Africa has served as inspiration to the fashion industry for many years, and it doesn’t seem like that will be changing anytime soon. In 2010 Western designers caught African print fever and painted the runways in bold, colorful ensembles. The trend continued in 2011 and 2012. Do African designers mind that Western designers such as Gwen Stefani, Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg are gaining recognition for their use of African prints and textures? Some may, but Gareth Cowden is not one of them.

“Yes, we are definitely going through a phase of influencing [and/or] inspiring the world’s bigger fashion houses,” said Cowden. “But it doesn’t offend me that these people get recognition for their designs. These designers have a better platform to be noticed. At the end of the day they are helping African designers [and] designs get noticed.”

Cowden has been in the fashion industry for nearly a decade; however, fashion was not his original career plan. His foray into fashion was purely out of necessity. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, he could not find employment. Consequently, he began working as an assistant to fashion stylists in 2002. Since 2004 he has worked as a freelance fashion stylist and in 2009 he founded BABATUNDE. Babatunde is a Yoruba name that means “the father returns.” Cowden believes that it is the responsibility of men to care for their families and their country.

“Many kids in Africa grow up without fatherly influences in their lives due to various reasons,” Cowden said. “In my opinion, this has an adverse effect on disciplinary and respect issues later in life. [Babatunde] is also a reference to our leaders to father and grow our nations rather than growing their own pockets. All in all, we need more fathers to father and nurture Africa to where we deserve to be.”

Cowden is not as dedicated to fashion as much as he is dedicated to helping others. His brand, which features hats, umbrellas, bowties and clutches, is made completely by hand in South Africa. This is not done simply as a measure of pride for his native country, but to provide employment to those in the textile industry, which is vital to developing countries.

“This is done in an attempt to revive the textile and clothing industries in South Africa,” Cowden said. “These industries are slowly dying in South Africa due to cheap labor in countries like China and India resulting in it being a lot cheaper to import fabric and clothing than to manufacture locally.”

It is not only cheaper to import fabric and clothing to Africa, it is cheaper to import Asian immigrants to Africa as well. In 2002 Ramatex opened a factory in Namibia and promised to hire 8,000 workers. Instead of hiring locally, the company imported 25 percent of the employees from Asia. These employees were paid less than the Namibian employees and, to make matters worse, ended up in debt to the company. Due to their low wages, the Asian employees could not afford to pay back the traveling expenses that the company had fronted. Ten years later, Asian immigrants are steadily being imported into the country to provide cheap labor.

Many manufacturing companies in Asia and other countries are relocating to Africa due to a rise in domestic labor costs. Africa has low labor costs, in addition to duty-free access to American and European markets under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. Cowden realizes the importance of manufacturing in Africa. For this reason, he would never relocate permanently.

“It is very important for me that everything is manufactured in South Africa or Africa,” Cowden said. “This is what makes Babatunde a strong African brand. I would definitely consider relocating temporarily. Travelling is very enlightening and helps with learning and growth, both personally and for the Babatunde brand.”

Also important to Cowden is creating awareness through fashion. He has been able to achieve great success as a designer and has been featured in many acclaimed print and online magazines. The audience he speaks his message to has become slightly larger since singer-songwriter Solange Knowles wore one of his hats during New York Fashion Week 2012.

“Due to popular culture and celebrity culture, exposure and awareness grows when ‘famous’ people wear your brand,” Cowden said. “Celebrities are always being featured in the media, so if they are wearing your products it’s easier for your brand to get noticed.”

Cowden is presently working on expanding the Babatunde brand by including more pieces such as trousers and shorts. For more information regarding Babatunde long onto www.babatundestyles.com.

Image Courtesy of   doigstar1

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Look no further for the next artistic designer of world famous couture brand, Christian Dior. On April 9^th, Raf Simons was announced to become the man behind the internationally popular label, after the position had been left unfilled for over a year.

Former head designer of the label John Galliano was fired from the position after publicly making racist comments during an argument, in which he made anti-Semitic remarks at a Parisian bar in February 2011. In September 2011, he was found guilty on the grounds of racist and anti-Semitic abuse, and was charged with a fine.

Simons landed the position this past week, after front-runner and world-renowned Marc Jacobs turned the opportunity down. Jacobs is also the current designer director for Louis Vuitton.

Between the time that Galliano was fired and Simons was hired, the Dior empire was overseen by Galliano’s former assistant, Bill Gayteen. Gayteen made his final debut with Dior at the company’s 2012 spring collection launch. Fortunately for the international label, the past year has not tarnished the name Christian Dior has made for itself, nor has the empire been financially impacted in a negative way.

Sidney Toledano, President and CEO of Christian Dior, is looking forward to seeing what Simons will bring to Dior.

“I always said that the right person would come along when all the stars aligned and that’s exactly what happened last week. “[Raf] has already begun to lay out his vision for where he can take Dior in the future and I think we are all very excited by that vision.”

One concern for the choice in appointing Simon’s is his difference in his fashion sense compared to that of Galliano. Galliano was known for eccentric and flamboyant creations, where Simons is known for his simplicity in his designs. But Simons doesn’t seem concerned.

“I feel fantastic. It is one of the ultimate challenges, and a dream to go to a place like Dior, which stands for absolute elegance, incredible femininity and utter luxury.”

Simons, who is now 44, started in the fashion industry in 1995, specializing in men’s wear. In Dior, he “will be in charge of haute couture, women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, starting with the couture show in July, while keeping his eponymous men’s line. Simons comes from a modest family and is the only child, growing up in the Flemish town of Neerpelt.

His father was a night security guard and his mother was a house cleaner. Perhaps, this is where Simons appreciation of simplicity comes in? Despite his simple designs and childhood, Simons plans on modernizing the Dior couture line, which Simons claims, he has a lot of appreciation for.

