Vlisco takes colour to a higher level, bringing it to life with the new ‘Reflet de Lumière’ fabric collection. The collection elucidates the disparity between silhouettes and movement with a colourful blurring effect. The designs create a surreal sense of structural forms, an illusion of architectural dimensions. This sensation is enhanced by the visual effect of morphing created by the interaction between shadows and the aura of coloured lights, merging to produce a graphical collection of unique fabrics.

NEHITA is a vision of Nigerian designer Monalisa Okojie, who’s passion for beauty led her to change careers from Law to Jewelry Design.

Okojie’s collections embrace design trends from all over the world by using appealing and colorful precious stones and various colors of gold. Her designs express elegant luxuries and appeal to the sophisticated clients with close attention to conflict free diamonds when used.

What we can expect at the “I Wear African” Runway Show

“I will be showing my new Coral Collection which is the jewelry of choice for the summer. They are very colorful, elegant and timeless. My inspiration for this collection came from my continuous appreciation for my Ishan heritage. where coral beads are used in dressing up the brides and the mothers on their daughter’s wedding day.” – Monalisa Okojie

Website: http://www.nehita.com

Pieces from Previous Collections

Ethiopian Designer, Mekdes Tefera Taye designed her first collection and held her first show at the age of  14 when she became interested in fashion design.  She then continued developing designs from sting materials including her famous wedding dress designs made of pop corn as well as other materials like mesh and hand crafted cotton textiles.

What we can expect at the “I Wear African” Runway Show

“I will be showing celebrity clothing, cocktail dresses, evening gowns that are colorful and simple”

Website:

Pieces from Previous Collections

Sheila Denanyoh is a young self taught fashion designer that resides in Westerville, Ohio. She’s originally from Ghana and currently a senior at the Kent State University studying Interior Design. Denanyoh loves the arts and has had a passion for designing since she was 9 years old. She founded Ill-la-la Designs in 2008 and has since used this outlet of expression to help bring change to Africa through the Looks for Books Foundation. Denanyoh’s Ill-la-la Designs has been in shows at universities throughout the state of Ohio. She also participated in the Green and Gorgeous Fashion show in D.C and provided wardrobe for the contestants of the Miss Liberia Ohio Pageant.

What we can expect at the “I Wear African” Runway Show

“I will be showing pieces from my latest collection called ‘Tubgedje’ which means ‘Lady’ in the Ewe language spoken in Ghana. The clothes in this time inspired collection reflect a girl’s maturity into a woman while still maintaining the essence of being a girl. It’s partly fun and flirty and partly reserved and unspoken.” – Sheila Denanyoh

Website: http://www.illlaladesigns.com

Pieces from Previous Collections

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Designer Kahindo Mateene is the Founder of clothing brand, Modahnik where she fuses her African heritage using colorful African print fabrics with her Western influenced design sensibilities.  Her goal is to create beautiful clothes of the highest quality and act as a poverty reduction tool by creating sustainable employment opportunities to underprivileged women in African communities.

Mateene has a degree in International Business and a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the highly acclaimed Fashion Design Program at the Illinois Institute of Art. Since graduating in 2004, she has relentlessly pursued her goal of creating an exciting clothing line within a sustainable business model in both the US and Africa. Mateene’s first collection was launched during the 2009 Fashion Focus Chicago week.

What we can expect at the “I Wear African” Runway Show

“Modahnik will be showcasing the 2010 Fall Collection on the ‘I Wear African’ Runway. This collection is influenced by the Modahnik customer and that alternative she seeks out when reaching for the Little Black Dress in her closet. The use of silk alongside African influenced wax print fabrics, ruching and asymmetrical ruffles in flattering sexy ladylike shapes are just some of the feminine frills you will find in the collection.” – Kahindo Mateene

Website: http://www.modahnik.com/

Pieces from Previous Collections

Cameroonian designers Maryanne E. Mokoko and Stephanie T. Mouapi will be showcasing their modern pieces on the “I Wear African” Runway at the African Vibes Magazine 4th Anniversary Event for their Côté Minou label which was created in the Summer of 2006.

Côté Minou was one of the 6 Designers to showcase at the “I Wear African” campaign launch in 2009. It has been featured in numerous fashion and African related events such as Force Afrik’s African Dance Explosion II, The Howard University’s Homecoming, HU-ASA and Spring Fest Fashion Show, BCBG Productions GQ Party II, Dartmouth’s Evolution of Black Fashion Show,St. Scholastica’s African Heritage Festival, Penn State’s Touch of Africa Show, SUNY Binghamton’s Threads of the Motherland, University of Maryland Fight Against Malaria Fashion Show, The DC Fashion Week, The Maryland Fashion Week, The YMCA Benefit Fashion Show, and The Genesis Ent. Native-Trad Party at Love NightClub in Washington, DC.

In the course of their Journey to changing the way we see the African Cloth, Côté Minou has been featured in the 2007 Uzuri Young Designer Series, named the 2008 Africa Pearls Inc. Trendsetter Award Recipient, was winner of the 2009 Annual African Designers and Models Competition and made it to the 2010 Dulce Camer’s Top 100 List. The Journey continues as they strive to represent Africa the best way they know how and that is through Fashion. The label was recently showcased as featured designer for Munaluchi Bridal on The CW Network (WPIX) Morning show.’

What we can expect at the “I Wear African” Runway Show

“This spring  2010, expect flirty and vibrant colors highlighted with tons of edgy designs. The collection entitled The Romance is surrounded with a mix of volume plus geometry that will down right break your heart.”

Website: http://www.mycoteminou.com

Pieces from Previous Collections

Self taught Designer, Arthlene Legair and Designer of the Legair Brand will be showing her Africa inspired collection on the “I Wear African” Runway in Hollywood on April 24th 2010. Legair was born in the Caribbean Island of Dominica West Indies and has over 30 years of experience in the fashion industry. She is also the CEO of LeGair Brand Ltd, her own label which is based in Columbus Ohio. She creates formal, couture, prom, and business attire for Teens and Adults as well as one of a kind accessories.

She was the wardrobe designer for A Walk on Water Production Company. Her design is on the cover and also featured in the movie, “The Best Leading Daddy”.

Legair’s clothing has been in the ICC Christmas play, at the Mother Daughter fashion show, The C.O tour of Columbus, Nellie’s Catwalk 4 Kids, Miss Black Ohio Modeling Inc, Hair meets Fashion and “I Am Fashion” shows.

One of her designs, a peacock feathered gown with over 550 hand sewn feathers, was featured in Issue 14 of the African Vibes Magazine.

What we can expect at the “I Wear African” Runway Show

“I love African fabrics; they are so rich and vibrant. I plan to incorporate modern styles with African fabrics into my collection. I am ecstatic to be a part of the “I Wear African” campaign; it has encouraged me create a full line of contemporary African elegant designs which I will present at the show.”

Website: http://www.legairbrand.com

Pieces from Previous Collections

The Audi Johannesburg Fashion Week kicked off with its exciting autumn and winter collections. The four day fashion showcase features some of the country’s best designers unveiling their creative forecast of the season’s trends.

Below are some of our favorite picks off the 2010 Audi Joburg Fashion Week Runway.