Nigerian Traditional Attire - Just Lovely Afri-styles

Naija Traditional Attires - Gorgeous!!! Dig?

                                                                                                       
                                                                                          …Promoting African Styles & Cultures

 Africa’s economy has continued growing rapidly riding on the back of success recorded in some sectors and resurgence of others like manufacturing, which has now beamed light on the importance of the continent’s fashion industry and the immense opportunities inherent therein.

Investors are being reminded again at the African Fashion Week New York of the golden opportunity yet to be effectively exploited in the continent’s fashion industry.
The continent has shown eagerness to develop its clothing (apparel manufacturing) capacities for some time now, but efforts have been frustrated by dearth of infrastructure, capital and Asia’s domination of the industry globally. However, with cost of production rising in China, Africa may have been presented a golden opportunity to ‘reclaim’ its fashion industry and invite long-term investments.
Africa’s Fashion Industry Showing Growth Potentials

Africa is home to seven of the fastest growing economies in the world and about 70 percent of the continent’s population live in countries that have experienced average growth in excess of 4 percent over the past decade. Although the statistics are interesting, African fashion industry currently contributes only a small fraction of what it is capable of contributing to the continent’s GDP, says Deola Sagoe, a Nigerian designer, who has been a force in the industry for the past 25 years.

A man laughed a full throaty laugh when someone referred to him as an accessory at a society wedding I attended on Saturday. I was pleased to note that he was so far from being offended as he smiled knowingly at his wife, “She always insists on choosing my outfits” he said, looking at his chest as though wanting to draw attention to the heavy gold Studs he adorned himself with.

Fashion designers in Kenya have long been viewed as little more than glorified tailors. However, this perception is beginning to change as more designers make a mark in the industry. Priscilla Muigai is one such fashion designer, and she has found her niche making outfits with unique African prints on them. She has been in the industry for six years, but only in the last three did she make what was previously a hobby a full-time business. “I started out designing for fun, but when family members and friends would see what I was creating, they’d ask me to make clothes for them. They initially wanted outfits for special occasions, but later began asking for clothes for everyday wear,” she said. “Because of the constant requests, I began to mull over making fashion design a full-time job.” And the more she thought about it, the more business sense it made. Soon, she registered Just Redd Apparels. “To start off, I used the deposits that friends and family had paid so I could purchase materials for their clothes and print my designs. So, I didn’t have to use my own money to start.” She also chose to focus on designing clothes that have a modern African look that could be worn every day, anywhere.

This is quite inspirational to young aspiring African designers.

One over Twenty Four

Mathematics was always a subject that commanded respect in my time at school. Not surprisingly the Teachers always had a stern look on their faces  which signaled their no nonsense approach to class work. Now when you see a score like 1/24 on your test sheet, no one would tell you to drop your eyes as you head back to your seat in class. I was surprised to see that the many beautiful ladies photographed at the “City People’s” 2014 “Annual Entertainment Awards” only one (1) remembered to reflect her African heritage by mixing Ankara in her black evening gown.

Since the movie industry has done so well in the last twenty years in snatching us back from the Indian and Chinese films that dominated our lives to the point that you could go to the market and return and the same film could still be on, that was how much time each of those films took to finish.  I’m not saying Nigerian films don’t take as much time but at least this one is “OUR OWN”. Following that, red carpet evening events during the Premiers of such films attracted Ladies and Gentlemen in long dresses and suits, there is something odd about the well endowed Nigerian man in a suit in the same way ladies trying to fit our extreme curves in a  European styled evening dress is odd.

The revolution in developing our own style in movies, music and dance it seems has not fully caught on with our dress sense. Now what in God’s name is a beautiful Naija girl’s business in trying to look like Angelina Jolie. Is it not bad enough that we can mimic her hair with the many flowing Brazilian hairs in the  market? Should we also try to stuff ourselves in velvet gowns in the name of red-carpet events? And guys please get to your local Tailors (designers) to make outfits in Ankara to portray your Nigerian sense of style and accommodate every aspect of our endowed frame.

I believe a time will come when like our music and films, our red carpet pictures will have designer Ankara long dresses that are made to fit properly and flatter us as Africans doing our own thing.

By: Itomie.