Models Fatima Siad & Iman launch new websites!

Two of Somalia’s reigning beauty models Fatima Siad and Iman recently launched personal websites offering fashion and beauty editorials.

Somali-Ethiopian Fatima Siad (best known for walking for Hermes, being the brand face of Herve Leger, and appearing on America’s Next Top Model) launched a personal website today - fatimasaid.com! Posted on Fatima’s official website is a biography page and editorial snapshots of her at work.

 

Here’s the Facebook message she posted up about her new online venture:

Hey Everyone!

I’ve just launched my own website!

I’m really excited about it and would love for you to check it out and tell me what you think!

Visit http://www.fatimasaid.com

You can read my official biography, check out galleries of my pictures from throughout my modeling career, and connect with me via Twitter and Instagram.

Have a great night and lots of love!

Fatima
http://www.FatimaSaid.com

Thoughts: I appreciate that Fatima is making moves to gain a bigger social prescene but someone needs to let her know that her last name is Siad & not Said. I blame this on MS Word Spell Checker! Harmless mistakes do occur!

Somali model Iman launched a travel, fashion and beauty website called Destination Iman. For her inaugural September 2012 issue Iman was influenced by Paris.

 

Thoughts: I spent a great deal of my lunch break browsing through her website and I love not only the concept but the fact she used a natural hair model – Nneoma for her beauty shoot!

 

image credits – FatimaSiad.com & DestinationIman.com

Cultural Loop: Julia Sarr-Jamois for Tibi, BCBG MaxAzria Fall 2012 NYFW, Duro Olowu’s Pop-Up Art, Gabrielle Union Wears Amsale + Liya Kebede, Nyasha Matonhodze, Tolula, Marian, FashionJunkii, and Fatima Siad dominates NYFW

Introducing a new segment to CulturalToast.com, we proudly present Cultural Loop. This feature provides our readers with the latest news within the fashion world. Wonderland UK Editor Julia Sarr-Jamois is the celebrity brand face for Tibi Spring 2012 AD Campaign. Julia was styled by Tibi’s Amy Smilovic and swedish blogger Elin King. Her confidence simply radiates in these photographs and she also gives us all hair envy with her natural Afro. Julia shared with Vogue about what she calls her statement hair.

 “I’ve had my hair like this since I was about fourteen,” Sarr-Jamois says. “When I was at school, I had it in plaits, which were quite tedious, and I thought, ‘I’m going to take it out for a bit.’ I remember feeling like it looked really big at first but then I ended up keeping it. I wash it with Bumble and Bumble Tonic shampoo, which smells so good. And a more intense Bumble and Bumble conditioner called Creme de Coco Masque. Then I let it air-dry and maybe play around with it for a bit with my hands. That’s it. People are always asking about it, though. And everyone wants to touch it.”

Last night in Hollywood, actress Gabrielle Union stepped out in a strapless silk chiffon black cocktail dress by Ethiopian designer Amsale at the premiere of Think Like A Man.  Her red carpet style has always been effortless. Gabrielle said to Style Watch her trick to wearing sparkle is play down the rest of your outfit. “My rule for sparkle is that there’s no such thing as too sparkly of a dress! It makes you feel like a princess. Just play down the rest.” She definitely stuck to her fashion trick!

New York Fashion Week just kicked off with a huge bang. Max Azria of BCBG MAXAZRIA presented his color-block caftan Fall 2012 collection.

African models rule on and off the runway for Lincoln Center’s biggest fashion extravaganza. Ethiopian model Liya Kebede stepped out in a black and white tuxedo-inspired Lanvin outfit at amFAR gala. Somali-Ethiopian model Fatima Siad walked for Chadwick Bell Fall 2012 runway show. Zimbabwean model Nyasha Matonhodze was seen at the Richard Chai Love show.

Not to be outdone but African stylists took in the shows in style and a huge entourage. Nigerian blogger and stylist Joy Adaeze (spotted by Daily Candy) wore a Jewel By Lisa. This NYFW candid of Nigerian magazine editor-in-chief for Pop’Africana Oroma Elewa with Joan Smalls was spotted by Teen Vogue. Blogger Rosemary of FashionJunkii.com pose with her entourage of industry friends – model Tolula Adeyemi, stylist Marian Kihogo and Tanzanian model Miriam Odemba.

African fashion and art collaborated with stunning results. Head wraps -a trend that jumpstarted last season by stylist June Ambrose – made it into this African-inspired L’Officiel Mode photo shoot. Nigerian, London-based fashion designer Duro Olowu has pop-up art show that he curated which is on display at Salon’s 94 Freeman Alley Gallery from now to early March. Duro Olowu’s exhibit features vintage and contemporary assortment of photography, textiles, art, furniture, music, books, and objects. You can check out from February 8 to March 10. Duro’s wife Thelma Golden, Studio Museum of Harlem Director and Chief Curator, must be proud of him! Will we see Thelma launching a clothing line in the future?

image credits – fashionjunkii.com, vogue.com, style.com, tibi.com, and getty.

Cultural Loop is a must-read news rundown within the fashion industry!

Cultural Platform: Iman Wears Thakoon Massai-Print Scarf

Iman pulled double duty for charity at the Modelinia Beautiful Friends Forever Bracelet launch. Procees of the limited-edition $35 bracelet by nOir Jewelry goes towards efforts to raise awareness of famine, drought, and malnourished effecting children in Somalia. Save The Children, a charitable organization close to Iman, will donate the bracelet proceeds to Somalia. Iman partnered up with fellow models Oluchi Onweagba-Orlandi, Ataui Deng, Jourdan Dunn, Christy Turlington,  Doutzen Kroes, Hilary Rhoda, Coco Rocha, Karlie Kloss, and Lily Aldridge. The Modelinia BFF bracelet also comes in different colors and flag colors to reflect each participating model’s home country.

Not only did Iman lend her name towards the charitable jewelry line but she wore a Massai-printed scarf from Thakoon at the event launch. Proceeds from the limited edition $250 scarf goes towards famine-torn countries within the Horn of Africa – Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Knowing this, Iman decided to show her support for her native country Somalia by wearing the scarf.

Get to see Iman using her celebrity platform for a good cause!

getty. thakoon.

Cultural Platform is a feature celebrating the effortless charitable efforts made by influential Africans.