Christian Dior was founded by Mr. Dior himself, as the man brought “femininity to the postwar 1950s, building the tiny waists and sweeping skirts of his voluptuous “flower women” on his obsession with the Edwardian elegance of his early memories of his mother. Mr. Dior passed away suddenly in 1957, only ten years after he created what would now become known as one of the most desired labels of this time period.

While adding his own flare of fine tailoring and linear style to the elegance of the couture line of Dior, it is important to Simons to keep Mr. Dior’s original vision alive.

“I find that period between 1947 and 1957 extremely attractive, and there was a lot of modernity. There was the romantic appeal looking back to his mother and the belle époque, but there was also a constant evolution in shape, changing proportions and the ideas connected to the World War were revolutionary.”

Simons also adds, “in the art world there are collectors, curators and an audience, and they are all important. I am fascinated with what could be the relevance of the language of couture in the 21st century.” And we are fascinated with what Simons’ plans are for the future of the couture and elegance of Christian Dior.

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Christian Dior needs a prestigious creative director, and, according to Vogue UK, there might be a special interest in Alexander Wang. A source close to LVMH, the parent company of Christian Dior and many other luxury brands, claims that top executives may be gravitating towards the idea of hiring the young designer from New York.

Marc Jacobs, Haider Ackermann and Riccardo Tisci have been considered in the past few days, and have not been officially turned down but insiders have supposedly confirmed to Vogue UK that:

Ackermann is said to be ‘way too edgy’ for Dior; Jacobs wanted the job a lot, but LVMH wants him to stick with Vuitton; and Tisci simply refused, saying that he was feeling more than comfortable with the job at Givenchy.

In addition to those revealing words, they also specify on their online edition that Alexander Wang might not be the perfect replacement for a visionary artist like Galliano, the former creative director at Christian Dior. Alexander Wang’s style veers more to street-wear than theatrical and couture-esque opulence, which explains why experts are still skeptical about the New Yorker.

Whether Wang is to become the new face behind Dior or stay Wang, the fact that a company like LVMH has set their eyes on the young creator means there could be a succulent invite to join any of the hundreds of projects they own. Fellow New Yorker Marc Jacobs landed his current position that same way, and now runs the Vuitton empire.

The question is: is there anyone quite like John Galliano out there? Fashionistas all over the world compared Galliano’s firing to Alexander McQueen’s suicide. Can anyone else awe the whole world with a dress and take the concept of high fashion to the level of art?

On September 9th the world woke up to headlines that seemed to conclude a phase in John Galliano’s troubled life. The day before, the British designer was found guilty of making anti-Semitic comments and sentenced to pay a $8166 fine. According to his spokesperson he was relieved that the infamous events could be now put behind.

Earlier this year John Galliano was fired from Christian Dior, the fashion house where he served as creative director for more than 10 years. After some shocking accusations that claimed the designer confronted a couple at a Paris café using anti-Semitic remarks, a video was made public and Galliano’s public image started a downward spiral.

The blurry footage, recorded with a phone, featured the designer, who was undoubtedly intoxicated, proffering some inglorious words and even confessing his love for Adolf Hitler. An outrageous outburst that not only made Galliano lose his exclusive job but also embarrassed the troubled soul underneath the flamboyant costumes.

It is very uncertain what future holds for both Christian Dior and its former genius John Galliano whose last gig, a stellar wedding dress for long-time friend Kate Moss, could be dubbed as his re-introduction to the social circle he always belonged to. Meanwhile rumors and insider’s testimonies are likely to keep spilling on the media.

One of the most influential magazine editors, Vogue Italy’s  Franca Sozzani suggested Galliano should be re-hired for the job,

‘Look, I understand their point of view. I understand they couldn’t just say, ‘Bad boy! We forgive you! Come back!’ But it’s really a pity. And I will never believe he believed what he said. I think he was drunk and alone in a bar. When people go crazy, they go crazy. It’s a human case; it’s not political or religious. He didn’t kill anyone!

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/alyson-hau/

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Love designer handbags but can’t afford to burn that big of a hole in your pocket every time a new line is released?

For all of those that answered yes to this question should immediately visit bagborroworsteal.com! The website where you can have that dream handbag (or even piece of jewelry) at a small fraction of the price for a limited time, or just until the newest must have bag is released.

A Louis Vuitton bag that, at retail price, will cost you over $3,000 can now be yours at only $94 for one week (or $275 for the month)! This is only the beginning of the savings you can get as long as you can return the bag in the perfect condition you received it in.

To go along with that new top-of-the-line handbag you can add a pair of Marc Jacobs sunglasses that normally, would cost you hundreds of dollars will now only cost $15 for the week (only $45 for the month!).

If you want to live the unrealistic life of a movie star or a billionaire you can spend about $300 to have a white gold diamond cuff for one week that at retail price would cost you over $72,000…! Who ever has that kind of money to spend on one bracelet (and actually can comfortably wear something that expensive) is a very impressive individual.  But at $300 you could be that person for the week, or just for one really special event!

If you’re like the majority of the rest of the female population and you absolutely love Carrie Bradshaw and her crew in the hit HBO television series Sex and the City then you will adore this feature. You can rent practically anything you’ve seen any of the city girls strutting with down 5th Avenue Manhattan! Simply click the ‘Hot Picks’ category and then Sex and the City, you can even pick which character you like the most! You can finally live the dream life of these so adored women, even if only for a week!

It’s easy enough to buy the knock-off designer items while walking down the streets in New York City, or practically any major city in the United States. But why not be able to carry around the real $3,000 Louis Vuitton handbag that will be a serious conversation starter at such an affordable price?!

Once you start renting, you’ll never go back!

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