UK-BASED Zimbabwean fashion accessory designer, Pamela Samasuwo-Nyawiri, has been nominated for the prestigious Vogue and Muuse Talents Young Vision Accessories Award for 'The Best Emerging International Fashion Accessories Designer'.

The award recognizes the most influential emerging designers in fashion today and celebrates the reputation and development of fashion worldwide.

Pam is the first African to ever go through the nomination process for this award, and has whizzed through 10,000 potential accessory designers to be among the remaining 180 for the 2014 award.

The new Cherish collection of Nigeria-London based bespoke bridal, evening and formal day-wear brand is simply elegant, each peace is given a yoruba name, they are:- Abike, Aduke, Ajoke, Ronke and Tinuke.

Yemi Osunkoya is the designer behind the Kosibah label explained that Kosibah is a brand that specializes in contemporary and elegant couture bridal, evening and formal day-wear using luxurious fabrics and sumptuous embellishments.

See the full collection after the jump.

Timi Alaere is an Australian based womenswear label launched in 2012 by Nigerian born designer, Timi Onduku-Pedley.

“Alaere”which simply means “Woman Of Substance” is the universal muse for the label. The brand showcases eclectic designs inspired by cross-cultural references and incorporating beautiful textiles that encompass exclusive, original prints with irregular organic flair and modern aesthetics.

Check out the full collection after the jump.

check out the full collection after the jump.

Fabryan’s La Femme Fatale is for women who do not wait, nor do they mess around. The designer, Samantha-Jane has maintained her dedication to black and white, staying true to the brand’s codes of sophistication. Yet, she also embraced the daring nature of a Fabryan women by courageously working with burnt orange.

More photos from the show after the jump.

Vogue Accessory was launched in 2011 as the guide for the latest accessory trends around the world. Every 3 months, the magazine creatively showcases the best trends from the latest neck pieces to hand bangles, earrings, rings and other classic accessories. For their January 2014 issue, they teamed up with Italian photographer Lucia Giacani and stylist Enrica Ponzellini to produce the“African Visions” editorial for Vogue Accessory. 

The editorial features models wearing turbans and accessories from designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Persol 9649, Versace, Prada, and Burberry, all fused with African prints.

See photos after the jump.

The Hero Campaign. This season Vlisco explores the hero within. She who has the courage to forge her own path on the stage of life and bask in the limelight she creates. To be independent and express her inner strength at every occasion. These powerful concepts were brought vividly to life in Vlisco’s campaign imagery depicting women expressing their feminine strength through male inspired styles.

Courageous beauty. Hero’s designs fuse empowered femininity with futuristic geometry, powerful lines with elegant fortitude. And new for this season, Vlisco has introduced futuristic, linear stripes making it sartorially easy for Vlisco women to create their own unique statement.

See the new designs after the jump.

Africa Fashion Day Berlin celebrated its one-year anniversary on Friday the 17th of January 2014 at the Mani Restaurant, Torstrasse 136, Berlin 10119, Germany.

Guests experienced a surprise to their night with Dancer Mwenda performing her mesmerizing choreography “South Afro Fusion”.

See more photos after the jump.

Johnson O’Eclat is a dynamic brand creating beautiful and affordable handcrafted clutches, purses, wallets, slippers,jewelries and belts using leather,ethnic prints and other gorgeous prints mixed with a twist of Africa with a contemporary edge.

Each piece represents a perfect individuality and style with key attention to details. With inspiration drawn from everywhere, every piece is a unique, classic design made for fashion lovers of all ages.

Ethnic, exotic, regal all come to mind with the Fall/Winter collection from talented accessories designer Kimone Young of 84Gem. This ‘Giza’ collection uses earthy colours and shades; there are a lot of muted gold, copper, grays, blacks and browns and then some ivory. The Giza collection concentrates mainly on statement necklaces varying in size and design, there are long intricately crafted earrings and bracelets and armbands. The collection plays with gem-stones, ivory, leather and a few materials. 

Check out more from the collection after the jump.

Congolese born Tina Lobondi is an international Fashion Designer and young entrepreneur, with over 7 years of experience in the fashion industry.

Tina Lobondi established her eponymous label in Notting Hill. Her collections are based on exceptional attention to details and finish, classic and chic designs.

Elegance with timeless style is the aim she wants to achieve. The fabrics and materials are sourced from all around the world, Mauritania to Paris and London.

The company's Made-to order service offers you the possibility of choosing your designs and fabrics, to create individually crafted One-Off pieces all Made in London.

The dresses celebrate the gorgeousness of life allowing the wearer to edge a little closer to their dreams.

Check out the full collection after the jump.

Aamito is now officially the Season 1 Winner of Africa’s Next Top Model. Aamito gets a 1-year modelling contract with New York based modelling agency DNA, a product endorsement deal and cash prize of $50,000.

