Cultural Shop: Tsemaye Binitie Revamps Website + Anita Quansah London Jewlery Now Available on LuisaViaroma.com & Personal Online Boutique

Fresh off the heels of his successful Spring 2013 collection runway presentation at ARISE African Icons during New York Fashion Week, Tsemaye Binitie revamped his personal website to include his Autumn/Winter 2012/2013 lookbook: http://www.tsemayebinitie.com/. One look from Tsemaye’s new collection has already become a fan favorite to Vampire Diaries star Kat Graham.

 

Anita Quansah London opened up a new brand-new online boutique hosting her stunning hand-crafted jeweled neckpieces. There’s currently 8 looks available on her personal website: http://www.anitaquansahlondon.com/shop.html To top that good news off, Anita also announced on her Facebook page her that LuisaViaroma.com has been included as a stocklist for her statement jewelry. Tiwa Savage, Nneka, Alicia Keys and Keisha Buchanan are celebrity fans of her line!

Congrats to Tsemaye and Anita!

Noteworthy Online African Fashion Boutique: Malakh & Sco where you can purchase pieces from Republic of Foreigner, Toju Foyeh, Grey, House 38, and Andrea Iyahmah! http://www.malakhandsco.com/shop.php (The company joins the growing online boutiques catering to African fashion designers which include MyAsho.com, Agnes & Lola, Moda Operandi, Hertiage1960, Eve’s Apple, ASOS, and many others!) Shout-out to Terence Sambo!

Image credits – TsemayeBinitie.com & Anita Quansah London

Cultural Shop highlights African fashion garments sold via upscale online boutiques.

Nneka Wears Anita Quansah London Neckpiece for Her Mania Magazine July 2012 Cover Feature

Nigerian superstar musician Nneka looked fierce wearing a stunning statement neckpiece by Anita Quansah London on the July 2012 edition of Mania magazine – the “Fearless Fashion Issue.” Nneka, who is about to release her new album Soul is Heavy looked beyond fierce rocking Anita Quansah London’s handcrafted neckpiece with her statement making hairstyle!

I am presently looking forward to the next project. I have the theme “oil” in mind. I want to see how people relate with oil. What the advantages and disadvantages are. I want to see how children see oil and this is very interesting because you are not putting anything into their minds. – Nneka to Mania

In the accompanying photo Nneka is wearing a black silk top and aso oke pencil skirt by KEMKEM Studio. Nneka’s skirt is taken from the KEMKEM Studio Autumn/Winter 2012 collection. I love how Nneka made the skirt her own. She didn’t wear it exactly like the runway, picture perfect photo!

I also discover the exact neckpiece Nneka wore for her cover shoot from Anita Quansah London’s Twitter page – @AnitaQuansahLon.

The London based Ghanaian-Nigerian designer also shared on Facebook several photos taken from her upcoming collection. Anita show the safety pin, the body piece and two feather neck pieces from new collection.

Don’t you want them all?? Simply stunning!

Celebrities embracing the bespoke jewelry curator Anita Quansah London is pouring in daily from the red carpet to magazine covers. In fact, this past April Alicia Keys wore her neckpiece fo her VIBE magazine feature. Congrats to Anita Quansah London for continuing to expand her successful brand. As I told you this past January, Anita Quansah London is one designer to watch this year!

image credits – Anita Quansah London & Mania Magazine

Which African fashion design do you prefer on Nneka – Anita Quansah London or KEMKEM or do you love both looks?

Cultural Newsstand highlights the cover stories seen on international newsstands.

Alicia Keys Wears Tsemaye Binitie, Christie Brown, & Anita Quansah London for Her Vibe April May 2012 Cover Feature

What Alicia Keys wore for her VIBE April/May 2012 took away from that eye-catching headline
“Her First Real Interview.” Although curious minds want to know what that headline implies, Twitter was abuzz with excitement when it was revealed that Alicia wore not one but THREE designs from African fashion designers – Tsemaye Binitie (Nigeria), Anita Quansah London (Nigeria/Ghana) and Christie Brown (Ghana). Alicia wore two stunning jackets from Tsemaye Binitie Autumn 2011 collection and she completed her look with strand and fringe necklaces by Christie Brown. This is not the first time Alicia Keys has embraced African fashion. Remember her stunning Boxing Kitten outfits on the set of her “Put It In A Love Song” music video awhile ago? Perhaps her son Egypt and her influential trip to Africa has motivated Alicia to wear designs straight from the motherland? Nonetheless it’s always great to see African fashion designers featured in mainstream media. Kudos to Tsemaye, Anita and Christie!  Getting a nod from Vibe is a well-deserved honor!

