African Fashion Week
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Though the African fashion week ended on the 3rd of July we have just had a look at some of the interesting , there were a number of very interesting shows, however one of the standout shows was that of the South African designer David Tlale, this young man has consistently produced stytlish and creative designs , while Deola Sagoe seemed to produce a standard set of signature dresses though not as edgy as David’s. Xuly Bet produced another set of designs in mono colour. Black was the sum total of these set of designs that where potentially eye catching including, overall it was a good show and a lot of the designers turned up and delivered, there is one area though that I believe might need to be addressed going forward and that is the area of Indigenous Styling ; this concept refers to styles that have been perpetuated for quite a few decades and in some case a few years centures, these creations where as a 
result of fashion and functionality, the usual style of the modern interpretation of 
African fashion are catwalk concepts infused with fabrics used by africans such as these wonderful pieces by Koketso Chiepe and Christie Brown, right and left, but it will be nice to take a concept like BUBA and IRO (a Yoruba traditional style for women in the west of Nigeria) and use it a concept to create different designs.
Vlisco over the years have brought us a lot of fantastic and unique pattern designs, and if the truth be told the African fashion scene and the interests that have began to show up in world fashion. Now the Vlisco brand have decided to go one step further and enter into the bag accessorie with set of designs called HAUTE MAROQUINERIE the picture on the left is a tote bag with a cotton wax print laminated with a clear PVC film which not only enhances the souplesse of the material but protects it thereby making this bag unique when viewed through the different looks of the specific Vlisco flower prints. While in the shawl accessory market with a 100 % silk shawl they have called MAMA . It’s a known fact that the accessories market is big business and its quite exciting to see how Vlisco intends to enhance the spark in a trendthat is African fashion, in what is a very crowded accessories market, but one that is begging for something totally different. I have always felt that trends are seasonal and cyclical, but style is continuous and morphs, in general different parts of the globe have their own style and colours though there is a lot of overlap distinctions are highlighted as opposed to parallels, this will not be the first attempt at using this fabric to create accessories, but I hope it is about to become the most visible and sustained and with the clout and financial backing of this print design company I would expect that in some part of the global fashion establishment you might be seeing the birth of a sub-genre in the accessory market which will be aligned with our distinct African style.
offering called frozen dreams, some of the prints are in keeping with what was shown on the catwalk this year in the summer, alexander mcqueens kaleidoscopic patterns (right), only with vlisco they are more colourful in keeping with the style that predominbates on the continent. But nonetheless there is an assortment of prints that will be the delight of many a designer and tailor. the beauty of these fabriques is that with the richness of the colours and the complexity of the patterns there is a limitless 
array of styles that can be conjured, from frills to oregami folds. 
Agbada is a loose-fitting robe worn in many different regions of Africa, 
especially in West Africa. These robes reach to the ankles and are either open at the sides or stitched closed along the edges. In West Nigeria a loose-fitting robe is called an agbada. An agbada has sleeves that hang loosely over the shoulders and an opening at the front. A similar garment, called a gandoura or leppi, is worn in Cameroon, and the Hausa of Nigeria call their loose-fitting robes riga. The same garment is called a dansiki in West Africa. Most often made of cotton, agbada and other robes are typically highly patterned. These patterns may be woven into, dyed, painted, or appliqu
A head tie is a west and southern African women’s head scarf, specifically an elaborate ornamental head covering. In the Yoruba part of Nigeria, the head tie is popularly known as “Gele”. In the Yoruba part of Nigeria, the head tie is popularly known as “Gele”. Gele is fancifully decorated, it comes in different colours and comes in a rectangular shape. Gele is worn for special occasions like weddings, child dedication, national celeberations, family celeberations and to church. The final shape of the gele takes form as the user ties and pins the folds of the head tie together on her head. Interestingly the style’s of wearing the head tie “gele” have been given various names as they tend to impart a message from the wearer to her admirers. So a style called “CASH MADAM” tends to have the folds as high as possible to attract as many people to the wearer and to inform them that this is a lady of means who can afford the best outfit in town.
George fabric is made of 100% viscose, which is a naturally-derived fabric made by dissolving wood pulp and reforming it in filaments. It is soft and surprisingly comfortable for a fabric that comes from a tree. 
In what was a visual feast of pretty summer dresses, dazzling evening gowns, edgy silhouettes and bold design choices shown for three days between 20th- 22nd 09 the spring/summer collections for 2009/2010, of the Arise Cape Town Fashion Week was presented at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa. African Fashion International and ARISE Magazine collaborated again after their successful inaugural ARISE Africa Fashion week.
important aspect of these designs though is how a designer from a totally different culture and country, in this case Japan, see’s the dexterity and applicability of this type of material, and the blend or contrast of the prints in relation to his designs. If you know anything about the texture of this material you will understand that its supple but though. More intrestingly though is his combination of denim(with its working class origins) and ankara (the denim of the nigerian working classes), they are worlds apart, but he has combined them in a way that any one who has lived in nigeria will understand but might not have seen before.
I first stumbled on Arise at my local news agent 3 months ago, now you will say what is so new about that, well it was a totally different experience seeing a magazine solely dedicated to African fashion, with African designers was unheard off at least in the west, but what was more striking was the breadth of the articles and the quality of the imagery, i am a photography enthusiast so to see pictures taken properly was a thrill non the less i had not come across any magazine yet that was solely dedicated to Africa in this way before. My love affair with this magazine seems to grow from strength to strength, because, not only are they providing journalistic diversity but have also taken to showcasing the designers they write about within their pages by sponsoring the African fashion week 2009 in Johanesburg. The menu reveals a cross section of what the magazine is about, it covers all sorts from an interview with Akon, to Sway chatting about stuff, African WAGS and of course pictures from the African fashion show and loads more. MODEL OLUCHI ONWEAGBA takes center stage