See more of her photos after the jump.

The Stranger in Me art exhibition combines these new mediums, themes and styles, showing Kaloki’s depth as an artist. Below are some of his most recent art works.

     

Arrey Enow from Cameroon came to live in Germany in 1994 not really sure of what she wanted to do professionally. Today she is an international fashion designer with her own label.

See the full collection after the jump.

Apya Productions the producers of Africa Fashion Day Berlin return with FASHION DINNER after a successful debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin in January 2013.Fashion Dinner is an invitation-only-event takes place on the 17th of January 2014 at 19:30h at Mani Restaurant, Torstrasse 136, Berlin 10119.

Founder of Apya Productions and the Africa Fashion Day Berlin Beatrace Oola welcomes guests to this intimate and exclusive dining experience.

The event will serve as a platform for designers to showcase and network with press and buyers. It will also launch the online shop UnseenPieces. Unseenpieces.com is an online shop with a selection of limited exclusive collections by young international designers for the discerning shopper.

Learn how you can secure an invitation after the jump.

The African Fashion and Design Week (AFDW) is an innovative event by Bluepearl Services International (BSI) and in partnership with World Fashion for Development supporting their goals of promoting economic development and social responsibility around the world through fashion as an avenue for development.

The AFDW aims to promote the business of fashion in Africa globally, nurture emerging talents and take local talents global and bring global talents local. Since its establishment, the AFDW has discovered and nurtured emerging designers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and sponsored designers from Nigeria and other African countries to showcase their designs during the Fashion Week Brooklyn New York.

According to Alfonso, there has never been a better time to be in the African fashion industry as it is receiving a lot of international attention.

“African fashion is going far. Every time you wear something African in European countries people look around and come and ask you about it. It’s amazing how people are supporting the African fashion industry which makes me proud to be Malawian and African at the same time, especially in European countries, or anywhere in the world,” she highlighted.

Africa on My Sleeve has announced the launch of designer registrations for the 2014 project. Launched in 2013, Africa on My Sleeve Limited has implemented changes designed to facilitate the growth and development of designers.

The founder of Africa on My Sleeve - Makanaka Tuwe has this to say:

“The scope and vision of the organisation has grown exponentially taking into consideration the needs of designers as well as the transforming socioeconomic climate within the fashion industry. The times are changing and after the first show we saw it fit to continue to evolve and redefine ourselves. Onwards and upwards!” 

Continue reading to see how you can apply.

M.A.F. Couture is the creation of 19 year old Mary Tataw Eyere, a Holland-based fashion student. The label, founded in 2009, is designed for stylish young women who appreciates trendy fashion and unique style.

M.A.F is an international lifestyle brand offering smart, affordable luxury and bringing newness and style to life with an entirely new touch. The brand offers styles to suits various classes of people. With different edgy outfits and accessories, one can easily find a pick to suit any style.

Africa’s Next Top Model by Oluchi will crown their first winner this Sunday January 12th, 2014. The top finalists are Opeyemi from Nigeria, Aamito and Michaela from Angola.

Watch this Sunday’s final episode showing on DSTV Africa Magic channel 151 at 7pm CAT.

                                                

Fashion Africa is a visual overview of contemporary African fashion, compiled with an ethical perspective. This guide is the first of its kind to bring together designers, design companies, ethical manufacturers and more, all with an African connection. Covering the entire continent, the book highlights designers who have specifically sourced Africa for their designs, whether that be materials (sustainable cottons and silks) or techniques (traditional weaving or batik), or simply for the vast opportunities for designers to grow and utilize the great natural resources of the region.

DESPLAY 9 Applications closes 10th Jan. 2014

Democracy Series for Participatory Learning and Action by Youth (DESPLAY)

Youngstars Foundation with support from the National Endowment for Democracy NED – USA, presents the 9th edition of DESPLAY, 2014. DESPLAY is the most consistent and longest running annual youth democracy training program in Nigeria/West Africa designed to widen young people’s democracy education and foster active youth participation in good governance processes.

See how you can apply after the jump.

Facebook: BETH-Model-Management-Africa

Anita Quansah is a Ghanaian –UK based jewellery designer. Here is her Spring/Summer 2014 collection. You are going to love these pieces, I do!

Here is what the designer had to say about her designs, “I love working with a range of materials to create an ultimate statement necklace, neck piece, head piece or earrings. If you search within my work, there's always a hidden surprise of materials that one least expect to be found in jewelry.”

See full collection after the jump.

“The Aesthetic Man” collection has a playful nature to it that is reflected in the floral and animal prints and bold colours. The collection is inspired by the designers love for nature and the wild.

See the full collection after the jump.