"Feline SS15" Collection by Totally Ethnik

Totally Ethnik announces the official launch of their new Women Wear Collection for Spring/Summer 2015. The collection, entitled Feline, draws from Designer Marie Kipre’s inspirations from the feline animal kingdom, interpreting the gracefulness yet strength of those animals. The Feline woman is therefore bold, modern and strong.

Totally Ethnik’s Feline designs offer a sophisticated expression of very feminine yet audacious, striking colors, patterns intended for women who are on top of their world. 

This collection is our strongest yet since the technique is more improved, more refined, and more elegant. The fabrics reveal exotic, feline prints and textures.

Totally Ethnik was founded in 2012 in Accra, Ghana, and is now in the process of opening a shop in East Legon, Accra.

LOOKBOOK: The Alikoto Crop Top Collection

Alikoto Crop top collection is for every woman. It is designed with beautiful earth toned and contrasting coloured African print fabric, it is made with the purpose of accentuating a woman’s shape.

 The crop top is not just for the slender woman, it is for women of all shapes, whether hourglass, boyish, heavy or busty, the crop top collection is just perfect for you. Liberate yourself!

Jacqueline Boakye of J'Qlyn : A rising African Star in Fashion

Story by Ruthy 

My inspiration and drive for this brand J’QLYN comes from my diverse cultural exposure to the world in a never seen classy nature. The design inspiration also comes from a book that has kept and brought me this far in line; The Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. This perfectly characterized my 2012 blazer collection ‘Amorender’, achieved from the words ‘amour’ and ‘render’. At 17, I was sketching, designing and producing prom dresses for her mates at St. Francis Xavier whilst I studied BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design. At that point, the drive was to sketch ideas and transforming them into quality designs for friends who would later become clients as well as admirers”.

Born in Accra on 27th October 1991 to George Boakye and Genevive Amevor, Jacqueline Boakye is  the proud owner and brain behind J’QLYN, a fashion brand which simply identifies elegance for different personalities and currently one of the fastest growing brands within the fashion space in the African Diaspora communities across the United Kingdom and parts of Europe.

Jacqueline had her elementary education in Ghana and after, the family had to relocate to Belgium where her father Mr. Boakye had taken up a new appointment. In 2006, her family again relocated to the United Kingdom where Jacqueline had her secondary then college education. Before graduating from the London College of Fashion, at the University of the Arts London, Jacqueline knew she had a place in the Arts industry having started with amazing drawings and sketches from a tender age of eight (8).

Her major break was when she gained an internship to work alongside Suzie Turner; a leading British bespoke designer, where she learnt the rudiments of the trade and gained invaluable insight into how to operate a fashion brand. That was a dream come and was followed by the launch of Jacqueline’s J’QLYN brand officially in the first quarter of 2013. Jacqueline’s exploits include showcasing her first ever collection at the age of 19 at the African Fashion Week London in 2011 under the brand name JB Afrique. This led to her designs being featured in Fashions Finest and Top Model of Colour (TMC) 2011 and was invited by the Miss Ghana Belgium organization to clothe the contestants in 2012 and 2013.

This year, J’QLYN was showcased as part of London Fashion Week 2014 in an off-schedule show organized by Fashions Finest in February and her designs were featured in Duvera Magazine, Amor Magazine and Akwaaba Magazine. She was also featured as the only designer in the annual Sheffield Afro Caribbean Society (ACS) event which took place in April then the Coventry Runway fashion show.

J'Qlyn is without a doubt a brand to look out for!

Follow @officialjqlyn on twitter and instagram!   

Tees are the ISH!

I have been drooling over a lot of African print inspired Tshirts lately. They seem to be the new cool thing for me and frankly i don't know why. Well, i have a friend (Knie Annertey Abbey) who makes beautiful tees for everyday people and i suggest we all  have one or two in your wardrobe just for a change. "ISH!" Tshirts are

Inspired by colours, waxprint patterns and motifs that we can all relate to, to give that real casual feeling. here's a sneak peak into some of his designs.....

Follow him on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/niiannertey.abbey?fref=ts
twitter or instagram: @knieabbey

Fashionfocus with B'venaj

For two years i keenly paid attention to the B'venaj brand and finally got to see their designs during the Fashionistagh shopping festival 2013.  As usual I quietly walked towards their stand, took a closer look and left.  After that event, I have been following them on Facebook and prior to showcasing at the Glitz Africa fashion week 2013 I decided it was time for an interview. 

Envy Collection at GAFW

I love their perfect blend of chiffon and African print fabrics to make really easy and ready to wear clothes.

The brand Bvenaj is an acronym for the name of designer Vanessa and her siblings Eleasha, Natalie, Abigail and john. Growing up in an environment where passion for fashion designing existed, Vanessa drew inspiration from her mom. At age 13, She started designing and her mom would sew. She describes her designs as being inspired by the human figure as well as nature ie) what she sees on daily basis; therefore her clothes are practical, chic, and easy to go.

The Osaeibia and Envy collection are Vanessa’s collections so far but her favorite collection is the Osaebia because it was inspired by her mother and is also her very first collection.The B’venaj brand targets both the young and old people because they both love to look trendy. According to Vanessa, the African print is definitely in vogue. “We see international designers making use of these fabrics in some of their collections “. She likes to fuse African prints with laces, chiffons, taffeta etc to give it a different look and appeal. “The African print trend is going to be around for a very long time,” she added.

Some Ghanaians are of the view Ghanaian fashion labels are expensive. We asked Vanessa what she thought of this assumption and she said, “I agree they are and as a designer I understand where they are coming from. Cost of production in Ghana is quite high, buying fabrics, maintenance of the equipment’s and as you improve on your design and skill, your prices go up as well.”

The Bvenaj brand was a part of Glitz Africa Fashion weekend and it was an opportunity to showcase it dressings to Africa and the rest of the world. 

Vanessa’s Quote for you is " the only person you are destined to be is the person you decide to become."

Vanessa  CEO of B'venaj

photcredit: SnapPrints.

Glitz Africa Fashion week Day1 :mSimps

Mabel Simpson of mSipms  a Ghanaian based fashion brand that specializes in hand made customized accessories , showcased her latest collection on the Runway Themed "Krai.coon. "
 it was inspired by the flamboyant plumage of the peacock, mSimps’ ‘Krai.coon Collection’ redefines the sublime style that has become their signature.
Progressive, confident and elegant, the articles are handcrafted to the usual high standard, and features ladies hand bags, clutch purses, travel bags, shoes and ethnic inspired bib necklaces.
Using a variety of delicately selected fabrics and trimmings, each item is individual, edgy, contemporary yet timeless.
 Thinking of getting me a present for my birthday ? think mSimps...... 
Msipms :