This is a MUST attend !!!!!!

OVER 60 DESIGNERS FROM ALL OVER THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA, TO DISPLAY THEIR ORIGINAL AFRICAN FABRICS AND DESIGNS IN LONDON IN AUGUST 2011

For the first time in history, the city of London will be hit by a two-day Tsunami of an event that will showcase everything that defines fashion from an African point of view. The event is known as Africa Fashion Week London. It will be held between 5th and 6th August 2011 at the Gibson Hall, 13 Bishopsgate London EC2N and will make history as the biggest platform ever dedicated to African inspired fashion in Europe.

Africa Fashion Week London will give equal opportunity and priority to top international fashion designers alongside new and emerging designers who use African fabrics in their designs, are inspired by African culture and art, sell to the African market or have ties to Africa. The new and emerging designers will be showcased in an event known as Revelation Show within the AFWL. Africa fashion week London is a project designed to create a loud and wide exposure and propagation of style, beauty and fashion from an African perspective, in European environment, thereby creating an atmosphere for cultural exchange; a fusion of western and African cultures, through fashion. The event will:

Feature designers from the whole of Africa;

Offer those in the fashion industry a free platform on which to showcase their brands;

Act as an opportunity for fashion designers to network among each other;

Create a portal for new designers to enter into the market and integrate into the international fashion system;

Highlight the African Textile Industry to a global audience thereby enhancing development;

Enable African countries to showcase their national fabrics through their designers, thereby enabling them to carve a niche in the global market;

Make African textiles visible to the rest of the world by creating an interactive platform that will involve the Media, Manufacturers, Designers, Retailers and Consumers.



The city of London, having the highest number of Africans in Diaspora of any European country, is the obvious choice for this event. Africa fashion Week London will also provide a platform for selected charity organizations and NGOs to propagate their missions and raise funds for their projects.

Africa Fashion Week London will be attended by fashion designers, milliners, fabric manufacturers and printers, jewelers, beauty range manufacturers, leather goods designers and manufacturers, perfumers, photographers, make-up artists, models, media houses, buyers, local and international press and indeed anyone that has any link with fashion, especially with an African interest. AFWL is open to members of the public who can come see the latest collections and buy from the numerous exhibitors from within the fashion industry who will be parading their wares for sale.

Participants include new/emerging designers under the Revelation label and renowned fashion designers. Categories accepted include fashion design, textile prints, accessories, bridals, jewelers, foot wears, milliners, lingerie and swimwear.

The event will host over 2000 members of the public.

Africa Fashion Week London is organized by Ronke Ademiluyi of Rukkies Concept and produced by Mahogany Productions.

For General Enquiries please contact:ronke@africafashionweeklondon.com.

For Media Enquiries please contact: kamari@africafashionweeklondon.com.

www.africafashionweeklondon.com.



FOR LOCAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL

0805 700 1282

BACKGROUND
Urbanknit is a small independent label started by Dolapo James in 2003 to create one-of-a-kind handmade fashion accessories in the broad categories of bags and scarves for those with a taste for something a little different.



They love the idea of accessories that are a bit quirky and unique which will give that great outfit just the right amount of drama. With pieces which are wearable and fun at the same time.The challenge of putting a modern twist on what is considered to be traditional, be it wool or batik! is ver much welcome as they also hope this makes the pieces fun and more accessible to all and believe that beautiful and unusual things come out of Africa and this should be celebrated where possible.


PRODUCTS
Bags and Scarves:
Urbanknit provides a mix of accessories. Knitted and crocheted accessories such as
scarves, scarflettes, and cowls have a loyal fan base in the US, the UK, Canada, Denmark and Germany during the cold winter months. The chunky wool XL cowl, available in various colours is an Urbanknit bestseller.

The bags in theform of clutches, totes and pouches, also have a very varied demographic of buyers as far as Singapore and Hawaii with the Snap clutches fast becoming another popular buy.

