Now once again, Africa Inspires! Africa Fashion Weekend Dublin (AFWDublin 2010) is the premium Fashion Weekend, showcasing Top African Designers in Europe. AFWDublin 2010 presents African designers who have long been gracing the African runways and are making the leap to international fashion catwalks.

AFWDublin 2010 celebrates some of Africa’s top,as well as up and coming designers with the rest of the world, the event will serve the interests of those who love fashion-African & Irish alike! It is time we all experienced more inspiring events come out of Africa. This is a colourful, bold & definitive event redefining global opinions of Africa.

Where:

Thomas Prior Hall (Beside RDS Arena)

Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

When:

2nd, 3rd & 4th of April 2010

This event aims to inspire!

For more info:

www.africafashionweekenddublin.com

SA Fashion Week Takes New Direction With Summer 2010 Collections

The South African Fashion Week’s Summer 2010 Collections to be staged this month (March) will see a razor-shape focus on a new way forward for SA fashion.

Where:  The Forum Turbine Hall in Newtown, Johannesburg

We are redefining the core idea behind the staging of the event to align it firmly with the shared vision we and the participating designers have for tackling the challenges facing local design as we go into the next decade, says director Lucilla Booyzen.

When: 25-27th March, 2010

Eleven shows will be staged in three daily segments – morning, afternoon and evening – over three days from 25 – 27 March and showing the collections of 33 designers from across the country. Each of the morning and afternoon segments will be followed by a two-hour session where retail buyers and the media will be able to scrutinize each of the collections up close and interact directly with the designers.

It is TRUE that…

..that Iman will make an appearance at SAFW

…that Shanghai Tang has landed in South Africa.

You are Invited:

Visit Shanghai Tang’s Exclusive trunk show to view Shanghai Tang’s Spring/Summer 2010 ollection

Shanghai Tang’s Spring/summer 2010 Collection

28th April 2010 – 1st May 2010

Marble Arch Room, Southern Sun Hotel, Hyde Park.

RSVPs and Enquiries

Mr Rhys Ralph

+27 82 504 1881

Y.You’re Invited

Meet Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco, (born Salma Bennani on May 10, 1978 in Fez, Morocco) wife of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the first wife of a Moroccan ruler to have been publicly acknowledged and given a royal title.

She is styled as Her Royal Highness The Princess Consort. Also has been referred to by many as Africa’s first lady of style ; She hasn’t failed to affirm this assumption as Princess Salma’s wardrobe is primarily designed by Chanel, Dior, Jean Paul Gauthier, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada and the largest houses of haute couture, she also does wear traditional Moroccan wear, such as kaftans. Her shoes are manufactured on order at Massaro or Fratelli Rossetti or Hogan. This Arabian beauty wears jewels from Cartier, Chaumet, Piaget, Van Cleef. Her perfumes ???  Maison Guerlain, Yves Saint Laurent or Patou.

Mrs Obama’s Sense of Style has wowed the Americans over and over again, Africa has found ‘the style wow-factor‘ in Princess Salma.

Photo Credit: Sandy McCutcheon (http://riadzany.blogspot.com)

NEW YORK, NY – Supermodel, Oluchi, will participate in the March 26^th African Economic Forum at Columbia University in a panel discussion about the growing business of fashion on the African continent. The Face of Africa winner and Africa’s Next Top Model host will be joined by two designers, a fashion reporter and a fashion blogger and is expected to address a group of students and professionals on topics such as what it takes to make it in the industry, opportunities that exist for entrepreneurship and other fashion related topics.

In recent years, there has been a lot of buzz around the emergence of African designers during fashion weeks in major markets. With the FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa this summer and the increasing popularity of African models and designers in the main stream press, the conversation is a relevant and timely one.  The organizers of the forum hope to capitalize on this and generate thought provoking discourse. The panel discussion will be followed by a fashion show and cocktail reception.

The African Economic Forum has grown to be the largest Africa-focused event at Columbia University, and seeks to highlight opportunities and challenges through stimulating discussion, insights and strategies for a prosperous Africa. This year’s forum will also feature panels discussing regional tourism, law and economic development, media, South-South trade, infrastructure development, as well as a Niger Delta investment summit.

To purchase tickets/attend the conference, visit www.aef2010.com

Yves Saint Laurent, 1969. Photographie de Jeanloup Sieff

The first large retrospective exhibition dedicated to Yves Saint-Laurent the fashion designer is set to take place from 11 March to 29 August at the Petit Palais. Discover the first photographs.

The Foundation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent and the Petit Palais (City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts) are showcasing the first Yves Saint-Laurent retrospective exhibition since the fashion designer passed away. A total of 307 haute couture and prêt-à-porter models are on show, ranging from the designer’s beginnings at Dior in 1958, with the famous “Trapèze” collection, to the splendour of the evening dresses from 2002.

If you are in Paris, don’t fail to catch it:

From 11 March to 29 August 2010

Petit Palais

Avenue Winston Churchill – 75008 Paris
Metro station : Champs-Elysées-Clémenceau or Concorde
RER C, Invalides ; RER A, Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile
Bus lines : 42/72/73/80/93

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday: 10am to 6pm – Late-night opening: Thursday until 8pm.
Closed Mondays and public holidays

Admission:
Full price: €11
Reduced price: €8
Half price: €5.50

Audio guide: €5

To purchase an exhibition pass or reserve a group visit without a guide, buy your tickets

Click on “individuels” (individuals) or “groupes” (groups) in the dialogue box on the left-hand side.

Click on photo to watch Uche on Oprah

From blogger to Oprah! the reception of Uche Eze, popularly known as Bella Naija has been nothing short of overwhelming! “Dreams do come true” she says as she shares with us her experience on making it on Oprah (read here).

She’s truly an inspiration and has made at-least all Nigerian Girls, Ladies & Women proud while looking fly in Tiffany Amber.

“From my Lips to God’s Ears”. Stay positive people! Dreams DO come true.

World renowned artist/painter Kehinde Wiley partner with Puma as part of this years worldcup activities, what do you feel about?

American Designer Maya Lake, Creative Designer of Boxing Kitten; an American label solely inspired by African Culture styled the Bodacious Songstress(es) Alicia Keys & Beyonce Knowles for their new single/video “Put it in a Love song”.

The Ladies on Set of “Put it in a Love Song” video shoot:

 

+ BCBG Max Azria

+Black Coffee

+ Deola Sagoe

+Loin Cloth & Ashes

+Herve Leger

*Click on the images to view the designers Fall 2010 collection, and lets know your favorites!

Also checkout a sneak peak of Yves Saint Lauren’ts Pre-Fall Collection.

Chiwetel Ejiofor in Zegna Suit.

Ermenegildo Zegna, the world’s leading multinational in men’s luxury clothing is arriving in Lagos, Nigeria. This year marks the 100th Year Anniversary of Zegna and coincides with Nigeria’s 50th year celebration. Therefore, it is fitting that 2010 is the year that the first international luxury fashion brand will launch and open a store in Nigeria.

While the store will not be open until later in the year, Zegna will be introducing the brand & offering the Made to Measure/”Su Misuru” in February 2010. This service is the ultimate in personal tailoring and will be by appointment only from the 26th to 28th of February.

For appointments – 0708 737 1101 and 0807 9212421.

–
Nigeria is evolving. Less than a decade ago, we did not have functional cinemas, now there seems to be an influx of foreign investment.

It started in other sectors and now the fashion industry is enjoying interest from major foreign brands.

Late last year, an international Spanish retailer launched in Nigeria and now for the first time – an international luxury brand – Ermenegildo Zegna will be launching and opening stores in the country.

This is truly an exciting development.