By: Jemimah Chungu
African fashion masterminds have ventured in priding and designing all sorts of tasteful fashions; the trend has increased in the last decades. African fashion designers have flaunted the original retro African style while sipping fashion evolution and modern trends. Africans have always expressed themselves in how they dress. It is a representation of who we are. It is no wonder the fashion is similar across the continent. The evolution and modernization of African fashion has not abandoned the drip of the pride and likeness too.
African fashion has been restlessly trendy on fashion media, fashion sites, fashion bloggers, fashion shows, runways, beauty pageants, movies, reality shows, appearances, events, music videos and others.
Some of the world’s top publications like Forbes and the vogue, as well as a lot of bloggers, have had a recognition of the ravishing and creativity of the designed afro-centric pieces, jewellery, leather designs, mixed designs and others by some top African designers. Some of these are; Hanifa from Congo, Kenneth Ize from Nigeria, Prime Obsession South Africa, Katungulu, Apprelle Duany from Kenya, Maki O from Nigeria, Loza Maleombho from Ivory Coast, Ami Doshi Shah from Kenya, Kirsten Goss South Africa, Imane Ayisissi from Cameroon, orange culture, from South Africa, Siri Studio.
Other fulfilling designs and designers include among others; Mwendwa from Kenya, Nkandu Yatu from Zambia, Leah Misika from Namibia, Sindiso khumalo from South Africa, Melisa poulton from Namibia, Jermaine bleu from Ghana, Tongoro from Senegal, Maxhosa by Laduma from South Africa, Mainga from Zambia and Lisa Folawiyo from Nigeria.
Due to the irresistibly stunning, rich, cultured fashion, the world’s top designers have also infused African fashion in their designs seen on the most famous people and world’s top class fashion icons. Creditably some of these designers are; Dolce Gabbana, Prada, Fendi and other world’s top designers.
Fashion icons seen wearing some of the pieces by these designers are; Lupita Nyongo who has repeatedly grabbed Prada, Michelle Obama wore Maki oh straight from White House, Naomi Campbell who has been seen rocking many Afri-centric fashion of African prints on runways, fashion shows and other fashion events.
Why the eminent African fashion?
African fashion has its own renowned background. African fashions are very similar in the entire continent because it is one Africa in as much as the fashion is diverse. African fashion is inspired by the shades of skin color, culture, flags, food, minerals, wildlife, trees and other natural resources, and way of life in general, for example religious purposes or motor and pounding sticks used as an important kitchen utensil in culture. Here is a glimpse of the trendy African owned fashion and why they have such a powerful attribute in the fashion world.
African printed fashion; Jira, kitenge, bogolanfini, dashiki, chitenge, ankara, kente called differently in languages, is at the top trend of Afrocentric fashion designing. They come with all sorts of chic prints (explained earlier) as well as African original prints like the animal print. African printed fashion/ apparels are alike in different ends of the continent. These are possessed by almost all regions in Africa designed and flaunted in many vivacious designs whereas having a leap on the global fashion spotlight.
Credit can be given to Africa’s famed peoples for rocking the African print, among many others are; Tiwa Savage, Ebuka, Kelly Khumalo, Khondwani Kaira and Diamond Platnumz. African print is regardlessly and ravishingly dressed by all corners of fashion oriented stunts especially owing to the fact they are similar across the continent.
West African, in addition to African print have akin elegant fashion to North Africa with their agabada, atiku, buba sokoto, jalabiya and others for men inclusive of the unisex rappers. Interesting enough the women’s traditional and religious focused fashion is a lot like the east African region fashion such that women cover their heads with styled clothing, two pieces, maxi dresses traditional garments and head wraps or the hijab, while in east African women are proudly bolted to maxi dresses referred to as kanga, and kanzu for men, Dirac, and the gomesio, and busuuti. They also cover their heads with the hijab, khimar and gab-Assar. They also have rappers for example the kikoy and kanga.
Fashion has no boundaries; the trendy covering of the heads, maxi dresses, rappers and others is also extended to the central and southern part of the continent referred to in (no order) as; ibheshu, bubus, isinene, shweshwe, khisa, mosese, fitambala, leso and others.
What is fashion with jewellery? Jewellery is an important part of African fashion as much as culture and religion. As amazing as it is, no African fashion goes without a compliment of jewellery and likewise, it is all quite similar across the continent. African fashion is styled complimented with earrings, necklaces, anklets, waist jewellery, bracelets, and nose-rings and so on. These are made using different beads, ornaments, pearls, stones and minerals like gold and diamonds.
