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African
Fashions Win World Acclaim
by
Muguette Goufrani
Africans
are painting the world in a kaleidoscope of bold colors and
patterns, an
exciting trend Africa Travel Magazine features in every
issue. Webtrends, which monitors our website around the
clock, proves that fashion is tops for reader reaction, and
last month when our editor did a multi topic search on
Google and Yahoo, out of 1,340,000 entries for the words
"Africa Fashion," this website was #1. Shining examples
abound, such as the vibrant color combinations, dazzling
patterns, rich fabrics, fabulous headgear and elegant gowns
we saw in Conakry and traveling through Guinea (right). A
few months prior, while returning to Paris from Cameroon, we
spent some quality time with Seidnaly
Alphadi,
whose African- inspired creations are taking Europe by
storm. It seemed like half of the plane was filled with
models from a Fashion Show Alphadi (below left) had just
staged. We spoke to the popular African designer at his
office a few years ago in a phone interview, and expect to
attend some of his coming events in Africa soon.
Born
in Timbuktu, Alphadi is one of today's leading edge fashion
designers. This
kind of exposure has spawned a growing market for the
Alphadi
label in Africa itself.
At a
garden
party by the beach at Limbe, near Mount Cameroon and the
famous Limbe Botanical Gardens, our group of travel agents
was treated to an outstanding fashion show. It featured the
creations of ' Estrella' one of Cameroon's top designers,
whom we showcased in
Africa Travel magazine and on this site.
Washington, DC: The
Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts for the Republic of Mali
showcased the rich culture of Mali and its people at the
Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall, last
June. In addition to the great entertainment, Mali's musical
ambassadors (left) gave their United States audience a
sample of the country's colorful fashions. Stay tuned for
much more about Mali's role in the world of fashion and
design.
Webisco
of Nigeria: In 2000 at the Addis Hilton in Ethiopia, our
editor was prompted to get into the act, and took the stage,
along with his ATA colleagues at an event sponsored by Chief
Margaret Fabiyi of Nigeria. The first of what's now an
annual affair, was held in Arusha, Tanzania . Convinced by
the results from Webtrends and comments from Tourism
Ministers, we know that Africa Travel Magazine's readers
enjoy this timely topic. That's why we invite designers,
jewelers and cosmetics firms to send items of interest.
African wear has been a routine with us for years at home
and away. It's a reminder of the wide smiles, upbeat
attitudes and lasting friendships we enjoy. Like the pace
and lifestyle of Africa itself... it feels good.
Oumou Sy, Senegal's
Queen of Couture
by Nicole L. Smith.
Where else does Western chic meet Afro-avant-garde but in
the creations of Oumou Sy, Senegal's Queen of Couture. Her
signature: bold fashion ideas which contain glamorous
Afro-centricism fused with universal style. Ms. Sy is not
only a prolific fashion designer, but she is also a stylist,
teacher, businesswoman and founder of the annual Dakar
Carnival and International Fashion Week in Dakar. Always on
the cutting edge, it was she (with her partners) who
pioneered cyber-cafe culture across all of Senegal.
(continued)
Textiles
from 53 Destinations in
Africa and its Offshore
Islands.
by Muguette
Goufrani
It's amazing! For the past
three years, the most popular section on this web site,
according to Webtrends, which charts our page views day by
day, is Africa Travel Fashions. Since Africa Travel
Magazine's editors believe in giving readers what they want,
each new editiion of our printed magazine contains
additional pages featuring the colorful clothing, designers
and fabrics of Africa,. In addition, there are visitors tips
on what and where to buy Two years ago at the huge Merkato
Market (the size of several football fields) and other
unique spots in Addis Ababa, we were in Shoppers' Heaven.
The prices were exceptional with our exchange rate and the
variety of items was endless.
We would need a whole web site or catalog just to cover
fashions, wearable art, fabrics and shopping venues in
Ethiopia, let alone what I've already experienced in Togo,
Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco, Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya, South
Africa and various other destinations we've visited. We're
now considering a special edition of our magazine devoted
entirely to African travel fashions with a gallery of color
photos.
 Speaking
of Ethiopian Design, attractive, multicolor scarves
and shawls are very popular with visitors. I bought several,
one to match each of 3 separate outfits. Such an array to
chose from, and they take up so little weight and space in
your suitcase. The photo (right) by Robert Eilets of New
York, was taken at Lake Tana. We visited a busy and
bountiful outdoor market there at Bahar Dar, a lakeside
resort that is sure to become a major tourism attraction of
the future thanks to its historic setting and the addition
of an attractive new resort that was nearing completion at
the time of our visit in February 2000. details
Ghana's Weavers of
Dreams
When myself and the
Editor of Africa Travel Magazine, visited historic Kumasi
with our guide from Sagrenti Tours of Accra, Ghana, we made
several trips to the weavers village which is located
nearby. As in the big city markets, were overwhelmed by the
wide variety of Kente cloth items available. Be prepared to
bargain - it's part of the scene. The caps, shirts and other
goods we bargained for have since proven to be of excellent
quality - they never seem to wear out. The question that
arises most often when other North Americans see us wearing
our African duds is -"What is Kente cloth?"
What
is Kente Cloth?
Basically, it's an
Asante ceremonial cloth that is hand-woven on a horizontal
treadle loom. The looms we saw at the village near Kumasi
were out in the open air, although in a grassy, shaded area.
