TOP AFRICAN FASHION DESIGNERS

Duro Olowu Duro Olowu is a lawyer turned designer, born in Lagos Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican Mother, and was raised between Nigeria and England. Duro Olowu When Duro was younger, he developed an enthusiasm for fashion, and became inspired by the mixture of colors, rich texture of clothing worn by the women around him. Following in his father’s footsteps, he became a lawyer but later gave it up to follow his dream of becoming a fashion designer. In October 2004, he launched his first self-titled women’s wear label with a collection for Spring/Summer 2005. The collection was inspired by a theme of ‘love and joy’. Olowu was named New Designer of the Year during the 2005 British Fashion Week in London, only one year after the launching of his label!   Korto Momolu Inspired by her African roots, Liberian-born fashion designer and stylist Korto Momolu is stamping her global brand on fashion forward women’s wear and accessories that celebrate the essence of her rich heritage through the use of traditional and luxury fabrics. Korto Momolu-Briggs has thrived by making virtues out of necessities. Creative and artistic, she was unable to find a job that both supported and fulfilled her, so she became an entrepreneur, the force behind fashion design firm KortoMomolu.com. Korto Momolu She gained national visibility as the second-place finisher in the fifth season of reality TV show “Project Runway,” and New York magazine put her on its list of designers to watch. Momolu went on to design the uniforms for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, a line of handbags and jewelry for Dillard’s and a jewelry line for the Smithsonian Museum stores. David Tlale Over the past 10 years since The south African launched his brand in 2003 winning the “Elle New Talent in South Africa, and being noted as the Best Designer by the Sunday Times in South Africa, this award winning designer David Tlale has proven that he is indeed a design force with creations that go far beyond expectations. David Tlale The year 2005 was a testimony of a great journey unfolding when Tlale was appointed “Head Designer for Carducci Woman” under the House of Monatic Group in Cape Town South Africa. In 2007 Tlale focused on growing the David Tlale movement, and was one of the 4 young South African Fashion designers to be selected to present their Couture Collection during Paris Couture week. This was the turning point for the brand where Tlale began to view his brand through the eyes of the world. 2008 was a fruitful one for the David Tlale brand; a year in which Tlale: was voted the most stylish designer at the South African Style Awards, he was also voted Mzansi’s South Africa’s Star Designer of the year. Nominated for the Mercedes-Benzes Fashion and Art Awards along with many other accolades and nominations, Tlale was invited to judge the Elle New Talent competition a place where his journey in fashion began. Mataano Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim were born in Alabama to Somali parents. They moved to Somalia at an early age, where they would spend their first nine years. When the civil war broke out there in the early 1990s, they returned to the United States. Mataano In September 2008, Ayaan and Idyl founded Mataano (“Twins” in the Somali language), a fashion line specializing in contemporary read-to-wear pieces for women. It was initially primarily centered on dress production, with an accent on comfort. Plans were also in the works to branch out into other areas. To establish a foothold in the fashion market, Ayaan and Idyl focused on ensuring their wear was ready for distribution. They then retained the services of a PR firm to help them advertise their brand, in the process sending out press releases and look books, as well as establishing a website.Their marketing efforts eventually earned the designers an invitation to the Oprah Winfrey Show to Skype with Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.The Mohallim sisters have also been invited to showcase in Sweden, South Africa, Jamaica and at New York Fashion Week. Blackbird Jeans Blackbird Jeans is a luxury, authentic and an unconventional menswear fashion label started by two Kenyan born designers Zedekiah Lukoe and Sydney Owino. “A style that expresses new forms of elegance, presenting itself as a modern classicism, based on superior sartorial content and creativity.” Blackbird Jeans Blackbird was established in 2008 as a denim line widely known as “BLACKBIRD JEANS“. After taking part in Africa Fashion Week New York in 2011 and Fashion Diaspora, they were immediately recognized as a brand that loves to make loud and proud menswear designs.