naKIMuli Inc.

One of my favorite young designers, Tenille McMillan, is back for a Holiday '10 collection with her very own label naKIMuli. Let me give you a must-see reminder..

L.A.M.B at your arms too

You might have not ignore Gwen Stefani's latest afro collection for L.A.M.B.. I came across this STUNNING bag earlier, which appears to be part of the line as well. Then I found the four other ones.. Must-haves !

However, they need to launch a website or online shop for that amazing brand, because I don't know how nor where you can shop these items. So Gwen, if you pass through..

Jewel By Lisa

Oh I thought I already did post Jewel By Lisa's Autumn/Winter '10 collection ! So here it is. Fantastic like every line of the brand. And if you've never heard of JBL take a look at the post I did back in August.

Model Time !

I come across this poster everyday when taking the subway, and I wanted to know who these two men were. So there it is: I give you Armando Cabral (R) and his alleged brother (not sure about that at all).

Eki Orleans - Soft & Colorful

"My collection accentuates the feminine, the brave and the sexy within all of us and it's my mission to bring out the colourful goddess in every woman." 

ZedEye - Obvious trend-setter in the making

Paris may be the capital of fashion, but it appears like London is its school.
We have another talented graduate designer from London College of Fashion here: Ngozie Pere-Okorotie. The Nigerian-born founded ZedEye, a Vivienne-Westwood-meets-Victorian-theme-meets-Africa line. These are actually the young designer main inspirations. And I must say that it is very tasteful and eye-catching !

These are from the S/S 2011 collection entitled Tribal Romance Revisited. I can see the girl Chrisette Michelle in them..

Tina Kalivas - Multicultural skills

Tina Kalivas  is an Australian designer who worked for the late great Alexander McQueen, just after she graduated from the London College of Fashion. Since 2002, she manages her own eponymous label, from which the designs are known to be always very ethnic.

You might recognize this first outfit.. Indeed, this is what our dear Solange wore a couple of months ago for her Fahizblack spread [remember ??].

Peacock Couture - Black eyed pea on the carpet

Let's stay on those American Music Awards's red carpet with a quick look at Fergie's outfit. She arrived with a short Falguni & Shane Peacock black-and-blue sequined dress with feathers and lace. I personally liked it, contrary to many other feedbacks..

The red-hair girl gets printed all up !

Rihanna is so off her 'All Black Everything' outfits ! 

"Survival of the Fashionista"

This is some random editorial I bumped into on Essence.com. It was shot back in September 2009 and the girls feature creations by Hussein Chalayan and Bryce D'Anice Aime.

Models: Eligha Ojoko and Teara Eglestone from Major Model Management.

Asos Africa

Remember when I introduced you to Asos Africa here ?? Well, the pieces featured on that post are at sale price !

Boxing Kitten - About a destiny

A third part of one of my fav band was rocking Boxing Kitten lately. Did Solange whisper Michelle a word about B. K. ?

www.boxingkitten.com

I love Suno

Rachel Bilson

That brand might be one of my favorites out of the bench. And it also appears as Rihanna's and Elle Fanning's huge digs. Even America's 1st Lady has adopted the NYC based brand. Recently spotted during Fashion Nights Out was actress Rachel Bilson in that cute little dress from the 2011 Resort collection, which I like alot. Take a look, and at the Spring-Summer '11 one as well. This year, there's a fabulicious bonus..

Lydia Courteille - Tribal Preciousness

Pearls and diamonds undergo an ethnic lift by French jewelry designer Lydia Courteille. Masks, wood, ivory have their places on our bodies too.

www.lydiacourteille.com

Junya Watanabe - The Motherland meets the Ingalls family

The Japanese designer, mostly known from Comme Des Garçons, gave us art during his Spring '09 fashion show.

Hervé Léger by Max Azria

The body-con dresses specialist is back with pieces I bet I'm going to see on Kim K real soon. Classical black and white, bright colors or skin toned (well, white skin tone), the designers are giving every potential alternatives.

K. Harin x D. Sims x LV x Vogue x The Motherland

This is one of my favourite spreads: November '09 issue of Vogue Paris. It was some advertising for Louis Vuitton, and at the same time a subtle tribute to artist David Haring, as he inspired those body-painted graffitis. Brazilian model Isabela Fontana got her glamazon role way more than well-done too: could someone have brought some more fierceness to this ?? Nuh-huh !

