First Look: Lanre da Silva Ajayi S/S 2012 Lookbook

Fresh off an appearance at Arise Magazine's Made in Africa Collective in New York, Lanre da Silva Ajayi presents a closer look at their offerings for Spring/Summer 2012, featuring America's Next Top Model alum, Aminat Ayinde. A thrilling melange of lace and layers and brights set the stage for a summer worth looking forward to.

First Look: 11 Previously Unseen Looks from Asibelua

Fati Asibelua's latest venture, Asibelua, is not to be mistaken for her better-known Momo. While the latter is headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, the former, Momo's sister label, 'focuses more on ready-to-wear collections for the international market' and is based in London. Same use of exquisite, luxurious, custom prints, same 'African signature', but catering to the demand for pieces that capture the essence of contemporary Africa outside Africa's shores. 

Last season saw a flurry of floral, animal and tie-dye prints boldly announcing the arrival of Asibelua. In a few hours, Asibelua will showcase its third collection at the Made in Africa show at New York Fashion Week. Before then, Shop Liquorice brings you a first look at previously unseen Asibelua pieces, courtesy of the brand new asibelua.com. The website is still a work in progress, but at least we all get to sample the brand's essence before we meet it on the runway.

(Screen capture from asibelua.com)

- SLiq

Lookbook: Tiffany Amber Autumn/Winter 2010

First word: WOW. Tiffany Amber's Autumn/Winter 2010 Lookbook seems very much like a coming-of-age project and a stunning testament to a designer that continues to be one of the dominant players in Africa's fashion scene 12 years after she started. Now, we don't say 'coming-of-age' to be patronizing or facetious -- we say it to pay homage to a designer who has fine-tuned her point-of-view and seems to be saying with this collection "I know what works for me."

Taking off where she left off in Paris and featuring a scrumptious platter of draped silks, watercolor print with a dash of solids, batiks and exquisite beadwork, this collection oozes relaxed sophistication and a maturity that's completely secure in itself. The dress code for the Tiffany Amber woman is jumpsuits, separates, and signature grecian-style dresses fit for her glamorous undertakings, helped along by signature Ituen Basi necklaces. Without further ado:

A. These looks feature dresses with watercolor and floral prints prints + beaded waist and neck detailing:

Spotlight: Bunmi Koko's Bunmi Olaye @ Graduate Fashion Week 2010

[Designer Bunmi Olaye, via Mimi Magazine]

[Bunmi Koko's designs at Graduate Fashion Week via Telegraph]

A new fashion darling is slowly but surely being crowned in London's style circuit. Bunmi Koko's Bunmi Olaye is a 28-year-old Nigerian designer who just participated at Graduate Fashion Week today (Sunday) with this year's graduating class of University of East London (UEL), and a woman with an extraordinary point of view who is destined for great things.

[Efik masquerades: Inspiration for the collection]

Her "Matriarchy" collection touched on powerful women who left their mark and as the Telegraph describes it: "Bunmi's collection, inspired by the mysterious men-only Leopard Masquerade cult of the Efik tribe in the Nigerian province of Calabar, mixed with references to the high-collars, tight waists and voluminous sleeves of the Victorian era, was the "star" of (UEL's) catwalk show today."

[Mood board for the "Matriarchy" collection]

In Bunmi's words, the collection evokes "The feeling of a warrior-like woman in power. The look plays with new proportions and the pairing of very different fabrics, precious materials such as cotton raffia, bells and beads, silks, sheep fur and woven wools with unexpected details."

With work experience at Alexander McQueen under her belt and the creative ingenuity to re-invent herself collection after collection, there's no doubt in our minds that Africa's fashion scene has a new rising star and it's just as well that she's debuting at Africa Fashion Week later this month. From the little we've seen, we're completely enamored of the cultural elements that coalesced in this collection to birth magical pieces that usher the bold arrival of an exceptional talent.

Please stay tuned for more photos from her collection.

