with African Fashion International, to promote and support the concept of ‘fashion tourism’. I think it’s great, that Africans are finally recognizing and making efforts to improve in all aspects of our lives and culture. hi5 to all Africans! (including me!)

What got me excited, is the fact that, Paul Leisegang, AFI Managing Director, also believes in “packaging our local design talent in an inspiring way that is made easily accessible to the international market, to stakeholders who can make the meaningful connection between our talent and the endless opportunities that exist through globalization”.

There is definitely more to look forward to, from South Africa this year:
  • Joburg Fashion Week (JFW)                          15TH–19th  February
  • International Travel Expo                              March
  • Cape Town Fashion Week (CTFW)                  June/July
  • International Fashion Show                           September
  • African Fashion Week (AFW)                          October
  • Africa Fashion Awards                                   October