photo credit: delabique ethnic collection
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MARCH 2013 VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
gèlè
...the joy of African Fashion
Editorial
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t’s hard now a days to stay up to date on the things you care most about. Wherever your interests may lie, the Internet is a vast resource with lots of places to get information. Unless you have all the time in the world, there will be something you have missed. Enter gèlè, your resource for African fashion, in bite size format. In these next few pages, you will find that we have compiled and repurposed the best posts about African fashion - every month - across the World Wide Web, making them easier to devour for your on-the-go lifestyle. As for our name, glad you asked; gèlè is a word in the Yoruba language that defines a type of woman’s head wrap. It is distinctively African; it is us.
Welina Farah is a recent graduate of UMass Boston, holding a degree in sociology. Writing, reading, drinking coffee, music, cooking, fashion, new social discoveries, and art are some of her favorite past times. To learn more about Welina, visit www.about.me/welina.farah
Dele Omotosho, Jr., a Nigerian native of the Yoruba tribe. Co-founder of Geleyi, the product that makes African fashion beautifully accessible to the world. An addict to the flamboyance of African culture, especially through its fashion.
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Zen Magazine’s Top African Designers
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ecently, The Zen Magazine posted their top 9 African designers. We have decided to do the same. Brands have been rated on the following points: selling their designs online, ability to cooperate with brandws and retailers, creating several collections a year, being innovative and fashion forward, and finally, being present on different social media platforms with an updated website. Duro Olowu: this company will soon be collaborating with JCPenny, making it easier to obtain his clothing. The collection is fashion forward with a website that is a bit behind and outdated. Luckily, The Outnet and Net-APorter carry some of their pieces. Jewel by Lisa: Co-operations with Blackberry and L’Oreal give this company a step up from their competitors. The red carpet
worthy bejeweled clutches are available on online stores like myasho. Eki Orleans: one of the few designers that offer a shop on their website. The ‘sales’ tab is worth a look. Doreen Mashika: if Michelle Obama owns one of your bags, you know you’ve done well. The Zanzibar designer will soon be selling her designs online for everyone else to purchase all over the world. Christie Brown: as hard as it may be, wGhanaian Christie Brown makes her designs couture and sleek and at the same time keep her afro-centric roots in the pieces. A setback is that one cannot order online. Ozwald Boateng: One of the best-known African designers living in the UK, Boateng, of Ghanaian descent, was the youngest and first black tailor to have a store on Savile Row, a street known for top-notch tailors. via http://bit.ly/Vg48f0
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gèlè
...the joy of African Fashion
NYFW: David Tlale Fall 2013
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or his fall 2013 line, South African Designer David Tlale presented a collection based on a work friendly look to red carpet material. His collection worked jewel tone colors like brass, burgundy, and gold; yet at the same time, featuring decadent elegant style with luxury and style.
Bow blouses, cinched high-waist skirts with peplum hemlines, and long flowy dresses were just a few different styles we saw on the runway. During the show, I found out Tlale is celebrating a decade as a fashion brand. Here’s to another decade (and more) of amazing success as he celebrates this important milestone! Congratulations! via http://bit.ly/ZFBjY7
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ajePomaa Design Gallery: New Collection
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ased in Ghana, ajePomaa Design Gallery has launched their new collection called Navrongo Pursuit. The line reminds me of urban chic. It’s fresh, cool, and the colors are great. The story behind this collection is inspired by the concept of journey: new beginnings and opportunities. Navrongo is a town in Ghana’s northeast region, representing it’s three founding fathers in green, grey, and coral. via http://bit.ly/Vxx2Gp
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gèlè
...the joy of African Fashion
Kushn
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ushn products are designed by a Cape Town, South Africa based duo: Greer Valley and Themba Mntambo. For bold colors, geometric prints, and interesting textures, accents on Valley and Mntambo’s pieces come from a combination of African print fabrics and woven textiles. Kushn is best known for their laptop and tablet covers. Now, they will be offering their new shoe collection, handmade in Cape Town, South Africa on Etsy. via http://bit.ly/XGtxhF kushn on Etsy: http://etsy.me/ YF1KfI
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Just Bead It
Tza’s Treasures
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za’s Treasures is a company that incorporates both vintage and modern beads in their statement necklaces. The uniqueness of each piece comes from the different shapes and sizes of the beads. Combined with metals from Ghana, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast, Tza’s Treasures necklaces will surely be your favorite necklace in your jewelry box. Statement necklaces are a great way to dress up any outfit or add edge to a casual look. via http://bit.ly/Vg1S7z
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gèlè
...the joy of African Fashion
THIS IS AFRICA
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ased in London but manufactured in Africa, Dearcurves creates clothing for plus-size women, starting from size UK18 and up. Plus size model and fashion designer Linda Idegwu is the CEO and works with both African and Western fabrics, leading to flattering and contemporary clothing for real women. Tailored clothing can be an easy solution in most African countries to the restricting sized of
Dearcurves African fashion for curvy women
