Pieces of Africa: Adinkra//Duro Olowu, Spring 2010

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It's amazing the little treasures you discover when you look most things over. We featured Duro Olowu's Spring 2010 collection a while ago and re-visited it several weeks ago, charmed by a little but significant detail we hadn't noticed before. Olowu's distinct floral print shares the spotlight with print adinkra symbols, famous in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire for their hidden meanings, not unlike kanga print in that respect. In a world where "African print" has practically become synonymous with Africa's fashion scene, it's great to see other cultural influences seep through. Africa is by no means only good for one thing and there's certainly more where ankara (dutch wax/"african print") and adinkra came from.

Several Duro Olowu pieces are available online courtesy of Couture Lab and Barneys.

Happy shopping!

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[click to enlarge]

Connect with Duro Olowu:

Website

XO

P.S. Image II courtesy of Duro Olowu.

Shop Africa: Afromania by Nkwo, Samantha Cole London, Chichia London, Nike Akinola London

TIME TO SHOP!

:-)

Just yesterday, we were a little wary of ASOS Africa's debut and the possibility that it might become the go-to mainstream brand for out-of-Africa pieces. Well, you can go ahead and scratch that...you can now shop the following collections from London-based African designers online :-))) 

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NKWO + AFROMANIA BY NKWO 

[The Admiral Top by Nkwo, approx $100 here]

Remember reading that pieces from Nkwo's diffusion range Afromania would soon be available at asos.com? Well, you don't have to wait any longer! Several pieces from her two collections [Nkwo and Afromania by Nkwo] are already available thanks to myasho.com. We're loving this fabulous fashion forward statement tee! Shop here now!

o o o

NIKE AKINOLA LONDON

[Nike Akinola's blossom bumble african print + swarovski crystals tee, approx $100 here]

We were granted an exclusive sneak preview into Nike Akinola's Spring/Summer 2010 collection a little while ago [thanks, guys!] and are excited to see those pieces at myasho.com. This tee is certainly a super special piece of fashion art!

Shop more here now!

o o o

SAMANTHA COLE LONDON

[Samantha Cole London's metallic one-shoulder bubble dress, 165 GBP here]

Several pieces from the Samantha Cole London brand [as well as her lower-priced Love Cole brand] are available in three e-stores! We majorly heart this futuristic but modern dress! Shop now:

The Look Boutique

Samantha Cole London

Catwalk Genius

o o o

CHICHIA LONDON

[Chichia London's one frill sleeve palm kanga dress, 95 GBP here]

Chichia London's spring 2010 collection debuted late last year and featured the most gorgeous kanga dresses. This one frill sleeve dress is PERFECTION on crack!

Shop pieces from the collection here now, courtesy of The Look Boutique.

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Don't you just love shopping pieces from your favorite African designers from the comfort of your home?

XO