XO

LOOKBOOK: Deola Sagoe F/W 2010

We paid Deola Sagoe's new site a visit a few weeks ago and happened on her Fall/Winter 2010 Lookbook, featuring pieces from her "Above the Fray" show at New York Fashion Week a few weeks ago.

Deola Sagoe and her team are truly doing it and doing it well. Visit the site here and click the link at the bottom right to view the lookbook. Lookbooks can certainly give clothes a different feel and we're that much more in love.

Enjoy!

XO

SPOTLIGHT: ROOR Design

Our daily internet trawl led us to the A/W 2010 collection of Renaissance of our Roots (ROOR), a brand that "produces contemporary clothing with beautiful fabrics from the continent of Africa" and that's run by three Nigerian ladies (Dami, Ekaete, and Rotimi). While several other brands share the same ethos, ROOR is distinct in that it pushes the boundaries of which fabric can do what, thus creating its own sub-reality. Take their latest collection, for instance. Fabrics like lace, aso-oke, and the crisp fabric used to make geles (head ties) are used to create sculptural pieces that "(imagine) what a future African ice age would look like" and the end product is really quite fascinating:

Love: KemKem Studio's Lime Aso-oke Suit!

[Scanned by ShopLiquorice]

Several Sundays ago, two stunning dresses from Kemkem Studio (by  Kemmy Oguntosin Solomon)graced the cover of Elan Magazine. For the uninitated, Elan is the free Sunday style supplement for 234NEXT.com, a vibrant daily out-of-Nigeria newspaper. 

Back to the clothes. Both dresses are absolutely gorgeous, but it's the lime aso-oke suit that did it for us [N69,000]. Aso-oke (a woven fabric usually reserved for special occasions) is by no means as mainstream as ankara (african print) and this piece stole our hearts for its simplicity and uniqueness. The words "lime" "green" and "suit" generally don't belong together but this look is such a hit that we couldn't help but share. It also helps that it was fabulously accessorized. Here's a closer look:

ShopAfrica/Spotlight: TAN by Tiffany Amber

[The Patch Pocket Tunic from Tiffany Amber's TAN diffusion line; $56.95]

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We've got to admit something - very often, we spy pieces from African or Africa-inspired designers we love and their price tags make our hearts lurch. We're young, fresh-out-of-college girls and certified members of the ballers on a budget club (*smiles*), so while we're prepared to save for pieces we really, REALLY like, several price tags still give us pause. However, diffusion lines from some of our favorite designers are making it that much easier for us to connect with them.

Last year, we read about Tiffany Amber's upcoming diffusion life TAN and we're very excited to report that a few pieces from said line are now available online and the prices get along just fine with our wallets. It's a win-win! We hope more designers follow suit so we can at least support them while we're negotiating bigger salaries :-)

See more pieces here and happy shopping! If you're in Lagos, visit one of Tiffany Amber's stores. More info. here.

XO

Spotlight: Bunmi Koko 2010

Sculpted sleeves and bodices characterize Bunmi Koko's latest ready-to-wear collection Geisha's Reform - a tribute to "Japanese costume, interior deco and old English architecture." The homage to shape and texture is truly extraordinary, while the rich colors and patterned pieces make this collection - and designer - spectacular.

Enjoy:

We suspect several of these pieces will form the backdrop of our daydreams for several days to come. Read more about the inspiration behind the collection here.

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Connect with Bunmi Koko:

Website: Bunmi Koko

Facebook: Bunmi Koko

XO

Spotlight: Maki Oh F/W 2010

MAKI OH PRESENTS "EVERYTHING IN PROPORTION"

ABOUT MAKI OH [By Amaka Osakwe]: "Aroused by a strong sense of identity and African culture, the brand creates alluring conversational pieces that fuse traditional techniques with detailed construction."

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There's hardly a day that goes by that we don't make a new Africa-related discovery. Our latest "find" comes from a word-of-mouth recommendation - a good friend attended a fashion presentation in Lagos recently and wouldn't stop gushing. So we decided to pay attention.

