First Look: Sika Designs Unveils 'Blossom'

Shop Liquorice paid Sika Designs a visit at their boutique in Greenwich Market, London to experience the brand up close and personal. What we discovered was a well-thought out and executed plan to create a ready-to-wear label ethically infused with Africa as an alternative to high street offerings. 

Founder Phyllis Taylor adopts a very hands-on approach to sourcing textiles and supervising production in Ghana. Each collection is ethically made locally and held to very high standards for design, fit and finish, resulting in simple and charming pieces that can be worn off the rack.

Sika Designs's latest collection, Blossom, follows in the tradition of previous collections, mixing prints in a variety of silhouettes (our favourites being the one-shoulder pieces) fit for casual and formals excursions.

 

With attention from Vogue.com, Vogue Japan, Grazia and FADER, Sika Designs (see more Sika Designs Press here) is certainly one to keep watching, and as they prepare to move to a bigger store space in the coming weeks, Shop Liquorice wishes this stunning example of an African-owned retail brand continued success.

Shop Blossom and past collection online here.

- SLiq

Look Book: William Okpo F/W 2011

Darlene and Lizzie Okpo

A new season means new William Okpo offerings -- this time, the wools and greys of winter dominate but by no means dull it down. There's still a bit of room for fun with the variety of lengths and the separates that lend themselves to mixing and matching. Granted, we are not lusting after as many pieces as we did with previous collections (our must-have piece here is the trench below), but we remain William Okpo enthusiasts for their pulse on themed, visually coherent collections and their re-invention of classic, staple pieces come sun or snow.

Good news for William Okpo - not only did they create pieces for Lauryn Hill's summer tour, the label has also been selected to show their Spring 2012 collection at GEN ART's Fresh Faces in Fashion event celebrating the next generation of fashion talent. More information here.

What do you make of their latest collection?

- SLiq

Photos:

William Okpo

Look Book: Deola Sagoe F/W 2011 [Ori Oke]

Twenty-two years after the brand's inception in 1989, there's still a thread of inborn elegance and heritage that runs through Deola Sagoe's collections - Deola Sagoe is one of those few, rare brands that invoke a certain aura, mood and feeling, and a very certain, definite longing. The fashion house's Ori Oke F/W '11 collection look book is yet another stunning glimpse into the feverishly glamourous, highly coveted world of one of Africa's most creative, celebrated and consistent brands.

FIRST LOOK: Bunmi Koko Bridal

There are moments and there are moments -- that split second when we laid our eyes on the first looks from Bunmi Koko's new bridal range, especially with the backdrop of the day's breathtaking grand royal wedding, has turned us into piles of mush and desire. We're always beside ourselves when it comes to beauty and everything about these looks is exquisite and everything but ordinary.

Bunmi Olaye and Francis Udom have always had big dreams for their Bunmi Koko label, approaching it as more of a lifestyle brand than a ready-to-wear line alone. With their expansion into bridal territory, evening wear and men's accessories, their dreams are certainly taking shape, and we're charmed by them, to say the least.

Are Bunmi Koko's pieces making you reconsider your go-to designer for your wedding dress?

- SLiq

Photos:

Bunmi Koko

Lookbook: Lola Faturoti A/W 2011 [Ethnic Modernism]

Regular readers may have caught our sneak peek early last month and had their appetites whet in preparation for the main course - which itself makes us wish Lola Faturoti would hurry up and give us e-commerce already. She always brings a distinct sophistication and mastery to her treatment of print and her Fall 2011 Ethnic Modernism collection juggles everything from 60s Op Art to leopard print and polka dots. Silhouettes are at once relaxed and fitted, giving ample room juxtaposition and movement. Other highlights include her toughening it up with leather and fringe (our alter egos would totally wear the Maureen Jacket), the darling bows and pleats, and her use of coral, which we wish we got a little more of.

Thoughts? Any pieces in particular calling out to you?

First Look: Momo Spring/Summer 2011

After a year of silence from one of Nigeria's most notable brands (last we saw from them was at Arise L'Afrique-A-Porter last March, and they were noticeably absent from the recently concluded Arise Magazine Fashion Week in Lagos), Momo returns with a Spring/Summer 2011 collection as rich in colour, variety and tradition as it is striking and memorable. Momo has always celebrated femininity in their silhouettes, and has always understood what a plausible take on "Africa meets contemporary" might be, so it's no surprise that underlying mood seeps through and sets the direction of this collection. Momo's words offer greater insight:

Look Book: Christopher Strong ["I See Through You"]

 Christopher Strong is a Capetown-based womenswear label founded by Elaine du Plessis and Michael Owen.

BLACK IS ALWAYS THE NEW BLACK - Elain du Plessis

We have a deep, abiding love for minimalism - that no-frills attached, understated good-to-go mood that always seems so disconnected from the fray; that Alexander Wang meets Stella McCartney vibe; those back-to-basics pieces expertly executed in black, white, grey and beige; those much-needed and much-loved building blocks.

Christopher Strong's collection "I See Through You" reminds us why we always begin with - and return to - minimalism. Give us a simple collared white shirt, skinny pants, a partially see-through LBD, a tuxedo blazer, jersey, chiffon, silk -- or just go ahead and give us every piece from "I See Through You" -- and leave the rest to us.

It has been a long, long while since a collection has mirrored our mood so perfectly. We can't even tell you how in love we are.

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XO

Lookbook: Zed Eye's Tribal Romance Revisited

Three quarter sleeved green George jacket with cropped harem three quarter yellow ankara pants

Love fun fashion? You'll love Zed Eye. If you didn't get enough of the fusion of prints, plains and even feathers in Part I, there's even more in Tribal Romance Revisited. From fabulous Twiggy-style dresses to statement jackets and cropped harem pants styled with highlighter turbans, there's plenty of room to mix, match, and have fun with it. Enjoy:

SL Trend Watch: 2011 - The Year Of E-Commerce?

[From Nkwo's most recent collection, Happy Lives Here]

We're obsessed with brands that have some sort of e-commerce representation, be it on portals like Etsy and Big Cartel, brands with the "shop" function built into their websites, or brands stocked on sites like My Asho, Agnes and Lola, and Couture Lab. 

2011 has started off on quite a high note, with a number of brands (including Anita Quansah and House of Makeda) announcing plans to launch e-commerce compatible websites in the first quarter of the year. Earlier today, Nkwo - a brand we've long loved and admired at Shop Liquorice - released sneak peeks of the new look book for their Happy Lives Here collection alongside an announcement that their e-store is scheduled for an end of February launch. Already, Nkwo pieces are available at ASOS, My Asho, and Agnes and Lola.

 [From Zed Eye's Tribal Romance S/S 2011 collection]

The folks at Agnes and Lola also announced an exciting line-up for Spring, including pieces from London-based brand, Zed Eye. This is a first for the rising brand and plans are already underway for an exclusive "shop" portal on zedeye.com.

We can barely contain our joy. Will 2011 be the year e-commerce takes off? The year we - and the rest of the world - can finally support several of Africa's finest brands online? It just might be.

XO