STYLE NOTES: Gloria Wavamunno//Uganda [Day 3, Africa Fashion Week 2010]

Africa Fashion Week (heck, any Fashion Week for that matter) and mixed expectations go hand in hand. There are designers who live up to the hype, designers that leave us pleasantly surprised, designers that glue themselves to their comfort zones, and designers you know can do better. Gloria Wavamunno's show left us desperately wanting more. There were some sparks (see above) but silhouettes were mostly basic and a little too simple for our tastes - balmainesque sleeves, tube dresses, rompers, one-handed dresses, cutout details, mostly done in African Print. We know Gloria has it in her to be very good indeed, so we're not sure why that didn't come through clearly enough. Here are some more of her pieces:

See what we mean? Simple does it for some, but surely we could've seen more.

See what you make of the entire collection here.

XO

SLiq TV: Gloria Wavamunno + Aschobi Designs

On this edition of SLiq TV, watch two young and talented African designers talk about returning to their home countries and building their brands. Very insightful and worthwhile:

GLORIA WAVAMUNNO//UGANDA

o o o

ADAMA KAI OF ASCHOBI DESIGNS//SIERRA LEONE

XO

who wore what: arise magazine july '09

on this month's cover of arise magazine, oluchi onweagba brings the fierceness in a dress by uganda's gloria wavamunno. regular readers of this site may recall seeing the dress during arise africa fashion week here. oluchi certainly brings this dress to life and makes us see its beauty upclose and personal. while it takes on a number of trends (it has pockets, it's a one-handed dress featuring a puff sleeve, it's metallic, and it's patterned), it comes together very nicely and tastefully and we want, we want, WE WANT! we're not too sure about the accessories, though - such a striking dress needs minimal work. in any case, we'll be on the lookout for the magazine and we'll be sure to let you know our thoughts.

xo

ARISE AFRICA FASHION WEEK: DAY 7 - - GLORIA WAVAMUNNO (UGANDA)

gloria wavamunno kept it mostly short and sweet with very modern silhouettes (bubble hems, one shoulder, cutouts, tube). her yellow kanga dress featuring the map of africa was a a particular highlight and reppin' the continent doesn't go much harder than that. all in all, a collection fit the modern africanista who enjoys the thrill of taking simple pieces and making them her own with bold accessories and dazzling dashes of color.

see her entire collection here.

xo