The Materials
Prints (Ankara), batiks (Adire) and hand-woven fabrics (such as Aso-oke) are sourced from local African markets and are combined with modern materials like leather, satin, silks and velvets to produce handbags and purses that are fun, funky and wearable. The fabrics are mainly from Nigeria and Ghana with plans of experimentation with fabrics from other African countries in the near future. The idea is focused on using traditional and locally produced material so as to support indigenous production and African creativity. Luxurious and textured yarns are sourced directly from manufactures or small independent producers.


Handmade:
Each and every Urbanknit piece is handmade; carefully and lovingly put together. The bags are produced in limited runs so that no two people have identical pieces. As well as the design, close attention is paid to the production and finishing of each item to ensure their durability and overall quality

ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Dolapo is a qualified architect and started Urbanknit as a hobby which became a part-time business and eventually a full time endeavour. Urbanknit is available online and in select boutiques.

Contact
Website: www.urbanknit.com
Email: contact@urbanknit.com
Tel: Lagos- 08035252360
Tel: London- 07909968054

The new collection is tagged 'JUANITA' which means God's grace, will be the all new collection Ace shirtmaker - Davida Okpara will be debuting this season. The collection is all about bows, laces, white, refreshing vibrant colours not forgetting all things feminine.

The collection which has a very positive edge , exudes much appreciation about God's grace, being pretty on the inside and looking it outwardly. According to the bible .... You are wonderfully and beautifully made by God....

For Further Enquiries please call 01-8102234 or 07038152656

The F.E.W collection is a major fabric use of polished cotton, denim and lace with touches of Ankara in form of patches or rosettes. The DFL's  F.E.W accessories range consists of the Ankara/ aso oke bags and th corsages, bib necklaces, hair bands and clips all of which are made with Ankara.and embellished with pearls or beads or rhinestones.

The F.E.W launch would be taking place this weekend . Details are as below

Date: Sunday 27 March 2011
Time: 2PM
Venue: Chariot Hotel,Aakingbolagbe Street, off Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
Admission: Free

 
OLUWUNMI FUNBI OLUFEKO

With a diploma in pattern drafting and designing from Ginani fashion institute, Oluwunmi Funbi-Olufeko started the DFL fashion line 6 years ago. A protégé in the Women in management and business (WIMBIZ) mentoring program, DFL this season will be launching the For Every Woman collection range - F.E.W this season.

THE MULTIKRA CLUTCHES



















THE LOOKS

The backdrop of Momo's Spring/Summer 2011 collection is a graphic black and white canvas explored in plain silks and brocades. Blends of bold, colourful prints add contrast to the stark canvas. Striking prints include the opulent tie-dye on silk gazar, each panel made individually by hand, bringing a popular street technique to the couture level. Additional highlights include a blue and yellow print in silk satin, based on ancient batik techniques developed by the Dutch specifically for the African market, and a batik-like floral print. These pieces add rich, colourful elements to the collection.

Marayah O, a fashion and lifestyle brand whose immediate focus is the creation of female ready-to-wear (RTW) clothing, has been in inception since 2010.

Easy , Comfy and Wearable best qualify this collection .Meeting the true definition of their audience- The free spirited, fun-loving, confident and happy woman.

Marayah O exist beyond the realm of just creating products, they derive ultimate satisfaction in impacting and celebrating our world. It is important that the Marayah O woman is celebrated even beyond her looks, continually abiding by these values both within and outside the team.
In the nearest future, Marayah O  hopes to fully integrate the entire fashion and lifestyle range from clothing to accessories and homes


ABOUT STREET STYLE ALPHA
The Street style ALPHA is simple, stylish, comfortable and wearable.
The collection was inspired by the idea that we live our lives mainly on the street. Nothing is ever fully achieved within the walls of our rooms only. The street is a major part of our daily existence. Going to work, school, lunch/dinner dates, business meetings, hangouts etc all wouldn’t exist without the streets. The collection is about being fashionable while living our lives.