Trendy Ankara Styles

Women in Africa are comfort driven when it comes to what they wear,their choice of design and textile makes.Most women easily get confused when it comes to what they will wear to a particular function.My Advice is wear what you are comfortable in other wise you will out of desperation spend a lot of money on something you will never wear again and don't even feel fabulous in.

The Ankara fabric is handy in the sense that you can be creative with it,be it for formal,semi-formal and casual outings.

Below are some trendy Ankara styles  for 2013

Fashion designers need business acumen

Flemish fashion designers are struggling to survive. Late last year Belgian fashion label Sandrina Fasoli suspended activities because they could not find a capital investment while Walter Van Beirendonck was forced to close his fashion store in Antwerp just like Olivier Strelli and hat designer Christophe Coppens. With even established names struggling to survive, the Flemish government has decided to set up a Flemish Fashion House that will provide affordable workshop and retail space, an advisory centre and a fashion fund to assist designers with practical and financial support. The Flemish...


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Aso Oke fabric-The Nigerian Pride

Aso oke fabric,is a hand  woven cloth from the south west part of Nigeria.Aso oke is Usually woven by men,and it is used to make women's wrapper called iro and men's gown called Agbada,trousers called sokoto and the hats called fila.

Aso oke fabrics are of three types,namely Alaari - a rich red aso oke,

Sanyan - a brown and usually light brown aso oke, Etu - a dark blue aso oke.

Often when people speak of Aso oke,they are referring to Yoruba women's wears.

it is of four parts which includes-

    -Buba - Yoruba blouse

   - Iro - a wrap skirt

    -Gele - head tie

    -Iborun or Ipele - shawl or shoulder sash

Nigerians far and beyond wear Aso oke for special occasions including holidays,weddings, funerals and chieftain title ceremonies. All followers of the Yoruba religion also wear aso oke fabrics and hats.

Below are different designs we can have from Aso oke fabric.

African fashion-Trendy Styles in African Prints

African prints is a colourful fabric with a lot of tribal patterns printed on it, produced in Africa, commonly known as ‘Ankara’ prints in Nigeria, ‘Dutch wax’ in Ghana, ‘Kanga prints’ in Tanzania and other East African countries, Ikat, Batik, mud cloth and so on.

Thanks to modern twist and styles, there is wide range of uses from brides’ and bridesmaids’ dresses, ball gowns, casuals to other formal wears. The sweet thing is that they can now be used to make some other fashion accessories like, bags, earrings, bangles, shoes and many more.

In short it is a tribal and fashion trend now with everybody tuning into it, even celebraties in and outside Africa.

African prints has always been a fabric of elegance close to the hearts of African people.

Here are some trendy designs for those who want to rock or experiment with an African print.

African Fashion! Presenting the 3rd Edition of FashionMist in London

The famous African fashion show is here again. This year’s show is the 3rd edition and will be taking place in London on Saturday 1st, 2013.The event this year is aimed at presenting the new crop of African designers and showcasing the continents abundance of creativity and contemporary use of African textiles.

This year’s event will be in two phases:

1. Exhibitions will be during the day

2. While the African fashion show will be in the evenings.

Designers expected to exhibit on the date include Kizmet Designer Jewellery, Gita’s Portal,

House of Loulee, Arhin Armah, Ayikai Couture, Heritage and lots more.

Our sources says this year’s proceeds will be donated in support of W.A.M[what About Me campaign www.wamcampaign.org. This is an initiative aimed at providing for orphans and vulnerable children living in Ghana.

Entry is free for all exhibitions but the fashion show will be ticketed. It will feature a selection of designers showing their latest collections as well as entertainers. Among the designers expected to feature in the fashion show are-Wusuwaah’s Diary, Kolture Apparel, Sa4a, and N’kya designs, Triballery, Sarfo, M.A.F.Couture, Ms Ray Couture, Afriqan Apeiron and A’Cote Collections.

Entertainment will be provided by Twi Teacher as well and other talented acts, the event will also be hosted by Rachel Williams and A-Dot.

Date: Saturday 1st June 2013

Time: 12 NOON – 5PM (Exhibition)

Venue: Hotel Russell, London

Tickets for the showcase can be purchased via www.fashionmist.eventbrite.co.uk