Vivienne Westwood and the Ethical Fashion Initiative celebrate their 10th season anniversary

"The Africa bag collection evolves each season, introducing new styles and in turn skill development of the artisans in Africa.

The collections are brought to life through the use of distinctive Westwood archive prints, shapes and finally stamped with Vivienne’s latest political or environmental Climate Revolution message. For Autumn- Winter 2015/16 the Vivienne Westwood EFI collection takes on the brands iconic Squiggle, Scribble Tartan and Argyle prints and introduces the new Snakes and Ladders, and the Democracy Fracking prints. The new season prints echo Vivienne’s environmental and political message -in particular her antifracking and anti-capitalism campaigns. A new style for the season is the Snake Board Game Shopper, complete with a hand painted Snakes and Ladders board print with accompanying limited edition dice and game counters, which have been cast in brass using recycled car parts and taps by the artisans in Nairobi – transforming the playful bag into a board game."

    

Vivienne Westwood and the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) celebrate their 10th season in collaboration. The Vivienne Westwood EFI bags are handmade in Kenya by a social enterprise set up by EFI. Over the past 5 years the work has supported thousands of micro-producers from marginalised communities, developing their artisan skills and improving their financial prospects, promoting growth of sustainable business in place of aid dependency. ‘Sustainability is about having projects and products that last.

 

Vivienne Westwood has provided sustainability to the work of the Ethical Fashion Initiative by engaging for ten consecutive seasons with a significant number of African artisans, mostly women, who have struggled their way out of poverty through this work. The products are beautiful and last: the exact opposite of fast fashion. This is responsible fashion. This is working for a better world’ -Simone Cipriani, Founder and Head of the EFI.

 

The impact assessments regularly carried out on all Vivienne Westwood orders with the Ethical Fashion Initiative in Kenya demonstrates measurable and concrete change in the lives of those involved in production: · So far 1558 artisans have worked on these orders, from 21 different communities. 76% of which are women. · 86% of the artisans involved received training during the production, offering them internationalstandard skills. · 72% of artisans were able to save from the income received from the order, enabling them to plan for their future. · More than 950 children were enabled to go to school as a result of Vivienne Westwood orders. ‘What a wonderful experience it’s been.

 

I really want to thank the International Trade Centre and the team in Africa. It’s been, and still is, such a gratifying experience to know the opportunities we are able to give to people. And the bags we make in Africa are still my favourite!’ Vivienne Westwood.

Woodin launches ‘‘Perl ‘Or de Woodin’’ in 8 metallic designs

Woodin’s latest collection is presented in 8 designs and exciting colors. Perl ‘Or de Woodin is a metallic print characterized by bold and graphic pearl motifs with light and gracious drawings.

This collection takes an air of elegance and splendor from its shimmering aboriginal-inspired designs. The fabric’s innovative edges make it perfect for creating bold and daring silhouettes.

The new African woman

With Perl ‘Or de Woodin, we celebrate the new African who is proud of who she is and lives in the moment- confident, bold, highly respected and cannot be ignored.

Woodin, transforming African fashion

Woodin, Africa’s number 1 retail brand is part of the Vlisco group which has 4 textile and fashion brands in the mid to high-end African market. The Woodin Nation consists of creative, vibrant and energetic individuals whose modern and cosmopolitan lifestyle is not only represented in their fashion sense but in their mode of expression and way of life. The brand is a truly African brand that is inspired by culture and art. Woodin’s hallmark is the symbol of creativity. Creativity is at the heart of everything they do and stand for. As a fast fashion brand they constantly work to deliver fashion inspiration to consumers, who reflect confidence whenever they wear the brand's unique designs everywhere they go.  Woodin's  30 years of fashion design expertise enables them to play this role of true fashion connoisseurs and is helping to define African fashion today.

We will update you with photos from the launch of Perl' Or de woodin collection at the FashionistaGh Shopping festival Last weekend!

10 Holiday Style Inspiration For You

Happy holidays to you all i hope you're having a blast so far! unfortunately i have not had the opportunity to enjoy the holidays because i'm currently under the weather. While resting, i decided to search for style inspiration to spice up your fab holidays. Below are 10 African print inspired style inspiration i gathered courtesy pinterest! I hope you find a favorite whilst scrolling through the post!! Enjoy and remember to drop a comment about which look you love or any question you may have!!! 

Happy holidays Loves J!

PHOTO SOURCE: PINTEREST (AFRICAN FASHION)

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!