Alicia Keys in Tsemaye Binite Autumn 2011

Alicia Keys in Christie Brown Fringe & Strand Necklaces

Alicia Keys in Anita Quansah London Sieva & Dian Neckpieces

Follow Tsemaye Binitie on Twitter: @TsemayeBinitie, Christie Brown @ChristieBrownCL, and Anita Quansah London @AnitaQuansahLon for additional shopping details!

Cultural Presence looks at how celebrities and everyday people wear African fashion straight from the runway.

photo credits: Anita Quansah London, Tsemaye Binitie, Christie Brown, Vibe.com

Best of 2011: 12 Fashion-Forward Designer Labels To Watch

2011 is over and done with but let’s look back at what a great year in fashion it has been for several notable African-run labels. Bridget Awosika, Suno, Jewel By Lisa, Anita Quansah London, Virgos Lounge, Burberry, Bunmi Koko, Mimi Plange, LemLem, Kiki Clothing, Suno and Thakoon ruled the red carpet with classy innovative sleek designs. A winning factor for each designer was of course the loyal support of their high-profile clients.

Jewel By Lisa

Lisa Folawiyo, creative director and founder of Jewel By Lisa, has solidified her fashion stance. From her well accepted approval at Arise Made in Africa New York Fashion Week presentation to her newly launched diffusion line, The J Label, Lisa’s JBL has proved she’s truly a houshold name in fashion. Her biggest milestone in 2011 came courtesy of E News Correspondent Catt Sadler wearing her designs three times on air. JBL has gone Hollywood! Jewel By Lisa went on to become a red carpet fan favorite as seen on Eku Edewor, Solange Knowles, Kendall Jenner, Genevieve Nnaji, and many more. Currently Lisa has announced plans to release a coffee table book which CulturalToast.com previewed at NYFW SS 2012 and it’s definitely worth the wait! We’re eager to see what Lisa has planned for 2012!

Anita Quansah London

2011 was Anita Quansah London’s year of success! Public admiration for Anita Quansah London’s handcrafted jewelry collection ignited when Keisha Buchanan stepped out in a neckpiece at Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief launch. Nigerian singing sensation Tiwa Savage was obsessed with Anita Quansah London designs whenever she had a red carpet event to attend. Shortly after Anita Quansah London announced her collaboration with fellow Nigerian fashion label Jewel By Lisa for their new diffusion line, The J Label. Currently Anita Quansah London is working on a new diffusion line due to launch soon!

Kiki Clothing

When actress Nicole Ari Parker visited her husband’s paternal home of Ghana, she fell in love with Ghanaian, Nigerian fashion house Kiki Clothing. Nicole wore not one but two dresses from Kiki Clothing to major high-profile red carpet events this past year. Back in October, Kiki Clothing presented their latest collection at Africa Fashion International Week in Cape Town, South Africa. Kiki Clothing’s founder Titi Ademola is sure to bring IT in 2012!

Bridget Awosika


A well deserved recognition from Vogue Italia was just a perfect way to sum up rising Nigerian fashion label Bridget Awosika’s 2011. Nigerian TV personality Eku Edewor became Bridget Awosika’s most vocal, loyal supporter. Beloved by top Nigerian red carpet beauty queens like Funmi Iyanda, Tiwa Savage, Eku Edewor, EMLN 2011 winner EMLN 2011 winner Chika Chinwe, Nigerian model Makida Moda, and Adora Oleh. Bridget Awosika has bloosom to a high ranking contemporary womenswear line. 2012 will of course bring the Bridget Awosika name to red carpet fever heights!

