15 fashion talents made in Africa to know and support

From the stylist of the stars Lisa Folawiyo to the most interesting emerging names on the international scene, here are the black-founded brands that tell through their creations the value and beauty of multiculturalism.

"We are in 2020, we have no more excuses," he said Edward Enninful - one of the most influential and brilliant voices in fashion worldwide, since 2017 at the helm of Vogue UK - about the terrible crime episode that shook the whole world: the death of George Floyd, an African American killed by a white policeman in Minneapolis. last May 25th.

“Racism is a global problem. Such facts lead me to feel that my life has less value than that of others. And all because of the color of my skin ». According to Enninful "there is still a lot to do and it is necessary to act now".

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BLACK LIVES MATTER #BLACKOUTTUESDAY?

A post shared by Edward Enninful, OBE (@edward_enninful) on Jun 2, 2020 at 1:31 am PDT

And if information, knowledge of history, the memory of the past remain fundamental antidotes to the virus of intolerance and discrimination, even the fashion- with its continuous contaminationsand hybridizations - can help broaden horizons.

We focused on 15 "black-founded" brandthat through their creations tell better than any word the value and beauty of multiculturalism.

Lisa Folawiyo

Loved by celebs and trendsetters from all over the world, the Nigerian designerwho founded her brand in 2005 is known for her creations that see the protagonist Ankara, traditional West African fabric revisited through tailored cuts and decorative elements such as sequins, pearls and embroidery. Each garment boasts a unique artisan history and requires an average of 240 hours of work.

A A K S

Founded in 2014 by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, this brand of bags conjugates ethics and aesthetics. Each single piece is handcrafted in Ghana according to traditional weaving techniques with ecologically harvested raffia from local producers. "Each bag bears the fingerprints of the person who modeled it and his signature, as a further guarantee of authenticity".

Maison ARTC

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Are? Is beautiful

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More than a stylist, Artsi Ifrach- better known as Maison ARTC- can be considered a real artist. His collections stem from a varied background matured in Tel Aviv, Paris, Amsterdam and Marrakech (where he currently lives) and are made up of unique pieces in which different cultures and styles interact through colors, vintage fabrics, prints and embroidery.

Study 189

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Spirit. Joy. Love? • delphrida x briggitte in Ghana ??

A post shared by Studio 189 (@studiooneeightynine) on Feb 8, 2020 at 11:38 am PST

Co-founded by Rosario DawsonAnd Abrima Erwiah, Study 189it's not just a brand of handcrafted fashion, but also a social enterprise to support communities in Africa and the United States. The brand's creations are handmade in Ghana by local artisans who specialize in various traditional techniques, including indigo-based plant dyeing, hand batik and kente weaving.

Hanifa

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Mài Maxi Dress, inspired by the Congo River, where the Atlantic Ocean kisses the land. This floor length maxi gown embodies the gentle confidence of the Congolese woman. - Take on her confidence this #AfricaDay at Hanifa.co? #pinklabelcongo ??

A post shared by Hanifa (@hanifaofficial) on May 25, 2020 at 12:25 pm PDT

The muses of Anifa Mvuemba, who founded her prêt-à-porter brand with the intention of dressing women of all types and sizes. It is no coincidence that the garments he creates are characterized by particular silhouettes and textures that follow the curves and adapt to any type of physicality. Her latest collection is called "Pink Label Congo" and celebrates all the strength and beauty of the women of this land.

DIARRABLU

A decidedly out of the ordinary fashion brand, the one launched by the Senegalese Diarra Bousso, entrepreneur, activist, multidisciplinary artist and mathematics. His collections are designed using mathematical algorithmsand are characterized by colored prints, also made mathematically and hand painted. The garments are all convertible, adjustable and wearable in different ways so that they have an extended life cycle.

PICHULIK

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Sabi Pendant ??? @alixrosephoto

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An all-female team is behind this brand of jewelsbased in Cape Town founded in 2013 by Katherine-Mary Pichulik. Earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pendants are handmade with unusual materials(like rope, locally produced) and are designed to emphasize and celebrate the strength inherent in every woman. The feminist approach extends to the entire business model: "We collaborate with small local businesses owned by women, so as to create new jobs and increase their earning capacity".

Maki Oh

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COUNTDOWN !! Sale Ends At 6pm

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African artisan traditionand modern lines come together in the creations of Maki Osakwe, which boasts the likes of Michelle Obama, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jason Wu. In his collections for men and women there is never a shortage of Nigerian fabricstraditional, “played down” by unprecedented cuts and embellished with fringes, metal applications, lace.

