{"id":89080,"date":"2019-08-26T11:28:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-26T09:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/?p=89080"},"modified":"2019-09-30T17:16:59","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T15:16:59","slug":"africa-where-inspiration-is-born","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/en\/africa-where-inspiration-is-born\/","title":{"rendered":"Africa: Where inspiration is born"},"content":{"rendered":"

Through the decades we’ve seen dozens of collections based on traditional African tribal patterns, using the safaris’ uniforms as a theme for some designs and what about the iconic animal print to which every year the fashion industry turns to to decor thousands of pieces with zebra stripes, leopard patches or anything related with the Savannah? The strong influence of the black continent in fashion is more than obvious. The colorful clothes, the happiness they bring with their music and dances and their happy attitude even in the worst possible life scenario they can be are a strong inspiration to those in the flip side of the world. But, besides inspiring others, whats going on in Africa in terms of fashion? Why not talking about the source of everything?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"AFRICA
Louis Vuitton Machangani inspired bag from 2007<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With Instagram demolishing barriers and borders worldwide, everyone even in the most recondite location in the planet can get in touch with anyone with an IG account. The possibilities are real and the access to an international market<\/strong> is more reachable than ever. That said, the most relevant fact of this universal paradigma for the fashion industry in countries with a minor presence in the global spectrum is the arrival of well-established brands and designers from Japan, South Korea, China, Russia or Malaysia to the main stage season after season. It’s not an exception anymore and their prestige is real. Rei Kawakubo from Commes Des Gar\u00e7ons<\/strong><\/a>, Jun Takahashi from Undercover<\/strong><\/a>, Yixi Chen from C2H4<\/strong><\/a> or Demna Gvasalia from Balenciaga<\/strong><\/a>\/Vetements<\/strong><\/a> are some of the many examples of designers representing their own firm or directing one that conquers every runway in Milan, Paris, London, NY or wherever they present their designs. Yep, you saw it. Africa<\/a><\/strong> has no representation yet.<\/p>\n

For the first time, two African designers<\/strong> will have the chance to win the LVMH<\/a> Prize for Young Designers\u00a0<\/strong>next September the 4th. From Nigeria Kenneth Ize<\/strong>\u00a0(@kennethize<\/strong><\/a>) brings a proposal deeply inspired by his roots. The uniqueness of his work with hand-woven Yoruba\u00a0aso oke<\/em>\u00a0fabrics,<\/strong> patterned textiles traditionally reserved for special occasions, has gain him a reputation among non others than Beyonc\u00e9, Childish Gambino or Naomi Campbell<\/strong>. The iconic model ran the\u00a0Arise Fashion Week\u00a0<\/strong>(@arisefashionweek<\/strong><\/a>) held in Lagos, Nigeria, back in April alongside highly-demanded face Alton Mason<\/strong> (@altonmason<\/strong><\/a>) dressed by Ize’s creations, providing him and the ready-to-wear African runway a bit of a well-deserved exposure.<\/p>\n

At 29, the Nigerian designer has his mission pretty clear: \u201cWe\u2019re reviving, reinterpreting and giving new context to artisan techniques that have given meaning to West African identity.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>Social media and the new use of internet is making possible that a girl from Yaound\u00e9 can be inspired by a new designer from Kuala Lumpur and develop a professional relationship or a collaboration with him. There are no space limitations anymore and anything from the most rural aspect to the wildest tech has a place in the design industry.<\/p>\n

The origin of his passion for fashion comes from his early years watching her mother and friends getting ready for a special event.\u00a0\u201cWeeks before a special celebration, my mother and her friends would take over the whole house with rolls of material as they prepared their outfits,\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>he explains. His gender-neutral silhouettes and vibrant prints combine with mastery traditional and contemporary designs and result in a jaw-dropping identity for Ize’s creations.<\/p>\n