If you are regular fashion magazine reader, you would have noticed the growing use of African inspired fashion items this year in fashion. From head pieces to shoes, designers like Louis Vuitton or Ralph Lauren have used a lot of popular representations of Africa in their designs that is: masks, bright colors, picasso like figures, and safari inspired designs and colors. Most fashionable Africans would tell you that those items are simply a reflection of many times stereotypes of African life (ie/ Safaris) and are only a small aspect of the rich artistic culture and heritage found in the many different countries of this vast continent is reflected on the runways and shows. This spring we saw the Louis Vuitton Spicy shoes, an example of a fashion item that screams picasso and Africa!!!
Louis Vuitton's Spicy Sandals. (pic from Ilvoelv.com)
However, most African fashionistas would tell you of their preference for elegant designs made by African designers. Recently, Duro Olowu, a Nigerian-London Based designer, who was recently featured in Vogue about his recent Trunk show at Barneys in New York has received much press review. Olowu brings a fusion of French and Italian haute couture and techniques, textures, and textiles (silk etc) with the beautiful and bright pattens of modern African wax prints. You can check out his website at Duroolowu.com and for more on his spring 2009 collection…. I hope to see more designers out of the continent. Comments??
Trunk Show. Duro Olowu & Iman
Iman in Duro Olowu
Duro Olowu Spring 2009
Duro Olowu Spring 2009
Duro Olowu Spring 2009
Trunk Show. Sally Singer of Vogue and Iris Apfel (renown fashion personality)
"Ephita"