the west. Unfortunately, tailoring clothes to one’s body is not the best financial decision here in the states! A dilemma arises, though, when African fashion follows in the footsteps of European desigers and sizing charts. “Given that African brands are increasingly aiming at a global market, there is some logic to [using European sizes], but only just when one considers that the African woman generally has a bit more flesh on her bones than the average European. Which is where a brand like Dearcurves comes in,” said Idegwu. via http://bit.ly/WkKO1G
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“Lanre Da Silva Ajayi” Spr/Sum ‘13: Butterfly Kisses Nigerian Designer, ‘Lanre Da silva Ajayi’ (LDA) debuts her spring/summer 2013 collection called ‘Butterfly Kisses’ in Dolce and Gabbana’s Spiga1 Concept Store in Milan, Italy
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igerian Fashion Designer Lanre Da Silva Ajayi (LDA) and her design brand of the same name debuted at the famous retail store Dolce & Gabbana this month. Pieces from the spring/summer 2013 collection are available for purchase at the Dolce & Gabbana Spiga2 Concept Store located in Milan, Italy. Lanre Da Silva Ajayi (LDA) is the first African designer to have her pieces in the Spiga2 Concept store, a result of LDA’s participation in a trade show in Florence in June of 2012. With an extraordinary eye for prints, luxury fabrics, and unique pieces, Lanre Da silva Ajayi has shown the fashion industry what it’s made of. They are a force to
be reckoned with. LDA continues to hold high expectations with her flawless strategies and amazing couture pieces. Strongly influenced by the vintage look, this brand continues to stay true but also keeping up with trends. For more information on the Dolce & Gabbana Spiga2 Concept Store, please visit: http://www. spiga2.dolcegabbana.com via http://bit.ly/13s4YZE
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gèlè
...the joy of African Fashion
Print Chic: Delabique Ethnic Collection
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igerian luxury clothing line Delabique is based on a passionate desire to create something beautiful for the sophisticated woman and can be personalized by the wearer. Deola Kamson is the Creative Director of Delabique, which is a mix of her name and that of her husband, Labi. Although she holds a degree in biology, her heart has yearned for the arts from a young age. With all the drawing she had to do with her
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major, spending hours recreating biological specimens, Kamson has sharpened her ability to create with the pencil, which is evident in her pieces. Remembering the main focal point of the fashion brand (which is to satisfy the need of fashion lovers), Delabique has created an easy and modern line of clothing for spring/summer 2013. The collection is made up of animal and floral prints, Ankara blazers, pleated skirts, and many other styles adaptable to the needs of fashion lovers. Via http://bit.ly/XK6Whd
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...the joy of African Fashion
Nigerian Design Label FinAfrik presents
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he self-described ethnic design label presents the maiden edition of its annual Valentine’s Day collection, entitled “My Ethnic Valentine”. The designer, Sophie Ajuonma describes ‘My Ethnic Valentine’ as “refreshing, traditional, yet modern and a delight to the eyes.” She also added, “My Valentine collection is an annual event. It is a season for showing love and appreciation to loved ones; it is giving your ‘YOU’ to the one you love by putting on your best outfit and looking great. Beauty is what you see and appreciate. Body language is key.”
“My Ethnic Valentine” ctd
While designing the exciting collection, Ajuonuma took into consideration all the different shapes and figures that people have. In the process of doing so, she created different styles of dresses: baby doll, draped skirts, peplum skirts, and dresses that flatter the female shape. She also included chiffon maxi skirts, flowing dresses, and blouses for a more graceful and elegant silhouette. The male designs pay tribute to their female counterparts in both color and pattern, accentuating the association in her clothes and the story she tell through them. via http://bit.ly/ZNBHI1
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...the joy of African Fashion
! s i h Bag T
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outh African handbag label BagThis, launched in October of 2011, is a range of bags and purses created by Aaliyah Makoni. Inspired by African prints like shweshwe and ankara, the colors used for the bags are colorful and interesting. The idea of creating something with her hands inspires her and fuels her desire to craft beauty for others to enjoy and appreciate. Check out the photos of her bags for an idea of what to pair them with. May I suggest denim and a white cotton tee/blazer? via http://bit.ly/VYxygQ
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Dent de Man Menswear Brand
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ccording to an article on Menstylefashion.com, Dent de Man has a core purpose of providing tailored pieces of art through classic African printed suits and trousers. Mixing traditional and soulful print choices allow to provide a contemporary look for the everyday gentleman with style. The Spring/Summer 2013 line fuses two looks together: simple menswear and traditional African print. Each fabric used has been individually sourced and has it’s own meaning and story. via http://bit.ly/Z4VLAS
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...the joy of African Fashion
Awesomeness for your Feet:
Brother Vellies
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rother Vellies is based in Namibia, where the vellies, more commonly known as ‘desert boots’, are handmade and only 20 pairs are made a day.
If you're interested in purchasing a pair, visit their online store. Pricing starts around $195 and goes to about $300.
The boots are made from vegetable-dyed Kudu leather and suede that ages well.
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via http://bit.ly/VkbP3U
We here at gèlè would like to thank the following African blogs for their love of fashion and their continent African Prints in FashionBella NaijaCIAAFRIQUEHaute Fashion Africa One Nigerian BoyThis Is AfricaLadybrille Magazinefashionjunkii
/ We would also like to thank David Jérémy Delonnay for his hard work, time, and dedication to the design of this publication.
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