Africa Fashion Week New York is so close we can smell it!  We are getting so excited that everything is coming together and we are going to get to see some really amazing African inspired designs.  We are also very excited for you guys, because we have a few contests going on where you could win tickets to attend Africa Fashion Week New York!  These four great blogs, Africa.com, POPDRUM, The Fashion Records Magazine, and Ciaafrique all are participating in separate contests to win an invite to AFWNY.  That’s three different chances to win!  Go ahead, check out the contests, read the rules on how you can enter to win, and while you’re there check out the blogs.  They’ve all got amazing articles on African fashion.

Countries from around the world have set up charities to aid the people who are starving in Africa, and this time the help is coming from a top menswear designer in Korea.  Chang Kwang-ho says it is important for entertainers to speak out to advance social issues, so he is planning his first solo charity fashion show to take place today at the National Assembly in South Korea.  The proceeds will go to UNICEF where they will help children in some of Africa’s poorest countries.  Chang was also quoted as saying, ““Now we have become a country that is capable of helping others, and I also came to organize this charity fashion show as I gained a sense of peace of mind looking back on my own life.”

Source: http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_entertainment/485905.html

A second royal wedding took place this year in Monaco just a few days ago between Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene. The guest list for the wedding contained a number of well-known celebrities including the infamous Naomi Campbell who may have ruffled a few feathers with her outfit choices (as if that’s anything new). Naomi played by the rules for the ceremony wearing a green floral printed dress and letting the bride have her time to shine, but everything changed for the ceremony. Naomi made the change into a floor length white gown by Givenchy complete with plunging neckline, side cut-outs and jewel embellishments. Where do I even begin with this! First of all, I wasn’t aware that guests were now making outfit changes for weddings, I thought that was just left to the bride (which I still feel is a bit excessive), and to try and upstage the bride by wearing white, which has always been a big no-no at weddings. Well, I guess it’s Naomi and we shouldn’t really be surprised at all. Moral of the story: don’t invite Naomi Campbell to your wedding if you’d like to have it all about you. At least no cell phones were thrown.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2010799/Monaco-royal-wedding-Naomi-Campbell-upstages-Princess-Charlene-white-Givenchy-gown.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Louis Vuitton has been all about Africa lately, first with creating a new ad campaign with a model from Zimbabwe, then with its Spring/Summer 2012 Collection.  The collection, designed by Kim Jones (a graduate of Central Saint Martin, London) said he drew much of the inspiration from his childhood in Ethiopia and Botswana.  The collection features a lot of plaids, commonly worn by the Masai Warriors, and safari ready ensembles.

Source: Haute Fashion Africa

ASOS Africa

Tory Burch scarf

Duro Olowu

First Lady, Michelle Obama, who has often been compared to the late Jackie Onassis Kennedy with her always elegant and classic fashion decisions recently took a trip to Africa to promote youth leadership, and AIDS prevention.  She made her first stop in South Africa and was seen wearing  multiple pieces by Duro Olowu, ASOS Africa, and even later with an African print scarf by Tory Burch.  Michelle, who is a style icon in her own right, always appears impeccably put together and classy no matter where she is traveling to.

Source: http://www.hautefashionafrica.com

Lisa Folayiwo, Nigerian fashion power house and her team behind the line, Jewel by Lisa have came storming onto the fashion stage and are making history.  She has perfected the art of working with Ankara, and was the first to embellish it with sequins, jewels and beads creating a certified luxury line.  The label has expanded to all sorts of fashion and accessories and infuses a beautiful mix of fabrics.  Every garment is hand-crafted and hand sewn, giving it that personal touch unique to Jewel by Lisa.

Source: Last Plane to Lagos

We covered the young Zimbabwean model, Nyasha Matonhodze when she first struck a deal with Louis Vuitton earlier in the year, and now she is back and on the cover of Love Magazine.  These photos are set in a slightly different mood than her previous shoots.  It gives her more of a darker, serious side as some of the photos show her with make-up streaked down her face as if she were crying, and black crows laid neatly on top of her head.  Regardless of the obscurity of the shoot, Nyasha still shines beneath the somber setting.

Source: Shadders

Grace Bol, of Sudan, was recently featured in the latest issue of Plastik Magazine.  The stunning spread showed the model and her silky skin in some laid back t-shirts and swimwear while wearing fun, brightly colored head wraps against red walls which grab and hold your attention.  The shoot seems to fit Bol’s personality well as she is a self-proclaimed tomboy who once aspired to become a basketball player.  Besides Plastik Magazine, Bol has modeled for famed fashion designers such as Givenchy and Vivienne Westwood.

Source: Shadders

Votre Avant Garde, the PR company responsible for the fashion show, Camer Couture, is producing their latest project, Pop Up FashionMarket in London’s uber trendy Brick Lane.  The event will be a bazaar to connect emerging designers, and businesses to new markets they have not been able to interact and experience yet.  The pop up market offers a great place for creative minds to meet and create lasting business relationships.  One designer taking part in the pop up market and representing Nigeria is Asakeoge Couture.  The Brick Lane event is scheduled for Sunday, July 3, 2011, so Asakeoge will have enough time to pack up her fashions and jet set off to New York to take part in our show on July 15.

Source: Shadders

African fashion is being noticed all over the globe, and Elle Bulgaria made that even more evident by putting Africa Fashion Week New York in their July issue.  The editorial featured photos from this year’s fashions that will be showcased July 14-17, 2011.  We are headed straight toward the finish line and we are getting noticed along the way.

AFWNY image featured in Elle Bulgaria.