Sika Designs

London based designer Phyllis Taylor is making a bold and vibrant use of the wax fabric. She created Sika Designs, another brand which clothes are all hand-made and straight from Ghana. From square-shouldered jackets, jumpsuits, to prom dresses and full skirts, every trend has its own afrocentric translation. I'm simply loving it !

Marchesa - On the carpet

Fashion Night Out. New York. 9.7.2010

Chichia London by Christine Mhando

Well. I guess using batik prints for today's wearable designs is getting kind of common now !

Wafrica - Difference is a key

How surprised was I when I found out about this brand !
Wafrica was created by a Cameroonian-born designer, Serge Mouangue, and is all about reinventing traditional couture. This appears like the most beautiful way to mix one's love for its roots to their passion for another culture.

LV x Bono x The Motherland = Africa Rising

Paris, Oct. 6th > 18th.
The Louis Vuitton team is partnering up with Edun, the ethical clothing label created by Bono and his wife Ali, for an exhibition titled Africa Rising. It showcases five African artists that seek changes throughout creativity, passion and dynamism.

Model Time !

Name: Ubah Hassan
Origins: Somalia
Birthdate: 8.27.1987
Current location: New York

LAMB - On the carpet

Las Vegas, NA. September 22nd.

Gwen Stefani introducing her wax figure at Madame Tussauds Museum, wearing a pretty wax cloth dress from her Spring/Summer '11 collection for L.A.M.B.

Juanjo Oliva - Or how to be stunned

OH-EM-GEE ! I literally screamed when I saw this collection ! This is gorgeously gorgeous ! When you reach that level, you are not talking 'high fashion' but 'higher-than-the-sky fashion' !

Issa London - A flight from Brazil to India

London Fashion Week. Day 5

Bright colours ! Fluid dresses and harem trousers ! Headwraps ! What a wonderful collection Ms Daniella Helayel presented for Issa London's Spring/Summer '11 !

Holly Fulton - Look beyond tomorrow

London Fashion Week. Day 4

Graphic prints and futuristic shapes were, once again, the watchwords for Holly Fulton's Spring/Summer '11 collection, still with that ethnic touch.
I'm so loving the accessories !




www.hollyfulton.com

Matthew Williamson - A way through the jungle

London Fashion Week. Day 3

Matthew Williamson invites what they call the "safari" style to the most distinguished cocktails. Sand colors and fringes are on track.




www.matthewwilliamson.com

Aschobi Designs - All about faith

Sierra Leone. For those who don't know, this is one of the three poorest countries in the entire world, despite the important flood of diamond exploited out there. Ever saw the movie Blood Diamond ? Yes, it was there (cliché to its highest..). Like it wasn't enough, Sierra Leone got rid of a murdering 11-year civil war in January 2002, exactly because of those same diamonds and their controlling.

Solange x Fashizblack

September-October issue.

Not only Sol iz fash, she also wears Africa too darn well ! And she is beautifully taking away the "sister of" image that surrounded her.





www.fashizblack.com

L.A.M.B

No doubt, she is no stranger to us. Gwen Stefani killed it during the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2010 !
She presented the Spring/Summer 2011 collection of her label, L.A.M.B, that I believe stands for "Love. Angel. Music. Baby". Oh wait, that was the title of her first solo album back in 2004 right ?! Well.

D.V.N.

Dries Van Noten is a noted Belgian stylist who is known for working with prints of all sorts, including the batik print, here for its Spring/Summer '10 collection.

John Galliano x Fertility Goddess

Back in 2009, we spotted the Fertility Goddess Hi Heels shoes during Dior's launching of its Spring/Summer collection. They took their inspiration from a trip John Galliano had in Africa.

Ghubar

Ghubar Mag -
A rising webzine about culture, art and fashion of course, basing around the cultural mix of our society. For the September issue, all eyes on the Motherland, with three different gorgeous covers. It will be available online on the 5th.

I really can't wait for Ghubar to land on newsstands ! Props to Mario Epanya for the shots.





www.ghubar-magazine.com
The blog !

Model Time !

Name: Nokathula Neka aka Thula
Age: 20
Origins: South African
Agency: Diva Models




These stuntastik pics were taken by Danish photographer Isa Jacobs for a short editorial featured on TheOnes2Watch, an online magazine that emphasizes on worldwide up-and-coming photographers, hair/makeup artists, designers, etc.

"Black beauty" to the fullest !




Her book

Sass & Bide

We never hear about what's going on out there in Oceania, do we ?! Well, two talented women managed to do well and created in 1999 the label Sass and Bide.

Bee

August '10: my dear Beyonce rockin Boxing Kitten in St Tropez.



www.boxingkitten.com