Founded in 2014, the Miss Nigeria USA was established with the aim of celebrating the Nigerian woman while appreciating their beauty, talent, skills and other unique attributes and goals she exhibits. The organization plans to achieve their goal through the Miss Nigeria USA Pageant event where contestants will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their physical, cultural and intellectual attributes as they choose a goodwill ambassador who will represent Miss Nigeria USA Pageant and Nigeria as a whole on a positive light.
They aim to be recognized as a leading world organization that empowers young women and supports them towards achieving their individual goals as they promote their culture.
Loving the social campaign integrated as a marketing effort by the fashion retail site ‘The Limited’ tagged ‘The New Look of Leadership’. Brands are now developing ways to connect on the “real human” level with potential consumers/clients. Thanks to the new media age for making this easier and more effective.
TheLimited.com put together a selection of women from different fields, expressing a message of the perception of what #LeadingLooksLike :
Limited.com says:
Leading is a way of approaching life–and in today’s world, there are infinite shapes it can take. It’s time the definition fit them all. So we’re calling on leaders of all types to help build a vibrant community of inspirational women. Together, we will re-create the picture of empowerment to reflect the authentic, modern leaders we see every day—answering the question, “What does leading look like?” with you. And her. And us.THE POSSIBILITIES ARE UNLIMITED.
The Limited is on a mission to redefine leadership. So we’re creating a community of leaders – celebrating real and inspiring women who lead every day, in every way. Want to be part of it? Go online and tell them about the ways you lead in your life for a chance to be featured in their upcoming campaign.
Click Play: : Watch the Video
In other news, my social media feed has recently been saturated with lovely & delectable designs from the just concluded Lagos Fashion & Design Week which took place towards the end of October, 2015. LFDW is a premiere fashion event which brings together media, industry, buyers and consumers to view the current collections of designers in Nigeria, West Africa.
The platform aims to cut across geographic and culture barriers and position itself as a business of fashion and design event targeted at showcasing the best of the fashion and design industry, drive the Nigerian fashion industry and ultimately uplift its profile within the economy. Lagos will play host to the fashion and exhibition led event that will feature: Runway shows featuring new season collections from the best talents in the fashion industry; exhibitions featuring fashion products and accessories, textiles, design elements, photography and art installations workshops and master classes that will facilitate knowledge transfer, information exchange and networking opportunities across board. Another attraction is Lagos itself – a metropolitan island that features an interesting mix of people, cultures and is fast becoming the melting pot for business in Africa. Participants, designers and visitors alike can expect a diversified and interactive platform to maximize their exposure within and beyond their industry circle and open gateways for more business opportunities.
For the past 5 years, LFDW has remained dedicated to the growth and promotion of creatives in the industry by nurturing, fine tuning, rewarding their skills and providing them with a solid platform for achieving their goals.
This vision is primarily centered on providing on-going support to designers via mentor ship, education and capacity building as well as opportunities to present their work before an audience that facilitates commerce.
And as is my custom with fashion weeks, here’s my 7 favorite designer selections from the showcases at the Heineken LFDW2015. All photos are via LFDW (Follow at @LFDW_NG) Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
NKWO
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
The use of a denim pant as gele is such an eclectic idea. I love the unusual and this is such a welcoming one, something I would do. Brilliant!
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
LANRE DA SILVA AJAYI
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
The headpiece, the flow of the fabric!
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
MAI ATAFO
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
The mustard color, the styling..
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
The work of an artist friend Laolu Senbanjo was incorporated in this fabric design. Kudos!
SUNNY ROSE
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
The simplicity, the flow, the vibrancy, the fabric texture combos.
REVAMP O
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna)
The bohemian look :), the vintage feel, the nudes..
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna)
ONALAJA
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
The girliness, the playfulness, the cuteness..
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
Last, but not least
ORENTE AYABA
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
The Art, the artsy backdrop..this is not just fashion, this is art on canvas.. very eclectic!
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna).
These are my personal preferences and in no way serve as an endorsement out of the about 25 designers who showcased at the event, check out the other designers to see their work.
Beautifully Dreaming…Positively Doing!
Tosinger
Organically Singing the album, now available for download here!
Attolle Clothiers, an Afrocentric bespoke ladies fashion line was founded in 2002 by Bookey Itoandon – an Attorney who followed her passion for Fashion. Her love for fashion, sketching and fabric selection led her to follow a career in fashion.
