Africa In Vogue!

Africa now seems to be everywhere and I love it!

Here are some of the best looks i have seen and taken from Vogue.

Duro olowu s/s 09

Duro Olowu is a fab designer creating ready to wear pieces, the x banker mixes these great prints and original shapes together making his designs very distinctive. He always uses black modals which is just perfectly complimenting to the rich vibrant colors that are so often seen in his designs.His style has given me so much inspiration for the final project and will feature heavily in my research.

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MOTHO

Okay so i have talked about the different ideas for my collection, lets get personal.

My collection is based upon recycling and the use of tribal prints my main influences have come from Africa. Over ten years ago I meet Motho, she had come to stay with her Aunt to study in England, she had moved here from Botswana, Africa. We soon became the best of friends just living a few doors away from each other. After a few years she went back to Botswana to see her Family, being only young I don't think we knew just how far away we both lived from each other.

Motho didn't come back to finish her studies and decided to stay in Africa, we lost contact and hadn't spoken in years. Doing all this research on Africa I couldn't stop thinking about her and i made up my mind i was going to try and get back in contact with here her. That week I was at work and her aunt who i hadn't seen in years came in shopping, I couldn't believe it she recognised me and told me how Motho was always asking after me. What a small world! Through that I am now back in contact with Motho, who is now an Accountant in Botswana.

If all goes to plan I am going to visit Motho in Botswana this December. This have given me so much inspiration for my collection and Motho has kindly sent me some fabrics to use.

Prints/ Fabrics

Fabrics are key in producing a collection that works, the texture, weight and drape are all things to consider. Color and prints is what my collection is all about and making the right choices on these will make or brake it. I have gathered many samples here and am now in the process of putting them together.

I love them all!!

1 day shirt project.

Today we had another lesson with Claire who is just FAB and such an inspiring and motivating person i love the lesson with her they are so creative and soooo beneficial. We were each in pairs given a second hand mens shirt to style/reinvent . Sticking to my brief i chose to add in some Denim to relate to my current professional project. I really enjoyed the task it was good to work in reverse and start with an original garment and altering it and adding bits on to change the original garment look. I also added the kimono style belt that links my collection together as well as experimenting with attaching the button whole strips which is one of my ideas for the Denim Jacket.

JUNKY

Junky Styling is a brand i have been interested in for a long while, loving the recycled look and the clever way they reinvent garments i decided to make a trip. It was great to see all the garments and to look and see how they were put together. It must have been my lucky day, one of the designers were in the store and only to happy to answer question and give information. It was so inspiring and well worth the visit.

LOVE JUNKY!

Oxford ST. (jan 10)

Visiting London is always great, I visited mainly to go to Junky Styling in brick lane and also to visit some fabric shops in Soho however a trip to London is not complete without looking around some shops on Oxford St and off coarse doing some research at the same time. I was delighted to see this in H&M's window, they currently have several items based around an African theme.