Virgos Lounge

When Nigerian stylist Kanayo Ebi pick out a silver sequin one-shoulder jumpsuit for her client Angela Simmons, all wanted to know who design it Nigerian, London-based label Virgos Lounge has provided women with contemporary, vintage-inspired designs since its 2008 launch. Currently the label just release their Party Collection featuring their favorite model Omowunmi Gbadamosi. Angela has since bought the glamour of Virgos Lounge to Betsey Johnson’s runway presentation at New York Fashion Week.

Suno

First Lady Michelle Obama, Esperanza Spalding, Solange Knowles, Heidi Klum and Tai Beauchamp all wore the bold prints from the New York-based fashion label in 2011. Whether it’ll be Tai’s Suno x Loefller Randall canvas printed wedges or Michelle’s s silk pleated skirt, Suno produced classy design that will make every fashion-forward girl splurge a little! Suno currently re-launched their e-commerce site, where fashionistas can either window shop or shop ’til they drop!

Thakoon

Two Kardashian sisters (Kim & Khloe), Solange Knowles, First Lady Michelle Obama, and supermodel Iman sworn by Thakoon in 2011. Thakoon also created a limited edition Massai print scarf that sends all proceeds to famine-torn countries within the Horn of Africa – Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. Although Thakoon’s pre-Fall 2012 collection is a slight departure from their print heavy, Kenya-inspired Fall 2011 collection, we’re eager to see what else they have in store for 2012!

Burberry

Burberry was definitely inspired by rich African textiles for their 2012’s Resort and Spring collections. Lady Gaga, Anna Wintour, Solange Knowles, Kate Bosworth and Transformers star Rosie Huntington-Whiteley were faithful to Burberry’s prints in 2011. The hoopla on all things African fashion intensified, hasn’t it?

Mimi Plange

2011 produced Mimi Plange’s biggest accomplishment thanks to her collaboration with Manolo Blahnik which she revealed at her A Flower in the Desert Spring/Summer 2012 presentation during New York Fashion Week in front of her fellow fashion supporters Duro Olowu, Bethann Hardison, Rachel Zoe and Andre Leon Talley. Kat Graham, Vanessa Hudgens, Rihanna, Kristen Cavallari, Mary Birdsong, and Estelle were all seen in Mimi Plange designs.

Bunmi Koko

Before Bunmi Koko’s founder Bunmi Olaye stepped down as the lead designer from her label, she provided classy eccentric designs as seen on Omotola, Melanie Brown, Michelle Williams, and Keisha Buchanan in 2011. (FYI: Omotola was the first to wear the lime pleated dress from Bunmi Koko’s Spring/Summer 2012 Allure of The Sirens collection. Currently Bunmi Koko presented a revamped website or a droolworthy e-commerce site. As for any explanation why Bunmi departed her label, she only had the following to offer: I have not giving up on my dream, however the time has come for me to pursue a vision that is entirely my own.

LemLem

LemLem ‘s founder Liya Kebede put her supermodel skills to the test in 2011 when she stepped out on numerous occasions wearing her Ethiopia-based womenswear line. We fell in love with Liya’s handkerchief-styled handwoven tunic when she attended the Tribute to the Models of Versailles 1973 at MET back in January. Who could resist her scarf, too? Liya continued to be her label’s best spokesmodel when she wore Lem Lem to two high-profile New York City film screenings. Currently LemLem has launched a Tumblr and of course a hip new Resort 2012 collection. Liya started LemLem in 2007 “inspire economic independence in her native country and to preserve the art of weaving.” We’re eager to see what else Lem Lem has to offer!

Wrapping up the very best moments in African fashion were Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B collection, Chayla’s Deola Sagoe stunner at New York Fashion Week, Eku Edewor’s Republic of Foreigner embellished top, Teyana Taylor’s Vibe Vixen African-inspired shoot, Jackie Appiah’s Jil F.A.C.E. List Awards dress, Genevieve Nnaji showing loyalty to Zed Eye & Jewel by Lisa time and time again, and Gregory Parkinson’s African-inspired totes. These designer labels are THE ones to watch in 2012 as we predict more groundbreaking milestones to come for each one. Out of the 11, which one has you wanting to know what’s their next move in 2012?

image credits – Getty, Splash, WENN, Wireimage, Twitter, Facebook

Cultural Annual Review takes a look back in the previous year in film, fashion, entertainment and much more!