In 2004, she relocated from Nigeria to United States to raise her family and further her education; and by August 2011 she re-birthed Attollé Clothiers in Houston Texas USA.
Bookey Itoandon
Over the years, her collections have featured contemporary ready-to-wear pieces with select bespoke outfits crafted primarily from printed cotton wax popularly known as African Wax Print or Ankara Wax Print. In 2010, she showcased at the Goonstyle fashion show in Houston Texas. The collection received a great review and she was invited back in 2011 and 2012. She also participated in the NAMC show in 2012.
Her collection was featured for the first time in 2012 at the AFWNY (African Fashion Week New York). The Attollé collection received an outstanding review that led to an invitation for her to showcase for the second time in 2013. Celeb personalities like Sarah TD Jakes have also been seen wearing her collection.
Bookey has become consistent with her vision to make every woman look elegant regardless of color, size and shape as she continues to develop bold and stunning pieces for all.
Attolle Clothiers is currently running a special holiday sale till Dec 31st available on their website at http://www.attolleclothiers.com/
Here are a few of Attolle Clothier’s lovely designs
And here I am in one of her jumpsuit designs 😉 during Afrodreamfest 2014
One of the African Designers that I truly admire their work, South African David Tlale represented (as usual), beautifully at the New York Fashion Week with his stunning collection.
His Spring/Summer 15 collection unveiled cohesive looks of affluent prints and patented burgundy-red off set with bold, pure white. In Tlale’s words this spring collection aims to “[give]women back their power and [equip] them with a strong and confident sense of allure, without losing their essence and femininity.” – (via okayfrica)
David Tlale Presents S/S 15 with Tyson Beckford At Mercedes-Benz NYFW –
And here are some of my favorite picks below.
David Tlale – New York Fashion Week – Fall/ Winter 14 — Photography: Yuko Torihara –
David Tlale – New York Fashion Week – Fall/ Winter 14 — Photography: Yuko Torihara –
F/W 14 Elementary Metropolis collection
About David Tlale
Tlale launched his brand in 2003, winning the title of “Elle New Talent in South Africa” shortly after. In 2009 he was presented the award for “Designer of the Year” at Africa Fashion Week by international super model Alek Wek. This recognition allowed the brand to debut at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York Spring/Summer 2010.
Over the 11 years since Tlale launched his brand, South Africa native David Tlale has showcased his inimitable designs at all the premium fashion week platforms and etched his mark as a favorite on the South African and African fashion landscapes. Renowned for his undeniable knack for showmanship and elaborate designs, Tlale’s work is both daring and elegant—a brand that defies convention and a brand that impenitently employs unpredictable use and understanding of fabric, color and texture. David Tlale has taken his work around the world, and partnered with a number of influential brands in South Africa. In 2009, he was awarded Fashion Designer of the year at the Africa Fashion Awards in Johannesburg, and later made his debut at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week with a collection entitled “Cultural Intimacy.” It was in early 2011, for the Autumn/Winter Collection at Jo’burg Fashion Week, David Tlale presented his quintessential “Made In The City” Collection in celebration of the 92 years of Nelson Mandela’s life, Tlale sent 92 models down the ramp on what was deemed the longest ramp in the history of South African fashion: the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg. Tlale since his debut on catwalks, has been a ambassador for the “Change-4-Ever Campaign”, an initiative that aims to alleviate poverty in Southern Africa.
David Tlale has enjoyed outstanding exposure on both local and International catwalks, but his label goes beyond just fashion. The proudest moment for Tlale was being The First South African Fashion designer to show case Solo at the Mercedes Benz Fashion week New York in September 2012. For more visit http://www.davidtlale.com/the-brand.html
***Speaking of South Africa, a friend needs your support to sponsor her on her mission to SA via Dramatic Need. Dramatic Need’s core mission is to bring the creative arts to underprivileged children in the poorest parts of South Africa and Rwanda. If you are like me, any thing that has to do with the creative arts, giving back and Africa pulls my heartstrings..
Yasmin Joseph – Scriptwriter, Theatre and Drama Teacher, London UK
Yasmin says —
I have been chosen as a volunteer to teach drama in rural Free State, South Africa, for a month spanning from October to late November.Dramatic Need is an amazing charity, devoted to enforcing the arts as a form of creative outlet for children in economically deprived African communities… something that I am very passionate about.After graduating last year with a degree in English and Drama, and feeling like my skills weren’t being fully utilized/valued here, I figured it’d be a good idea to go somewhere else and make myself useful!
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