Tuesday 22 May 2012

WHERE IS THE CREATIVITY WHEN CUTTING & GLUING AFRICAN PRINTS ON SHOES?



Where is the creativity when all you are doing is cutting and gluing African prints on shoes and charging a ridiculous amount for them?

WHAT AFRICAN DESIGNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FASHION SHOWS.


For years Africa has relied on the left overs from the western world, from clothes, food, medicine, transport etc the list is endless. I have always believed in trade not aid, but for some reason I have a strong feeling that aiding will be something Africans will forever need instead of standing on their own two feet.I always ask myself for how long will Africa depend on others to bail them out?  This goes to African designers, now I respect the big boss Mr. Nduka of Arise Magazine Fashion Week for attempting to support African designers and others from the diaspora. However, I feel that the way they are going about with things is the wrong way. My dear friend Yemisi attended the Arise show back in March 2012 and she reported on the show with appalling feedback, although I love freebies I have been questioning whether this show is doing designers any favors. Giving such message across to designers is not a good sign, for example as big as London, NYC, Milan and Paris Fashion Week is to participate you must apply and pray to be selected, such platforms will bring on board the right buyers and press attending. Designers need to learn that if you want to take part in a reputable fashion show you have to pay for it, after all it is to help market your brand.

Secondly Africans need to learn that fashion shows are not for entertainment, although it may seem fun and exciting to be around beautiful people, clothes and good music, we must not forget that the purpose of the show is business. Unless we change our mindset and thinking it will take a long time for the western world to take us serious.

One of the most important aspect of a fashion show is having the right media, press and buyers aside good models and management, I cannot reiterate the importance of have the right media as part of an event.

Anyway let me know your honest opinion if you have attended any African fashion shows and how it went with organisation and remember that sometimes something free or cheap can end up costing you and your business

Until we write again
Shalom
xxx