African designers praised at New York Fashion Week
David Tlale, Tiffany Amber, Erica Raisina and Jewel by Lisa have been showing as part of the Arise Promise of Africa Collective at New York Fashion Week. The show included a roll-call of top international supermodels including Freja Beha, Coco Rocha, Lakshmi Menon, Chanel Iman, Arise covergirl Sessilee, Oluchi and Tyson Beckford.
Nigerian designer Lisa Folawiyo of Jewel by Lisa opened the show with a trim geometric suit worn by model-of-the-moment Freja Beha. This set the tone for a collection of snappy, modern shapes that transcends global fashions. Short shorts, slim leg pants, mini cocktail frocks and leather mix biker jackets in a cacophony of colour and hand-embellishment were offset with Batik-inspired silk prints.
{Jewel by Lisa the standout
The New York Post said: “Jewel by Lisa, was the standout collection of the evening. Her bold color palette, which includes a rich mustard, blood red and an ocean blue, are easy on the eye and her charming paisleys and mosaic prints were the perfect foil for the intricate beadwork on her dresses.”
Tiffany Amber returned for a second season with a collection inspired by the Nigerian designer Kolade Oshinowo. Translating the artist's urban landscape into a digital print on silk and silk chiffon, Folake Folarin-Coker the label's designer, presented an easy collection of flowing kaftans and jumpsuits - shapes inspired by the 1974 Diana Ross film Mahogany.
Sunset tones
Malagasy designer Eric Raisina took the audience on a sensuous journey to his home-island. Sunset tones: reds, oranges and pinks were shown in trailing silk chiffon fringed dresses and silk-scaled evening dresses and jumpsuits.
South African David Tlale showed a very tight, elegant collection of sophisticated silhouettes in monotones. Inspired by the diverse cultural heritage of southern African tribes, like the San and Ndebele, dramatic finishings included fringing, crochet shoulder details, high ruffled collars and natural bone accessories.
