First Look: JbyLisa is here!

[The Tribal Safari Dress from JbyLisa]

It's finally here, folks! We're excited to bring you the first look (anywhere on the webternets!) of Jewel by Lisa's diffusion line, JbyLisa. This is Jewel by Lisa's world of print and embellishments toned down and made significantly less expensive and thus more accessible. The pieces are not only versatile, summer-worthy and printastic, they've also been "ethically crafted using local African cotton fabrics and embellished using sequins, beads and leather, which are all carefully hand sewn onto the fabric." [MyAsho Press Release]

The pieces retail from 55-120 pounds and should be available on myasho.com from May 24, 2010. Interested in further discounts? Join the myasho Facebook Fan Page here.

Peep more pieces below:

[Cocoa Bean Shorts]

[Embellished Pom Pom Skirt]

[Jewel Blue Wrap Dress]

[Tribal Nights Romper]

Are you more likely to take the Jewel by Lisa plunge if you haven't already? 

Many, many thanks to our friends at myasho for granting us this exclusive first look :-) You rock!

XO

ShopAfrica/Spotlight: TAN by Tiffany Amber

[The Patch Pocket Tunic from Tiffany Amber's TAN diffusion line; $56.95]

o o o

We've got to admit something - very often, we spy pieces from African or Africa-inspired designers we love and their price tags make our hearts lurch. We're young, fresh-out-of-college girls and certified members of the ballers on a budget club (*smiles*), so while we're prepared to save for pieces we really, REALLY like, several price tags still give us pause. However, diffusion lines from some of our favorite designers are making it that much easier for us to connect with them.

Last year, we read about Tiffany Amber's upcoming diffusion life TAN and we're very excited to report that a few pieces from said line are now available online and the prices get along just fine with our wallets. It's a win-win! We hope more designers follow suit so we can at least support them while we're negotiating bigger salaries :-)

See more pieces here and happy shopping! If you're in Lagos, visit one of Tiffany Amber's stores. More info. here.

XO

FYI: Nkwo Onwuka to launch diffusion range, "Afromania"

Will 2010 be the year of the diffusion line? While brands like Jewel by Lisa and Samantha Cole London have set the pace [with their J by Lisa and Love Cole ranges respectively], there's plenty of room for more pocket-friendly pieces from our favorite african designers. Hey, we love to support but simply can't if the price tag is too far left out of budget :-( With that in mind, we were glad to hear about Nkwo Onwuka's diffusion line,"Afromania" and her first collection, "Far From Home" is so-called because Thailand is the farthest she has ever been from home [Nigeria]. Notice the oriental influences?

o o o

We e-caught up with the designer and she had this to say about her upcoming collection:

"This is the diffusion range from award designer, Nkwo Onwuka. The brand draws influences from traveling to new places, learning new cultures, having new experiences...

Afromania by Nkwo is all about reinvention and the ingenious combination of the modern and traditional, the past and the present and giving new life to African fabrics by transforming their traditional uses.

The label has that New African Vibe together with a wide global appeal and is fast developing a cult following among the urbane and the fashion, film and music industries.

Afromania by Nkwo represents an ideology of a global tribe, where there are no boundaries between race and religion, between one country and another, where we are all global nomads and there are no more wars...

...Love, laugh, celebrate life!"

o o o

 Nkwo also revealed to us that ASOS has placed orders for some of the pieces from "Far From Home"!! MAJOR! 

o o o

Here are some teaser images:

Ahhhhh, wonderful! Before we say anything, can we just gush about that black kimono? MAJOR sugar ruuuuush! Love how the very creative Nkwo plays with color, prints, shapes and embellishments. What a joyful celebration cultural meeting points! We're certainly reaaaaally looking forward to the grand unveiling. Are you?

Any pieces in particular stand out for you?

XO