Pick of the Week: Parfait Designs

Photography- Olu Alade and iLLICIT Illusion

                                          Hair- Ladie Wenja
                                          Makeup- Shandyy Suzie- Sade Falade
                                          Styling/Jewelry- Sunny's List
                                         Love this dress, to order simply use the details on the photo

Brand Alert: Khosi Nkosi Fashion house

Khosi Nkosi Fashion House was founded by a young, selfless, artistic and creative designer, who was inspired by African Role models to start her own fashion house.This is her reflection, understanding and passion towards fashion, while enriching the hearts and lives of the people. The KHOSI NKOSI garments are inspired by what the brand essence stands for: Strong, African, Modern, Nubile woman that loves and respects herself and pays attention to detail.

Details to order

sunkissed@webmail.co.za

http://www.blazr.co.za

Location:Illovo, South Africa

Agnes and Lola (African fashion boutique)

Have you met Agnes and Lola? It’s a fabulous UK-based “African fashion boutique”This week Shadders is excited to be informed about this boutique, after enjoying a browse of their gorgeous ranges (Chichia dresses, Mar Sol Bags and Lalesso and  Eki Orleans as one of my favourite designer ) I could not help it but to share it with you all.

Must check this Boutique out here

Liberian Teenager Makes Jewelry from Bullets

At 17, Liberian teenager Lovetta Conto is making jewelry worn by Hollywood heavyweights like Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie. Akawelle (translates to “also known as love”) makes a heck of a statement. Her pieces aren’t made of typical semi-precious stones, Lovetta makes her jewelry from the casings of bullets fired during Liberia’s civil war. Born in Liberia, Lovetta was only 18 months when she was separated from her mother after she and her father fled Liberia to escape its civil war. At five-years-old, she moved to a Ghanaian refugee camp. She tells CNN, “I felt alone because I was in another country where I wasn’t really welcome. I always wanted to back to my country. But you have no choice because your country is in a civil war and it’s the only place you have to be.” At 12, Lovetta was recognized for her talent by Cori Stern, the American founder of the Strongheart Fellowship, an organization dedicated to helping gifted youth who have been displaced or orphaned by conflict.

According to CNN, at 14 Lovetta left her family in Ghana and moved to America as part of the Strongheart program.When Lovetta was challenged by a Strongheart project to make something that reflected her environment and the people around her, she came up with the idea to design jewelry from a bullet fired during the Liberian civil war.

CNN reports profits from Lovetta’s designs built the “Strongheart House”–a home built in Robertsport, Liberia, for the organization’s youth all over the world. It’s the place Lovetta calls home and shares with 11 other teenagers. Lovetta’s work is informed by the advice of her father who told her if she believed in herself, she could go far in life. Lovetta says, “I always wanted to be a fashion designer. I admired people so much when we would go out of the camp to Accra, in Ghana, and see all the people in their fancy clothes. I always thought maybe on day I could do that.” Find out more about Lovetta Conto and her Akawelle jewelry at Strongheart!

Brand Alert: Peace Images

Thumbs up to this artist, a San Diego native that uses beautiful ethnic inspirations that creates jewelry in her line “Peace Images”.  She has earrings, necklaces, and rings that are handcrafted to order and sent to you with love.  Not to mention some of the proceeds go to charity.  I happen to find that a beautiful thing when you can give back.  Check out a few of her collections

To order simply click Here

Brand Alert: Ododo Originals

I came across the cutest boutique this week. I thought that Ododo Originals had the cutest hair accessories. Who wouldn’t want a flower to accentuate all those curls. These flowers are special because they are handcrafted with beautiful beads that will match any of your outfits. Owner located in Minnesota

To shop simply click Here

Brand Alert: Awa Kamara Jewellery

Designer Awa Kamara works with wood, shell, camel bone, vinyl records, recycled glass, clay, gemstones, brass, silver and hypoallergenic 14K gold-filled metals. Her sophisticated, handmade pieces carry the signature of her own personal cultural fusion — African grace, Austrian conservatism and a twist of New York eclecticism — and a fresh indie chic vibe. Awa was born in Vienna and then lived in her ancestral home of Sierra Leone till the age of 5, when she returned to Austria. Growing up in Salzburg, she was exposed to the cultural legacy of the city and developed a love for art and craft work at an early age. She went on to earn a BA in fashion design and business management in Austria, followed by colour theory courses at Parsons The New School for Design in New York. Awa launched Awa Jewelry in 2010.  

Awa Jewellery will be donating a portion of web sales to the following organizations: Shine On Sierra Leone (A foundation focused on creating sustainable development, healthcare, literacy, education, and technology and microcredit programs to promote thriving self-sufficient communities in Sierra Leone) Amuloma Development Foundation Inc. (A non-profit, non-governmental organization that reaches out to people of goodwill to respond to the immediate community needs of Sierra Leone). The New Hope Movement (A campaign aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality in Sierra Leone)

If Awa Kamara tickles your fancy then you can shop from here or Website

Help Empower Ghanaian Women With Della's Playful Bags

Los Angeles based designer Tina Tangalakis always sought to combine her love of art and humanitarian work. Upon a visit to Ghana, Tina was greatly inspired by the beauty of local fabrics and touched by the heart of the people. There she decided to begin Della, a company that would provide jobs to the local community while allowing her to access her creative skills. So Shadders kindly ask you all to support this movement, the bags are very cheap ranging from $30-$70 with good quality fabric, their prices are definitely a bargain. Her line, which includes wallets, clutches, and a great oversized hobo, uses authentic Ghanaian fabrics. Plus, they're all hand-made by local seamstresses out of completely vegan materials. The company also recently introduced laptop and iPad cases, too—in case one of these stylish iPad and laptop cases didn't tempt you. Seems to us like Della has a lot going for it—high-quality, eco-friendly products that make a difference while keeping you looking chic! 

To order simply click Here

Brand Alert: Edun Relaunches Its Website With African-Made, Sustainable Clothes

Socially conscious fashion line Edun is making it hard to resist buying more cotton toppers. Colored tees from the Kenya Kids project will feature hand-drawn designs dreamed up by schoolchildren in Kibera, Kenya. 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the shirts fund things like lunch and health care at the school. Moreover, the black and white graphic tees in the collection are part of Edun's "Grow to Sew" initiative which aims to make African apparel a sustainable industry, and proceeds benefit the Conservation Cotton Initiative that supports organic farming and fair trade. The rest of the pre-fall collection, with ruffled Army green jackets and patchwork denim, is made sustainably and helps create jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Building infrastructures, teaching crafts, and getting some pretty awesome clothes out of it, too? If this is the future of the industry, we're all about it.

Well done Edun Shadders fully supports sustainable clothing ......xoxox  Edun Website 

Style Hunter: Marchesa Inspired by Africa

Pictures of the gorgeous Blake Lively attending the launch of New York's Fashion Week Night looking amazing as always. In between laughing with Anna Wintour, she posed in her Marchesa dress. I have to say on first glance I thought that it may have been designed by an African designer. What is with all that African print influence? I had a bit of hope that it may have been an African designer. But no. Marchesa. Please, please, please local designers, let's own our own influences and aesthetic. Let's take it authentically to the world and not let them appropriate it for themselves. The talent is here. We just need to get it out there.

What do you all think?