Lemlem

An irresistible retro-chic allurepermeates the line of costumes, clothing and accessories founded by Liya Kebede. The supermodel launched the brand after a trip to her homeland, Ethiopia, during which she met a group of traditional weavers who no longer had a market for their craft. Hence the idea of collaborating with them. Women are at the heart of the project, which is associated with a foundation committed to providing them with health care, education and career paths.

Thalia Strates

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Warm, luxuriousness that is this coffee Mini Bucket? #slowfashion #madetolast #madewithlove #bucketbag

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They are small masterpieces from minimalist designthe bagsdesigned by Thalia Stratesand made in a small workshop in his hometown, Cape Town. The production chain is 100% transparent and guarantees decent working conditions for artisans and a low environmental impact. The skins used are exclusively those from the meat industry and each creation is designed to last over time. "These bags become more beautiful with wear. They embody the luxury of the “lived-in”, perfectly imperfect ».

Sindiso Khumalo

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Some weeks back, my friend Jonathan and I took a trip to my home in KwaZulu-Natal to produce a body of work. The work explores many of the ideas I have being studying over the last 18 months, all set in the landscapes of Kwazulu Natal. Looking at the two protagonists of my latest collections, Miss Celie and Ms Sarah Forbes Bonnetta. One a fictional character from Alice Walkers book “The Color Purple”, the other a Yoruba Princess whose fate changes after her meeting Captain Frederick Forbes of the Royal Navy. Their stories represent the stories of many of black women from the 1800s and 1900s. Their lives, their work, their fate and their faith. There’s a lot behind this work and it’s not all coming to Instagram. So I've decided to start with a journal that I'll be sharing via our mailing list. Also a physical representation of this work is also very important to me, so stay tuned to where we take this work next. ?? A HUGE HUGE thank you to my dear friend @jonathan_kope for your patience, your amazing talent and creativity! And thank you to Talita from @bossmodelsa for being such a sport and jumping into rivers and waterfalls for the perfect shot, and thank you Candice for the amazing makeup in amongst the humidity, rain and thunderstorms. Huge thank you to this amazing team. Stay tuned. ????

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Sustainability, craftsmanshipand empowermentare at the center of this label that bears the name of its founder. The idea of the award-winning designer is to tell about her homeland through fabrics that she draws herself with different techniques (such as watercolor and collage) and which she then uses within her collections. To do this, it makes use of the collaboration of an NGO with which it works closely.

Kai Collective

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Skin? Thank so much you for your support! Thank you for seeing our vision and thank you for understanding that the color of our skin should be celebrated and never crucified… We've gotten so much love these past few days we just simply wanted to say thank you from the deepest part of our chocolate hearts? Intentional imagery has always been a part of the DNA of Andrea Iyamah and it’s something we’re never going to stop. As an African black owned brand celebrating the African culture and its diversity has always been true to the soul of our brand. ? Featured: The Andrea Iyamah Mina swimsuit featured in #TheButterflyStory www.andreaiyamah.com ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #andreaiyamah ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Photographer - @willyverse ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Cinematographer - @ gerald.lenon Styling - @somkele_i ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Hair & Make-up - @christinejair ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Photo assist - @maridadii ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Styling assist - @queenetteolu ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Set Assist - @aidansaskia ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Model - @isamessiah

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Mostly known for the costumeswith an eccentric look, the brand of the Nigerian designer Dumebi Iyamahit also includes a formal wear line and a made to measure service. The intent of the brand is to accompany women in their daily adventures and to tell stories in the name of multiculturalism through materials, cuts and textures.

Tongoro

Launched in 2016, Tongorois a 100% made in Africa brand. The lines of clothingAnd accessoriesthey are made in Dakar by local artisans with Senegalese materials and fabrics. Among the brand's musts are the python-effect leather minibags and i long dressenriched with prints ethno-glam designed for "conscious and style conscious consumers".

Slashed by Tia

Born in Nigeria, raised in London and now based in New York, Teni "Tia" Adeola created his brand in 2017 to convey his passions: the art and the fashion. “I studied art history in London and fell in love with Renaissance painting dresses. The royals wore the most striking dresses: ruffles, pearls and velvet, which were all very expensive at the time. And I noticed that people of color have never been portrayed in this way; they were often described as slaves. With my fashion I wanted to turn things upside down ».