Arise Fashion Collective at New York Fashion Week

Tlale is one of four designers chosen to participate in the Arise Promise of Africa Collective on Friday, 11 September 2009. Tiffany Amber from Nigeria, the joint-winner of the Designer of the Year 2009 prize will return to New York for a second season. Jewel by Lisa, also from Nigeria and Eric Raisina from Madagascar will complete the collective.

“The reviews and the comments made by the industry professionals, audience members and customers was overwhelming,” says Folake Folarin-Coker of Tiffany Amber. “It was a good wake up call, there is a market out there that wants to see Africa's vision, hear our stories and follow our lines.”

Africa's cultural excellence

Arise was founded on the premise of global style and Africa's cultural excellence, and the Arise Promise of Africa Collective is an integral part of the magazine's ongoing commitment to promoting African talent to a global audience.

As with the Arise African Collective show, held at New York Fashion Week in February 2009, this season the show will include a roll call of top international models, and is being produced by Jan Malan of Umzingeli, a distinctly African company with extensive international experience.

Nduka Obaigbena, This Day publisher and editor-in-chief of Arise is behind the African fashion initiative.

“The moment for Africa is upon us”

“We are thrilled to once again bring a group of talented African designers to show their work to a worldwide audience in New York City,” he said. “The moment for Africa is upon us. At this time of global economic crisis, the people of Africa must turn disadvantage into opportunity and show the world that we are witnessing the first green shoots of the emerging African century. We have all it takes and we're going for it!"

The runway show will also celebrate ARISElive.com, the magazine's new interactive web presence.