Cloth strips, approximately 4 inches wide are sewn together
into larger bolts. Of many colors, sizes and designs, Kente
cloth items, long scarfs in particular, are worn throughout
Ghana and its neighboring countries, during most social and
religious occasions. The name comes from the word 'kenten',
which means basket. We saw virtually every possible color
and pattern of kente cloth during the day-long Durbar
ceremony at Koforidua village near Accra. According to
Ghanaians, kente depicts the area's history and philosophy,
its ethics, oral literature, moral values, social and
religious concepts.
Iman
Cosmetics:
Iman, daughter of a Somalian diplomat, might be called the
Estee Lauder for women of color. Iman distributes her
cosmetics in 700 shops in the USA. Now living in London and
married to David Bowie, she's rated among the 5 most
beautiful women in the world. Iman opened a shop in London
and South Africa in 1998. Her products are for women of many
races; Asian, Black, Hispanics and Arabs. Iman says that
Metis are in fashion and provides products for them. Colored
women were always ready to invest in cosmetics, a sector of
rapid expansion. What's termed minorities, represents the
majority of world population. In the USA, fifty percent of
the public will soon be colored, which represents a gigantic
purchasing power. We have to tell to the black women that
they are beautiful. I am against products which clear the
skin. Colored women sometimes use chemical products and
damage their skin. Those products should be controlled by
professional dermatologists.
Ethiopia's
Rising Star
Guenet Fresenbet, known as
Gigi to many, is one of a few Ethiopian designers in Addis.
She launched the first fashion magazine in Ethiopia called
'GIGI,' with the message of promoting clothing that is made
in Ethiopia by Ethiopians. Gigi's desire is to promote the
Ethiopian textile and leather industry, so that Ethiopia as
well as other African nations can play a more competitive
role in the worldwide fashion industry. Gigi has always had
a passion for art but decided to pursue a career in the
fashion industry in the late 80s after studying fine arts
and graphic design in the United States. Although Gigi spent
some years in United States, she has always had a desire to
return to her homeland of Ethiopia to promote Ethiopian
clothing and textiles. Her dreams have always been to see
Ethiopian clothing sold in stores throughout the world
(continued
below).
Speaking of Ethiopian
Design, attractive, multicolor scarves and shawls are
very popular with visitors. I bought several, one to match
each of 3 separate outfits. Such an array to chose from, and
they take up so little weight and space in your suitcase.
The photo (right) by Robert Eilets of New York, was taken at
Lake Tana. We visited a busy and bountiful outdoor market
there at Bahar Dar, a lakeside resort that is sure to become
a major tourism attraction of the future, thanks to its
historic setting and the addition of an attractive new
resort that was nearing completion at the time of our visit
in February 2000. details
Ethiopia's
Rising Star
(continued from above)
Gigi uses several types
of Ethiopian fabrics for her designs, and one type of
material that she is currently using is known as the
'Shibshebo' which means 'crinkles' in Amharic and gains this
crumpled effect when washed. The Shibshebo is a very popular
fabric in Ethiopia and is used to make the traditional
Ethiopian dress. The traditional manner of designing dresses
from this material does not enhance the woman's body, so
Gigi has used contemporary designs to make better use of
this wonderful handmade fabric. Her Shebshebo designs have
created dresses that are graceful, flowing and comfortable.
The Shibshebo is unique, because to date it has generally
been used to make traditional dresses.
The new designs by Gigi
that use this material incorporate tradition and
contemporary fashion, a unique mix. It also offers a special
advantage because the designs are very modern but the fabric
will still remind people of the tradition associated with
this material. This material can also be appreciated because
it keeps one cool when worn in warm weather. Residents of
Ethiopia can especially appreciate this attribute because we
live in a land where we have 13 beautiful months of
sunshine. In addition though, Shibshebo can be appreciated
in the western world where it can be worn during their
summer months. It can compete with linen, which is normally
worn during hot weather.
The Shibshebo has traditionally been used to make clothing
for women only but Gigi has taken this a step further and
has designed different outfits for men as well. We are
certain that the future designs of Shibshebo will include
children's clothing as well. Also, Gigi's designs have made
clothing made from Shibshebo quite adaptable, enabling them
to be worn at both casual as well as formal occasions. The
Shibshebo is one of many Ethiopian-made materials that Gigi
uses for her designs. All of her designs use materials that
have been produced in Ethiopia since she believes in
supporting Ethiopia's natural resources that have thus far
been under-utilized. In the future, Gigi would also like to
develop and introduce western made raw materials if they can
not be produced in Ethiopia. She continues to encourage
Ethiopian designers living overseas as well as local
designers to use Ethiopian raw materials as well as doing
everything in their power to help the Ethiopian fashion
industry grow to its full potential. Gigi: Tel: 251-1-53 16
86/53 16 90, E-mail: gigi's designs@yahoo.com, Website:
www.geocities.com/gigiecm, PO Box 101315, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.
Gigi, one of our
advertisers in the Jubilee Edition, presented a Fashion Show
at the elegant Sheraton Addis Hotel; one of two African
Fashion events held during ATA's 25th Jubilee Congress in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May, 2000.
A
fashion show was held in Ghana's State House in Accra during
the ATA-WTO Congress in May, 1999, confirming that Africa's
Upbeat Fashions is integral part of ATA events to come.
Fashion from Ethiopia was a main feature in our Jubilee 2000
edition, as we journeyed to the Roof of Africa for a
Congress in Addis Ababa (new flower).
Footnotes:
Koforidua, Ghana, also called New Juaben, is capital and
commercial center for the Eastern region. The area produces
cocoa, palm oil, cassava, and corn. An important highway and
rail center, Koforidua was founded by refugees from Ashanti
in 1875.The Population is over 60,000.
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Biographies
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Photos
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