African tees: Annansi Clothing

According to their website Annansi Clothing Co. was founded with the concept of making Africa pop(ular). The brand takes inspiration from the people and places that make modern day African societies unique. "Our shirts take a modern approach to Africa-inspired fashion. Each theme is carefully developed to illustrate the beauty of cultural exchange through fashion. A palette of vibrant images and bold colors is used on the softest and most luxurious fabrics creating one-of-a-kind garments. With a fervor for cultural exchange and social responsibility each shirt is a vehicle for sharing experiences and educating those around us. Annansi Clothing Co's shirts are designed for people who seek to broaden their awareness and flaunt their individual style.
Our motto is "Afrique C'est Chic": Africa is cool, fresh, fashionable


Check out the multiple tees at Annansi Clothing

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents.

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African Tees : Kina Clothing

According to their website “Kina,” a Kiswahili word meaning “depth” to represent what they  want to portray in their designs. With every piece they attempt to stimulate a curiosity on the viewer while saying something positive about the person wearing the tee. Kina Klothing is Pan Afrikan, Art, Bongo Flava, Afro Beat, Taarab, Fashion, Poetry, Sankofa, Jazz, Pop-Culture, Fela Kuti , 60s, 70s, 80s Afrika, HipHop, Illustration, Cassette tapes, Street, Soul, Vinyl records, Politics, Animation, Disco, Electronic, basketball, fun, Zouk, Bolingo, Photography, Soccer, Play, CDs, mp3s, Graphic Design…everyday people.

Please check out their website at http://www.kinaklothing.com/


Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents.

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African tees : Rene Q

  Renee  Boateng is the fabulous young entrepreneur designer behind the line "Bespoke" which was founded in 2006 . This line is really the Trend  in town and  I am loving it . .The designs are  what I call  a fusion of tees and couture .The tees are  simple and very dressy .Here is Renee in her In her own words :

...a Mother, Wife, Sister, Friend, Bride or Business Executive. RenéeQ is every woman!In an effort to offer women in Ghana a home-grown alternative to their current ideas of beauty & style, RenéeQ, the brand was borne in 2006.Since its inception, Renée has expanded her creativity in the fashion, style and beauty industries. Her clientele base includes entertainers, politicians, advertising agencies, photographers, brides and fashionistas, amongst others.Her many accomplishments include being the official make up artist at the CNN African Journalists Awards, co-judging with one of South Africa’s finest designers, Sonwabile Ndamase at the Redd’s African Fashion Design Awards (RAFDA) competition held for the first time in Ghana.

As a fashionista we all know that no outfits is complete without a spice of accessories and a good make up ..  Renee Q also offers some beautiful  accessories and has the talent to turn your  face to a princess. If you want to know more about this designer and her line  , you can visit her site www.reneeq.com

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 I seriously don't know which one to choose  between these tees.

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more
talents.
Pictures are courtesy of Renee Q

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African Tees: Bernos

 Check out how this company  was created :
"Two guys a girl and a t-shirt idea. That’s how it all started, over a conversation about how there aren’t any t-shirts that highlight the rich culture that comes from Africa. All of us originating from Africa, but growing up in Europe and North America, found a gap not reached by other designers. Being lovers of tees, we wanted to design t-shirts that expressed our historical and cultural landmark, while breaching the gap between our origin and what we currently call home.These aren’t the dull, low-grade shirts you’ll find in your local stores. They are printed on the world’s finest t-shirts, American Apparel; in Los Angeles, California, in an absolutely sweatshop-free environment."

Find more info about Bernos here
Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents.

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CIAAFRIQUE is one year old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s been 1 year when I started one of the most exiting thing in my life: CIAAFRIQUE. It’s been such an amazing year and I got to know so many great people and fellow bloggers.Thank you to all of you that always stay tuned and leave comments ( N'deye Marie , Yaye Marie , Tiffany , sata ,  Tabe Cynthia , Wambui, Moussou, Fatimataly ,dianen Amina ).I know there are hundred of you out there please don t be offended if I have not mentioned your name. When I started this blog I had one thing in my mind Africa + fashion and its amazing how I got to discover more and more talents everyday. I am sure that one day African fashion will be on spotlight. Throughout  the year I have conducted many interviews, and even though many  of my requests have been ignored by designers it gave me strength to keep going and go to the next one . Big thanks to all the designers that took some time out of their busy lives to have an interview with me. I have come a long way this is just the beginning of an amazing journey and please keep the comments and the critics coming.
I’m really grateful to all of you who visit my blog, read and comment. It really means a lot to me and it’s very appreciated! 

T-shirt Month:
I have decided to focus a bit on the African tees designers. There are hundreds of them out there however they do not get as much attention. I was able to score an interview with Bébé Noir which will posted before the end of the month so stay tuned Fabulous Afronistas . Its all about the Tees this month on Ciaafrique ! Read more...

