The Folklore, an organization dedicated to empowering African fashion designers and marginalized communities, has successfully raised $3.4 million in seed funding to enhance its business-to-business (B2B) wholesale platform. Leading the funding round is venture capital firm Benchstrength, joined by existing investors Techstars, Black Tech Nation Ventures, and Slauson & Co. Established by founder Amira Rasool in 2018 as an e-commerce retailer, The Folklore aimed to create economic opportunities for African fashion designers. Over time, the company has broadened its scope to encompass margin ..read more

Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, renowned for his innovative animal print designs and founding of the eponymous fashion house, has passed away at the age of 83 after a prolonged illness. The announcement of Cavalli's demise was made through a heartfelt message on his company's Instagram page, which highlighted his remarkable journey from humble beginnings in Florence to international acclaim. Described as naturally talented and creative, Cavalli's belief in the artistic potential within each individual underscored his approach to design. Cavalli's enduring legacy encompasses not only ..read more

Could Kenyan Sporting Legends Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon Be Emerging Fashion Icons? In a recent showcase of Nike's latest fashion line at the renowned Palais Brongniart in Paris, photos of globally acclaimed athletes Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon gracing the runway have sparked international attention. Kipchoge, widely regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners in history, captured the spotlight as he strutted in a futuristic trench coat accentuated with puff shoulders. Images of Kipchoge sporting a sleek gloss-black ensemble, complemented by shades, gloves, and baggy trousers ..read more

Ami Doshi Shah latest collection Memento Mori was born out of grief, reflecting on the loss of her father in 2021 and their final days together in the Indian Ocean town of Watamu along Kenya’s coast. Even though her work is sold and celebrated in the West, her focus is firmly on the continent she calls home, both as the inspiration and the market for her refined designs, which are stocked in boutiques in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Ivory Coast and Kenya. “I feel far more Kenyan than Indian,” she said, urging her South Asian-origin compatriots to embrace integration, instead of finding safety ..read more

The dress rental business and the show are the vision of Spinazzola and Longo who both own their own businesses. Spinnazola owns a salon called Manes and More By Mermaid that provides beauty, cosmetic and personal care services in Hayden. Longo owns Solstice Collective, a business that specializes in making hand-tied malas and giving children a chance to make solar-powered, mason-jar night lights at her farmer’s market booth. “We are just looking into introduce a dress rental opportunity for people who need them all year round,” Spinazzola said. “We will showcase them at the fashion show, so p ..read more

A star-studded guest list celebrated the last 12 months in music at the 2024 Brit Awards, which were held at London's O2 Arena on March 4, 2024. In addition to making history by winning six gongs in a single evening, British singer-songwriter Raye also graced the red carpet in a black gown embroidered with Fendi Couture. Maya Jama, one of the night's hostesses, chose a dramatic Harris Reed design, while Kylie Minogue, who received the Global Icon award and ended the evening with a medley of songs, came in luxury owing to her custom-made Alexandre Vauthier outfit. The evening featured performan ..read more

Designer Pierpaolo Piccioli said he “approached black as a canvas, a starting point on which to build … silhouettes that could move while looking for lights around, to soak them in and reflect them.” The couturier was fascinated by the color’s contradictions used for uniformity and individuality, representing sobriety and exuberance, lacking light yet soaking up reflections. It evoked the philosophy of Soulages, who died in 2022. Thus, with a tinge of Valentino’s 1980s heyday and glamor, all-black looks sauntered by as daywear and evening merged indistinguishably owing to the color’s intense a ..read more

McQueen, especially in his prime, when Kering became an investor and he was able to use his Savile Row-shaped skills on fine materials from Paris, was exacting, sophisticated, if emotionally stunted at times. To please the Gatsby-ites, the show could have looked perfect, or it could have looked angry and insane. Instead, it was neither. Backstage, McGirr, who is boyish like a Sally Rooney love interest, said he wants his McQueen to be “uplifting.” He’s as sweet as pie: His big plans for the night were to get a hug from his mother and take a bath. He also said that he’s attracted to these “outs ..read more

Eliud Kipchoge's NN Runing team has been boosted with new racing kits for the 2024 season. The kit, by Nike, comes in time for the Tokyo Marathon, which takes place on Sunday, March 3. Kipchoge is aiming for a third consecutive marathon gold. Speaking to Olympics.com, he expressed his eagerness to compete. The long-distance runner said: "I promised the Japanese people that I would go back for the Tokyo Marathon. I am looking forward to running fast again and enjoy." For the Marathon, the NN Running team will don the new racing kit. It shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the design is centered ..read more

My Brother's Keeper, a stunning new fashion collection by Badesere Lagos, has just been released. Inspired by the beauty and resilience of Nigeria, this collection showcases exceptionally crafted clothing made solely from local fabrics. With a focus on versatility and innovative construction, Brother's Keeper breaks new ground in African fashion. Each piece is a testament to the skill and creativity of Nigerian artisans, challenging the notion that high-quality fashion must rely on foreign imports. "We need to be our brother's keeper in these tough times," says Badesere Aboyade-Cole , who emph ..read more