Seiwa Akoto: Accessories for Confident Women

I am just spending a long weekend in Montreal and despite the rain - it is an amazing city. My sister's friend is the owner of the natural hair shop inHAIRitance and one of her stylists - Adwoa - has her own accessory line: Seiwa Akoto. The brand name was inspired by a Ghanaian Highlife song by Yamoah called Serwa Akoto - Serwa meaning "noble woman".

Adwoa started incorporating Adinkra symbols in accessories to experiment with small items for her vision of Africa-inspired interior design and furniture. Everyone liked her products and kept on asking for more, and so the Seiwa Akoto collection was born.

I really like the earrings with the small and big golden masks. Check-out her page and get your accessory game on!

Find out more: 
w: http://seiwaakoto.bigcartel.com
f: https://www.facebook.com/TheSeiwaAkotoCollection
p: http://pinterest.com/SeiwaAkoto/
t: https://twitter.com/SeiwaAkoto
inHAIRitance: https://www.facebook.com/inhairitance

Toubab Pop-up Store in NYC

The Paris-based accessory label Toubab was hosting a pop-up store in NYC past Thursday, organized by Anna Toure PR. As I am an admirer of their statement pieces, I had to check it out in person. The handcrafted necklaces were impressive and we touched and tried on lots of different pieces. The prices were quite impressive, too, but well, sometimes you just need to go for it.

We also had the chance to meet and talk to the designer Maud Villaret who explained the naming of her label to us. Maud used to travel a lot on the African continent. In countries like Gambia, Senegal and Mali, people from Europe/white people are called "Toubab". She liked that term and it seemed somehow fitting to use it for her Africa-inspired accessory label.

What would you have bought in the Pop-up store? How much was the most expensive necklace you ever bought?

Helene from Bon Vivant and a Budget

Helene, Anna and my sis Nana (wearing a Christie Brown necklace)

R: Maud Villaret, the designer

Last picture: The long one in the middle, that is the one I bought

Print Blocking with Rue 114

The "Prints ‘n Scribes" collection by Rue 114 turns the color blocking trend into print blocking. It is very vibrant and how the label states "not your wallflower's collection". LOL, true indeed.

The pictures look like one big party. And the label and owner Serwah Asante have quite a good reason to celebrate. Rue 114 was announced as the 2013 Full Figured Fashion Week NY “Designer of the Year” and will present during the FFFW Indie Fashion Showcase on Fri., June 21st 2013.

How do you like the collection? Do you do print blocking?

Find out more: 
w: http://www.rue114.com/ 
f: https://www.facebook.com/Rue114

Summer Totes by Eulalee

L: Designer Eulalee Howell / R: My sister Nana

My sister is visiting and after doing brunch at Yotel (quite fun, I can recommend it!) we explored the streets of Manhattan and stumbled upon the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market. When turning the corner, these big beautiful totes caught our eyes. The bags are handmade by Eulalee Howell. Her grandfather was a leather tanner, so the fascination with leather started early. After initially selling vintage bags, she decided to create her own. 

My sister bought a red, vintage travel bag (sorry, we didn't snap a pic) and as we loved the handmade totes in bright colors so much, we did some fashion shots to share them with you guys. Which one is your favorite?

Find out more:
w: http://eulalee.com/
f: https://www.facebook.com/EulaleeHowell
p: http://pinterest.com/eulalee/

My Country Has No Name: Toyin Odutola

Check-out this exhibition by Nigerian artist Toyin Odutola in the Chelsea Art Gallery Jack Shainman. It is for free and still running until the 29th of June. After seeing the contemporary exhibition at MoMA, where a red painted square or a hoover in a glass box are considered art, it was nice to see Odutola's paintings. 

"My Country Has No Name" is an "exploration of identity rooted in the friction created by hyphenated nationalities and a study into what comes from a reconciliation of seemingly distant and divergent cultural homes to form a new multilayered reality." 

Got it? ;-) I liked it a lot. Go see!

Find out more here:
w: http://toyinodutola.com/
w: http://www.jackshainman.com/exhibition141.html

Making a Difference with Bora Wear

Bora Wear is supporting HIV positive women in Nairobi by giving them a place to work and the opportunity to support themselves. The women create the shirts that are being sold on the Bora Wear website. The prints change every month and they are not repeated. So if you see something that you really like, you better make up your mind quick. 

The label believes that "something as simple as the shirt on your back can radically impact the world." So far it is menswear only, would be nice to see some print tops for women, too!

Find out more:
f: https://www.facebook.com/borawear
w: http://borawear.com/

Summer Prints by INYÜ, Paris

It is finally hot in NYC, today we had 30 C / 90 F. Whenever the season changes, I feel like I have nothing in my closet to wear. So the summer collection from the Paris-based label INYÜ (no idea how to pronounce that!) makes me luster for even more color and prints in my closet (yes, that is possible!). Which of these outfits do you need to have in your life?

This is my favorite dress!

Find out more:
f: http://www.facebook.com/pages/INYÜ
w: http://www.shopinyu.com/
t: http://inyu.tumblr.com/

African Bazaar in Brooklyn

Every Memorial Day Weekend is the Dance Africa festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). A celebration of African and African-American dance, music, and culture. My favorite part is usually the African Bazaar - lots of stalls selling bags, jewelry, creative African Print fashion and accessories. This time I didn't splurge, I just bough two pillows from Origins Style by Nasozi, Lion-shaped studs, and Bangles for 2 Dollars a pair. 

Here are some impressions of the bazaar. If you haven't been yet, mark it in your calendar for next year!

Tafari Tribe: http://www.tafaritribeshop.com/

Tafari Tribe: http://www.tafaritribeshop.com/

HarrietsbyHekima - http://www.harrietsbyhekima.bigcartel.com/

jahZara: http://jahzaradesignstudio.com/ & The M'Beci Collection http://thembecicollection.com

jahZara: http://jahzaradesignstudio.com/

entuma by Cynthia Sands http://www.csandsart.com/

Gooneybee - http://www.gooneybee.com/

Pauline Asmah Designs - https://www.paulineasmah.com/

Hija Litondo http://www.africanlabels.com/

Arielle & Melissa INC. - also selling at Harlem Market

And here is what I got: 

Pillows by Origins Style by Nasozi https://www.facebook.com/OriginsStyle