Wambui interview with the house of Sanabora Designs

My  Girl Wambui which is a guest writer on Ciaafrique was able to score an interview with Beatrice from Sanabora Designs. Enjoy !!!!1

Wambui: I know a little bit about Sanabora, tell our readers, what does Sanaa bora do?

Beatrice: Sanabora Design House is a social enterprise whose Goal is to contribute to society’s well being through encouraging effective use of design. The word ‘Sanabora’ is a literal translation of the Swahili words “very good”, a metaphor for the reputation we are committed to uphold.Sanabora works to enable businesses in Kenya to produce competitive products for local and international markets. This is achieved through offering design support and business training tailored to permit active participation in developing the thousands of products required by consumers each year. In addition, we offer communication support to enterprises to help them conceive and execute ideas and promotional materials that inform, motivate and educate consumers on services and products offered.It is in line with our capacity building initiatives that Sanabora offers SMEs in the Fashion Industry in Kenya a full range of product development and manufacturing support. This includes mapping the gap between consumers and products, leading to realization of refined product ideas, enhanced functionality, quality and innovation.


Wambui: Fashion in Kenya is fast growing, have you observed this?

Beatrice: Yes, the fashion industry in Kenya is growing, thanks to renewed interest and appreciation for ethnic concepts in fashion both locally and internationally. The growth can also be attributed to the increased number of platforms available to showcase local fashion. If you walk the streets of Nairobi, New York, Paris and London nowadays, you are likely to see a good number of people dressed in African influenced attires. This gives us the impetus to forge forward despite a number of challenges facing the industry, chief among them being increased global competition. To sustain the upward move therefore we need to establish business infrastructure that yields competitive products and that is what keeps Sanabora busy.


Wambui: What are some of the advantages of being an African Design house?

Beatrice: Kenya, like other countries in Africa is blessed with a rich diversity of indigenous cultures, evident in the vibrant colours and motifs, dazzling patterns, rich fabrics that characterize the African style. A design firm like Sanabora can only be blessed to be part of this rich heritage amidst a bounty of natural resources to draw from. However, operating a design firm in Kenya with the intention to support growth of enterprises is both rewarding and challenging. Rewarding in the sense that it is usually gratifying when we see businesses grow and lives improve through the design support we offer. On the other hand however, it is challenging due to the fact that appreciation for design is still at its infancy in Kenya. A small fraction of the local population values design enough to pay for it, hence, most of us are left eyeing the west for market opportunities. And yet, while at the market one still has to contend with a number of challenges that include; competition from highly acclaimed design and manufacturing houses from the East and West, cheap imports from china and second hand clothing and accessories at the local market.


Wambui: How is the textile industry in Kenya? Where do you get fabric and other accessories?

Beatrice: The textile sector in Kenya is on its way to recovery. I’m informed by literature that trouble in the sector started around the 90s with the liberalization of the economy. This saw an influx of textile goods into Kenya reducing the average capacity utilization in local textile mills substantially bringing the once fifth largest foreign exchange earner in Kenya to its knees. However, data available for the last 5 years indicates that the sector is on its way up largely due to African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and increased Government support. Other initiatives that have contributed to the growth of the initiative include the Caribbean and Pacific - European Union (ACP-EU) and the Cotonou Agreement that have rekindled interest in the industry. In the meantime we have to source for fabrics, fittings and accessories from importers who bring them in mainly from Asia, India and Europe.

Wambui: Have you worked with any clients outside Kenya? If so what would you say is the difference between the Kenyan markets vs. other markets outside Kenya.

Beatrice: Our international clients will stop at nothing but high quality products, competitively priced, delivered on time and to required quantities. The Kenyan client on the other hand is after the ‘made-to-measure’ and customized fashion items. Although the ‘made-to-measure’ items take more time to make, they fetch more money per piece. The total revenue generated from local sales is less that generated from exports accrued from large quantities although prices per piece are lower.

Wambui: Are there a consistent fashion weeks in Kenya?

Beatrice: There was a time when the Kenyan fashion week was consistent. What is left of the event nowadays is a hodgepodge of designers united by their social belonging each trying to do their thing. I have met many creative fashion designers during my capacity building initiatives that call for such a forum. An all-inclusive forum that would assist in bringing what they have to offer to the limelight. This is a group that feels that existing fashion platforms do not adequately cater for them and yet they have so much to offer.

Wambui: Who is the perfect Sanabora client?

Beatrice: Sanabora’s core customer is an entrepreneur who seeks to attain market leadership through design. This we do through capacity building in terms of training, manufacturing and communication support. The second category of customers are organizations keen on enabling development through trade enhancement. Such clients have been instrumental in helping Sanabora subsidize the cost of imparting skills as well as offering marketing support to marginalized entrepreneurs.

Wambui: Where do you see Kenyan fashion five years from now?

Beatrice: Kenyan fashion is big, unique and unexploited. I have a feeling that we are at the point where the bubble is about to break and the true image of Kenya fashion brought out to the world. Those anticipating for the same are already laying infrastructure to take advantage of the new image in the world fashion industry. As we speak, a number of foreign designers are crisscrossing the country picking up indigenous concepts to spice up their collections. My only hope is that local designers are keen enough not to be left out.

