African Fashion Designers Going Global

On September 12, 2011, I heard from the news about an African beauty stood out and shined above the rest. When I saw her, she looked liked a black Barbie doll donned in a form-fitting gold and white slit gown. And when I researched her on the internet, she is actually the new Miss Universe, Leila Lopes from Angola. With her captivating smile and her exotic looks, she brought the house down that night.

Well, she just deserved it. She is so beautiful and her aura is great on stage. This just proves how African beauty reigns above all. This kind of recognition is a sign that Africans are not the underdogs in this society. They are even a threat now in the fashion industry as many Black fashion designers are dominating the scene. On this post, I’d like to enumerate a few famous designers who are embracing African ethnicity and proud of African fashion.

Take a look at Kimora Lee Simons. She owns Baby Phat, a clothing line for women and girls. His father is an African American who worked as a federal marshal. She is very proud of her ethnicity and her urban line reflects African fashion so much. She even has her own self-titled reality show that features her life as a mother of two and celebrity fashion designer.

Another designer whom I really love is Cookie Johnson, who just launched her collection last 2009. Her label CJ is best known for its fun and trendy jeans which is featured by many magazines around the world. I like her designs since it has sizes for girls with big waists.

If you’ve seen Project Runway’s season 3, you might notice Mychael Knight who was named fan favorite in that season. Being a fan favorite is a big deal since it means Mychael is loved by many. Just recently, his collection was featured in the elusive New York Fashion Week with his “Lost World” collection for spring/summer collection 2012. How’s that?

Young and dynamic duo, Angela and Vanessa Simmons created a buzz in the fashion industry when they launched Pastry, a shoe collection targeting the teen market. These two have good reviews for their design with their originality and new style for the youth.

I hope that these African fashion designers will still keep the fire burning and penetrate the world market. Though it’s the competition is tough, African fashion has a very good chance in the fashion industry with globalization turning toward being exotic and unique.

Photo Credits from: top-people.starmedia.com, live.drjays.com, peterpaulcarim.com