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[photo courtesy of flickr user versartile]

Maki Oh's F/W 2010 12-piece debut collection draws its strength from a fusion of art and tradition, resulting in bold, crafted pieces that are a unique and refreshing take on traditional fabrics like indigo cloth [popularly called "aaro" <ah-row>] common among the Yoruba people of western Nigeria. Modern design elements are infused with cultural undertones - draping, silk and sheer detailing co-exist alongside aso-oke [woven cloth], adire [traditional tie-and-dye] without the slightest hint that they don't belong together.

[photo courtesy of flickr use versartile]

According to Maki Oh, the collection successfully captures the concept of "coming of age" because it captures "self-discovery through a gradual systematic cloaking and adornment in the ornamental sensuality of womanhood, as seen in the rites of passage around the continent...[including] the progressive rituals of the dipo ceremony of rural Ghana..." This is a collection that's bound to engage those among us with a penchant for history and even those among us who simply have an abiding love for all things beautiful.


Here's a closer look at the pieces:

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a. Loose harem-style pants [aso-oke in the first look and indigo cloth in the second] with tapered cuffs. The indigo pants are particularly charming paired with a top fashioned from "hand-cut and stitched calabash pieces."

b. Indigo and other shades of blue vie with sheer tops for attention. The circle motifs seen extensively throughout this collection speak to "the partial nudity of the initiates throughout the dipo ceremony."

c. Dresses feature the predominant colors in this collection - beige and blue. The sheer panels and motifs that adorn the beige dresses are extraordinary.

d. Jumpsuits with clinched waists and varying necklines. The piece on the extreme right is to-die-for.

Absolutely brilliant and definitely on our list of out-of-Africa/Nigeria brands to watch. How impressed are you on a scale of 1-10?

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Connect with Maki Oh:

Website: maki-oh.com

Mobile: +234 704 267 6744

E-mail: info@maki-oh.com

XO

Shop Africa: Afromania by Nkwo, Samantha Cole London, Chichia London, Nike Akinola London

TIME TO SHOP!

:-)

Just yesterday, we were a little wary of ASOS Africa's debut and the possibility that it might become the go-to mainstream brand for out-of-Africa pieces. Well, you can go ahead and scratch that...you can now shop the following collections from London-based African designers online :-))) 

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NKWO + AFROMANIA BY NKWO 

[The Admiral Top by Nkwo, approx $100 here]

Remember reading that pieces from Nkwo's diffusion range Afromania would soon be available at asos.com? Well, you don't have to wait any longer! Several pieces from her two collections [Nkwo and Afromania by Nkwo] are already available thanks to myasho.com. We're loving this fabulous fashion forward statement tee! Shop here now!

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NIKE AKINOLA LONDON

[Nike Akinola's blossom bumble african print + swarovski crystals tee, approx $100 here]

We were granted an exclusive sneak preview into Nike Akinola's Spring/Summer 2010 collection a little while ago [thanks, guys!] and are excited to see those pieces at myasho.com. This tee is certainly a super special piece of fashion art!

Shop more here now!

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SAMANTHA COLE LONDON

[Samantha Cole London's metallic one-shoulder bubble dress, 165 GBP here]

Several pieces from the Samantha Cole London brand [as well as her lower-priced Love Cole brand] are available in three e-stores! We majorly heart this futuristic but modern dress! Shop now:

The Look Boutique

Samantha Cole London

Catwalk Genius

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CHICHIA LONDON

[Chichia London's one frill sleeve palm kanga dress, 95 GBP here]

Chichia London's spring 2010 collection debuted late last year and featured the most gorgeous kanga dresses. This one frill sleeve dress is PERFECTION on crack!

Shop pieces from the collection here now, courtesy of The Look Boutique.

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Don't you just love shopping pieces from your favorite African designers from the comfort of your home?

XO