Wambui: Where do you see sanabora five years from now?

Beatrice: Driven by the vision of a society empowered socially and economically through design, Sanabora works towards becoming the leading Design capacity building house in East Africa within 5 years. We are currently the pioneer and only corporate design capacity building organization in Kenya keen on encouraging the use of vast talents and resources available for development.


Wambui: How can Ciaafrique readers contact you about the services and products of Sanabora?

Beatrice: Sanabora is situated at Aqua Plaza on Murang'a Road, Opposite Kenya Institute of Education in Nairobi Kenya. You can reach us through the Managing Director on the following address:

P. O. Box 7689 - 00100,

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254 20 3741240, +254 20 3741246,

Fax: +254 20 3741229,

Email: info@sanabora.com, Website: http://www.sanabora.com/


Note: I would like to thank wambui for the this great interview . if any of you would like to be a guest writer on Ciaafrique just hit me with an email.

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents. Read more...

Ciaafrique style by my little sister yaye

ciaafrique by ciaafrique featuring Yves Saint Laurent

Items in this set:
Charlotterusse.com top, $12
Yves Saint Laurent pants, 455 GBP
Paris Hilton shoes, $95
Paris Hilton shoes, $95
D&G clutch, 375 GBP

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents.

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Blog news: Naomi Campbell , Swahili fashion week

 

This is the  always fierce  Naomi Campbell Ripping the runway at  her fifth 'Fashion for Relief' charity fundraiser in Tanzania's capital Dar es Salaam

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1227600/Naomi-Campbell-attacks-fashion-world-discrimination-black-models.html#ixzz0WtYJxW3e

Unfortunately I was not around when the 2009 Swahili  fashion week  happened  a week ago however  I know where you could  see  some pictures of the show . Below are a couple of pictures from the   fashion week Facebook page

 

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents.

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Facebook love: Miss Pouty Pout

 Miss Pouty Pout designs   is a fusion of  African Fabric and  chic vintage.  I was not here in the 1950s or 60s but I love love vintage. I just discovered this line trough facebook and you can imagine I was excited  to share it  with you.Learn a bit about this line from the designer own words:

As a little girl, I was always inspired by Mama’s collections of clothes in her red and black box from her 1960’s heydays as a London Diva. I still am. I am thrilled to bring you vintage designs inspired by Mama’s retro styles with ethnic fabrics. Ethnic fabrics are exclusive and you instantly stand out in them. The colours are bold, radiant and vibrant: perfect for the summer, garden tea parties, dinner parties etc. The colours will definitely put the English summer to shame! Its vibrancy instantly puts you in a sunny mood as you wear them. The fabrics are rare in their designs and exude alluring patterns not found anywhere in the UK.

If you love this designer work or want to find more about her line  Please visit her website here 

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents.

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I'm back

Hello  Fabulous Fashionistas,

OMG I cannot tell you how much I missed Blogging . I had a great time in Punta Cana even though half of the time   I was running  After this little guy in the picture. I  am sure  I have missed a lot  so I'm  catching up on some reading right now .   Ciaafrique will be on 1 year in a couple weeks so I have a lot of nice things coming up ....... Stay  Tuned

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents.

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Ohema Ohene

I am loving this new boutique on the block , Ohema Ohone designs are just amazingly beautifull,
according to their website.

Ohema Ohene is a new British London based boutique fashion brand created by British born designer Abenaa Pokuaa. The name meaning ‘Queen & King’ in the Ghanaian language of Twi was a play on her Ghanaian heritage and her love for all things royal and fabulous. After successfully completing a degree in ‘Fashion design technology surface Textiles’ at London College of fashion; Abenaa then went on to work in the industry developing her technical and commercial understanding.On returning from the Far East were she worked as a designer and from a short trip to Ghana, Abenaa finalised the concept of the brand. Ohema Ohene produces beautiful, high quality stylish seasonal clothing which is representative of London’s multicultural population, blending what is quintessentially British with West African textiles. The rich prints are directly sourced from Ghana using authentic traditional motifs blended with more contemporary imagery. Abenaa also designs many of the prints herself and. The brand gives the wearer a sense of glamour, clever design and good quality products which are fashion forward, wearable and culturally influenced.

I love this designer not only because their fresh designs but because the clothes are very affordable . If you like what you see please check out their website here  to get their contact information.

Pictures are  courtesy of the Ohema Ohene website

Do you like what you see? then don't forget to check out my African designers Directory to Discover more talents. Read more...

On Vacation to punta Cana...............

Oh well I got to tell you today was such a hectic day. I spent the day running  errands , making my luggage,  and charging my Camera of course .Tomorrow  I will be off to week vacation to the beautiful island of the Dominican Republic ( Punta Cana ) . I did not rest this whole year  with work , the blog , and the baby. I have a couple of post prepared already for next week to keep you entertained ......................
I will be back in a week time in the meantime stay fabulous .
Ciaa Read more...