African Fashion Week

Last September 22-25, 2011, I witnessed African fashion on the world’s spot light in South Africa. Hosted by the continent’s fashion capital, South Africa Fashion Week showcased brilliant and interesting dresses parading down the runway by noted fashion designers who have also had fashion weeks in Milan, Paris, and New York. With its winter 2012 designer collections, African fashion has once again expressed by exotic and exciting fashion creations with fresh trends for next year.

On its 20^th year, Johannesburg once again successfully hosted the whole week drama and action. I felt fierceness and sophistication among its dress. As usual, resident designers went their way up such as Black Coffee, Two and Chanelle, Clive Rundle, Lunar and Colleen Eitzen. Many dress collections focused on African fashion’s trademark, floral and loud prints, with leathers, luxurious knits, studded accents, modern fabrications, fur and layers of green, orange and yellow, which signifies African culture.

One of my favorites is Siesllsabelle’s creations which detailed layered colors of purple, minimalist dresses with floral accents. It has simple details achieving a lazy, loungy feel. Also a fan favorite, which also was likened to some fashion bloggers, is Amanda Laird Cherry’s runway collection. Fully bright and flattering, structured “trendiness” with lines in men and women, it has evident striped structures and semi-floral dresses.

The fashion week also brought the 2011 Student competition which showcased the intelligence, creativity and innovation of students from different fashion schools in South Africa. With their concept of making an interesting outfit or dress made out of recycled denim garment, this year’s competition has become tougher with design students battling it out for an opportunity to show their collection on the runway and a chance to receive an Apple Mac product. What a great way to motivate these students! And there was one big thing to look forward to. The winner had a chance to strut his/her creative juices with an internship to a fashion designer. How cool is that!

The South Africa Fashion week has offered a parade of 60 collections from different designers. What I like about this year’ winter collection is its being unconventional. I saw great pieces which can boost African fashion and culture and African models dressing up perfectly. The outfits are very marketable with the clients tend to look for more, going to Africa and Asia. Trends have shown the year 2012 will be a year for most African and Asian designers and has now started in the last quarter of 2011.

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