Paying Attention: The Washington Post

A recent Washington Post article does a good overview of some of the key emerging trends in Africa's blooming fashion scene -- from the upcoming Africa Fashion Week in New York to the proliferation of co-ops and Africa's influence on western designers. It's a good resource on how 'African Fashion' is re-branding itself and faring beyond Africa's shores.

Read here and please share what you make of it with us.

- SLiq

Paying Attention: Financial Times//Emerging markets: Luxury goes local

This just in: Alice Ross of the Financial Times considers the choice many consumers in emerging markets are having to make between buying local and looking exclusively to the West. In recent times, we've noticed a number of African-owned brands position themselves for local relevance and global domination - the Jewel by Lisas and Deola Sagoes of this world are prime examples of this. The impact of their growth has been seen from red carpets in Nigeria to red carpets in the US, so there's clearly a renewed interest in supporting home brands in a way the continent hasn't experienced before.

Unsurprisingly, the women who wear Deola Sagoe are probably the same ones who wear Prada and Hermes, so there's an underlying and overt association of some of Nigeria's local brands (the big 5 readily come to mind: Deola Sagoe, Tiffany Amber, Jewel by Lisa, Ituen Basi, Lanre da Silva-Ajayi), with some of the most luxurious brands in the world. At this point in time, this is enough for us, especially since there was a time when "Buying Nigerian" (to borrow from Style House Files) wasn't boldly written on the cards. Of course, the Deola Sagoes of this world absolutely must concentrate on building and entrenching their brands to the highest possible standards, because in an increasingly global world, it's not enough to be a local favourite alone (except that's the aim, which we suspect it isn't). What happens when the Louis Vuittons of this world set up shop all over Africa? Will our local brands compete effectively on home soil and abroad if they don't make the best use of this down time? 

If and when Africa's luxury brands rise to the occasion, it won't be a question of Deola Sagoe versus Diane Von Furstenberg for Africans alone, it may very well be a question that fashion forward women all over the world may reasonably ask in the years to come. For us at Shop Liquorice, we don't want to have to choose, but increasingly, more and more of our money is going local. Is that the case for you? We'd love to read your thoughts.

Read the Financial Times article in its entirety here.

- SLiq

Paying Attention: The Telegraph//Into Africa

[Suno. The new face of "Made in Africa"?]

Much has been made of Africamania by everyone from CNN to the New York Times and your friendly neighbourhood low-budget "Afrocentric" editorials (complete with tribal feathers and body paint, naturally). These days, the big conversation is less about an "African aesthetic" and more about the "Made in Africa" phenom (which we're major suckers for at Shop Liquorice. That and e-commerce.) and brands like Suno and Vivienne Westwood who are leaving pockets of economic footprints around Africa. The Telegraph takes you "Into Africa" and through the ins and outs of this potentially unprecedented new movement here. For Shop Liquorice's version of events, catch up on all our Made in Africa posts here.

XO

throwback: liya kebede for the new york times [2007]

absolutely love these images of liya kebede from a 2007 new york times style spread titled "african queen". while the use of outstanding statement jewelry and print is how africa-inspired fashion is now often portrayed, we can't help but adore the charm liya lends to these photos.

have a great weekend!

xo

paying attention: the NY Times//designing to an afro beat

[l-r: SUNO NY spring/summer 2009; rodarte spring 2010; na'vi, a character from the movie AVATAR]

in october 2009, we blogged about an article from the New York Times titled "putting african style on the page." once again, the NYT focuses on africa's influence on mainstream culture in a recent piece titled "designing to an afro beat." we're glad africa is slowly but surely getting its due recognition.

read the article here and view its accompanying slideshow, "the in continent", here.

xo

paying attention: NY Times

we (and several other people like us) have been tooting africa's fashion scene's horn for a while. now several others are paying attention. read a recent NY Times special report titled "putting african style on the page" here.

xo