Shop For Less: Chichia London

Visit Chichia London's Big Cartel store here.

- SLiq

Who Wore What: Suno & Duro Olowu @ Ikram Boutique's 10th Anniv. Celebration

Ikram Boutique (probably most famously known as Michelle Obama's favourite style hunt) recently celebrated ten years of being in business. Being a well-known stockist of Duro Olowu and Suno, we expected to see one or two looks from them -- we got FOUR.

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We love the look above from Duro Olowu's Spring 2011 collection - an exquisite silk floral dress with voluminous sleeves for effect.

The second look we spotted (below) took it way back to Suno's debut collection in 2009 when kanga print was all we knew the brand for.

Below, Suno co-designer Erin Beatty wears an adapted S/S 2011 look, featuring a beaded bodice and a ruffled printed skirt.

And, finally, here's Thelma Golden wearing a see-through printed dress from Duro Olowu's Spring 2010 collection. You may remember seeing a similar look on Caroline Issa about a year ago ago.

As for our favourite piece, we'll go with the white and floral maxi - two of Spring 2011's biggest trends very elegantly tackled in one look. Which look most appeals to you? Any you would've worn differently?

- SLiq

Collection photos courtesy of Style and Suno

Party photos courtesy of Paper Mag

Buy-It-Now: Lalesso Flats, £30

Summertime - heck, anytime - is a good time to add some extra pep to your step with colourful ballet flats. These pairs from Kenya-based brand, Lalesso, were produced by SOKO Kenya (also responsible for the Asos Africa phenom) and retail for 30 pounds online. Shop here for a variety of colours. 

Would you wear print on your feet?

- SLiq

Shop Liquorice's "Buy-it-Now" series takes our obsession with "Shopping Africa" a little further. Need chic and cheap pieces and not sure where to look? Eager to include Africa on your shopping list but don't have lots to spare? Shop Liquorice's "Buy-it-Now" presents the most fabulous finds on the web, so all you have to do is click and wait for your piece of Africa to make its way to you.

Spotlight: 5 reasons why we love Lalesso's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

Before we get into the top 5 things we're loving about Lalesso's Spring/Summer 2011 collection, allow us to give you a little background. Founded in 2005, Lalesso is the brainchild of Olivia Kennaway and Alice Heuser - two friends who turned their love for "lesso" (kanga print) into ethically-produced made-in-Kenya pieces that have found love all over. Their latest collection is high on our wish list for the following 5 reasons:

i) Lots of pretty patterns printed on 100% natural viscose and transformed into loose, something-for-everyone silhouettes.

ii) It's made in Kenya (by Soko Kenya, also responsible for ASOS Africa) by Kenyans, thus creating jobs and improved living standards for locals :-) Yay ethical standards and fair trade :-)

iii) We've found Lalesso's prints interesting in the past but the pieces in this collection are significantly more sophisticated and charming, including the solid blacks and whites.

iv) It's so nicely shot (in Kenya!) and accessorised (with pieces from a collaboration with Jennifer Kinnear; also made in Kenya!). Watch it all come to life in this accompanying video.

v) Lalesso's price points are usually super pocket-friendly and when the collection debuts in November, we'll more than likely be indulging in a piece or two! Enjoy some of our favourites from the collection below:

                  

Very fabulous!

See the entire collection here.

XO

Sneak Peek: Chichia London Fall 2010

Au Courant Daily recently posted an exclusive sneak preview of Chichia London's Fall/Winter 2010 collection, Insomnia. Many of you are probably already familiar with Christine Mhando's (head designer of Chichia London) soft spot for kanga print but what's most fascinating about her work is her ability to re-invent and modernize a staple print season after season, making it a highly sought-after must-buy. If the preview is anything to go by, we're going to be exceedingly broke come Fall 2010, but with kanga print and the possibility of a collection chock-full of dazzling embellishments, we're not sure there's anything to complain about.

Truly can't wait to see the magnificence that is Chichia London unfold! More images as soon as we have them.

XO

Who Wore What: Rihanna in Suno Spring/Summer 2010

This photo of Rihanna came to us in the form of a reader inquiry. How did we miss it?! Rihanna was spotted out and about in Madrid wearing a super cute romper and our SLiq reader Sarah asked: "This is definitely African Print but who is she wearing?" We're almost 100% sure she's wearing Suno because:

i) As far as Africa-inspired brands and exposure go, Suno NY and Boxing Kitten are stealing the spotlight right now and we're certain this isn't a Boxing Kitten piece.

ii) The photos below from Suno's Spring/Summer 2010 collection seal the deal:

Rihanna's romper has design elements from the look above and shares the same print as the looks below:

Shop Asos Africa NOW!

[Click photo to shop now!]

We announced the arrival of ASOS Africa over two weeks ago and in the interest of keeping you updated (the perks of reading our humble blog :-)), we thought we'd inform you that you can now shop quite a few pieces online. The debut date of the collection was supposed to be Feb. 21 but  5 days late is better than never! The beauty of ASOS Africa, aside from the colorful, easy-to wear clothes, is that it supports artisans in Kenya and Tanzania so you'll look fabulous AND give back! What's not to love?

Shop here! Oh, and if you're shopping from outside the UK, ASOS's flat shipping rates just might be all the extra motivation you need! More here.

XO

blog/link lovin': bella naija, ituen basi, chichia london, nike akinola

[model wears a piece from chichia london's spring/summer 2010 collection, 'made in dar']

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links worth clicking...

a. fashion africa unveils chichia london's spring 2010 collection

b. ladybrille interviews uche eze (bella naija)

c. elan interviews ituen basi

d. nike + chris okesola of nike akinola as entrepreneurs

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blogs worth visiting (our new favorites)...

a. the skinny (forever 21's blog)

b. lipstick boudoir

c. olivia palermo daily

d. where did you get that

happy reading :-)

xo

spotlight: suno by max osterweis

thanks to this month's elle magazine, we've spotted another "out of africa" brand we're very excited about. here's a closer look at Suno by Max Osterweis:



Suno is the result of "more than a decade of collecting textiles"* during trips to Kenya, so that what we have here is essentially a modern take on vintage kanga prints with stunning effects. each piece is developed in New York and patterns are then exported to Kenya where they're mass-produced. another noteworthy point - according to a recent article in the New York Times:

"Many of the [SUNO] prints are also printed with Swahili aphorisms that were originally worn to send messages to fellow villagers, like one that loosely translates as: “Watch your roosters, there’s a new hen in town.”

now that's an approach we haven't quite seen before. we're excited about african designers -- that much you already know. we're even more thrilled to find those among them who have taken the giant leap and exported their brands. it's one thing to be recognized at home, it's another thing to be recognized and respected elsewhere. we hope more african designers will find creative ways to work around the many obstacles that continue to present themselves.



more on suno here.

xo

**EDIT** turns out he's not an african designer but everything we said about african designers still stands, lol. and this doesn't mean we don't like him anymore either :-) **EDIT** (march 20, 2009)

*from sunony

photo credits - refinery29