Ann Mordi Jewelry
Jamati: Hello Anne how are you?
I am very well thank you. How are you?
Jamati: So what part of the continent do you hail from?
I am from Nigeria. » Read more…
Amsale Aberra - Ethiopian Bridal Couture Guru
Amsale Aberra came to the States when she was 19 to study art. As a child in Addis Ababa Amsale designed clothes for her and her sister to wear. Her love for fashion resurfaced when she was set to marry the man of her dreams, film executive Neil Brown but could not find a dress that was simple yet elegant. It was the 80’s and power shoulder pads with gigantic poofy skirts were all the rage. There was a definite void in the market for elegant and sophisticated wedding gowns. Amsale didn’t want to compromise so she did what any creative exasperated person would do, she made her own gown.
Her gown won women in her same predicament over. In 1986 Amsale started her business as a designer for fine bridal wear for the upscale market. Having a degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and experience working for Harvé Benard were a definite plus for Amsale. » Read more…
Interview with Socially Conscious and Innovative Designer/Writer G. Kofi Annan
Jamati.com: Kofi, please tell our audience a bit about your cultural background.
I was born in Accra, Ghana, but spent most of my early childhood in Monrovia, Liberia. My family then immigrated to the USA when I was 12 years old and I’ve been here ever since. » Read more…
The Tuareg Prince Designer - Alphadi
Seidnaly Sidhamed, otherwise known in fashion circles as Alphadi, has done what no other designer has done for the Sahel region of Mali and Niger–he has brought the traditional attire of the Tuareg and Dogon ethnic groups to the mainstream fashion world. Alphadi has managed to marry traditional African fabrics with western silhouettes. An example of this is his spring collection in which he showcased the blue men of the Sahel. The blue men are his Tuareg ethnic group who are known for their brilliantly colored blue cloth that they use to protect their heads from the fierce winds and sand of the Sahel.
He paid homage to his heritage by pairing the cloth with linen textured block-print fabric. It is this intermixing of fabric, and essentially culture, that has paved the way for many other African designers. Alphadi was ahead of his time when he pioneered the first ever International Festival of the African Mode in Niamey, Niger. This exposition was a watershed mark in African and European fashion. Never before had an African designer managed to present African style at the international level and as a result of this European designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Yves St. Laurent began using African fabrics in their respective clothing lines. He is truly an African lover.
Jeffrey Kimathi - Jamhuri Wear
There’s an old African adage that says, “Until the lion learns to speak, the tales of hunting will be weak”. Using this mantra as inspiration, Jamhuri Wear was designed to help communicate the untold stories of Africa to the rest of the world through the popular market of street wear and to help shape a more positive reality for the continent.
The word “Jamhuri” translates from Swahili as “Republic” or “Free State.” It makes reference to the 53 vast nations of the company’s principal focus and invites the Jamhuri Wear-clad to play an ambassador-like role in the form of a fashionista state. » Read more…
Ozwald Boateng - Bespoke Line
Ghanaian British designer Ozwald Boateng known for his Bespoke Couture design line has come a far way from just designing mens suits on Savile Row in London. He is now known for his expertly tailored menswear which have been worn by such Hollywood elite as Samuel L. Jackson, Will Smith, and academy award winner Jaime Foxx, to name a few. His designs have been in the Jude Law movie, Alfie, the James Bond OO7 film series, and Rush Hour 3. He has even been consulted by Miller Genuine draft beer to re-do their design scheme. It is such exposure that has helped Boateng establish his presence in the US and, to a certain extent, the global marketplace. Boateng has stores in England, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. Not only has he become a household name in menswear couture in the UK, but he has expanded his talents as Creative Director of menswear for the French iconic house of fashion, Givenchy. Boateng is certainly an innovator when it comes to men’s fashion. His use of color and cut is brilliant and modern without being garish. He has won numerous awards including the prestigious Order of the British Empire given by Queen Elizabeth.
Mr. Boateng is an opportunistic visionary who has set his sights set on establishing a global brand the likes of which the world has not seen by an African. At present, he has Bespoke Perfume, and there are more stores due to open up world wide and more stars to dress. He makes his home in London with his wife and 2 children. You can view his line at http://www.ozwaldboateng.co.uk/
Nana Boateng - Akua Adoma Line
Nana is not new to the world of fashion. The designer was first exposed to the traditional laces of African attire from his mother Mrs. Akua Adoma who his fashion empire is named after. Nana is a Ghanaian-American, bred in New York, who was actually an athlete turned designer. His clothes can be defined as well-tailored men’s suits that have fantastic flair with vibrant colors and good fabric. Nana is often times compared to his first cousin Ozwald Boateng who is know in fashion circles as one of the best tailors to hit the UK fashion scene in quite some time. Needless to say, Nana is truly a designer in his own right. What makes his clothes so unique and sought after is his creative use of color, interwoven with traditional fabric and patterns from his Ashanti culture of Ghana. Nana is able to make a luscious orange colored suit in a light weight linen fabric that would work well on the streets of New York and Accra. His designs are made for a man who is confident in his own skin and comfortable with standing out in a crowd.
For more information on this designing guru please visit his site www.akuaadomoa.com.
African Events Calendar
Upcoming Events
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February 22, 2009
Race Across The World (RAW Africa) : Sossusvlei, Namibia
South Africa
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January 20, 2009
2009 Inaugural Events: President-Elect Barack Obama
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January 8, 2009
Capetown Jazzathon 2009: Capetown, South Africa
South Africa
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December 27, 2008
1st Annual Homecoming Jumpoff: Accra, Ghana
West Africa
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