Chic African styles

Managed by Fashion Focus and hosted by The Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) of Trinidad and Tobago as part of the 2016 Pan African Festival commemorating Emancipation, this evening of elegant African fashion attracted a sizeable audience and featured nine designers.

Opening with a series of rich and colourful African male and female khaftans designed by David George, the showcase flowed smoothly with emcee Hans Des Vignes informing the audience of each designer’s name and contact information. George blessed the runway first with his collection entitled “The Power of True Creativity” under his Daniel’s Den of Fashion brand and was followed by the equally impressive designs of Ghanian bride, Faustina Kwakye Ansong.

Ansong’s “Charisma Fashion” line is sure to be a hit in TT, as she brings her wealth of authentic African design experience and colour sensibilities to the local market.

Haylooks Designs by Josephine Hayford offered a multitude of more casual, but stylish outfits and dresses next, before Darianne Phillips wowed the audience with her regal, classy and definitely eye-catching “Euphoric Designs”.

“Fashion is an expression of who you are, what and how you feel,” she stated on the programme booklet, “even if it’s all at once or one at a time; it’s not just cloth.” Phillips’ striking pieces had the audience itching to try and buy as her line appealled to the mature and classy fashion lover, who will surely turn heads and command respect when wearing any of her garments.

Lecthris Holder and Innovative African Clothing Solutions closed off the first half of the showcase with the intense and engaging Wasafoli Drummers and Dancers saluting the setting sun and welcoming the evening during the intermission.

Well-known designer, Deron Attzs began the second-half with a splendid showing of his Deron Attzs Design label creations for this occasion, including a series of well-designed casual and regal dresses and outfits for men and women. So comfortable were the models in his garments that they began dancing and expressing themselves freely to the background music onstage during their walks. It was clear to see the contentment and ease of movement that his garments inspired and with the backdrop of dusk falling Under The Trees, his pieces truly came alive onstage.

Andre Lovelace then showcased his “affordable line of clothing” under “The Nubian Experience” brand, before Johan Mohammed added his splash of “African Ark Jewellery” to just a few pieces designed for the more modest dresser. Veteran, Shaun Griffith Perez then closed the showcase with his line of elegant pieces in mostly white and pastel shades and prints. AN AMAZING range of chic, stylish and definitely wearable African designs were unveiled last weekend as the second annual “Qurux Afrika” event was held Under The Trees at The Hotel Normandie in St Ann’s.

Managed by Fashion Focus and hosted by The Emancipation Support Committee (ESC) of Trinidad and Tobago as part of the 2016 Pan African Festival commemorating Emancipation, this evening of elegant African fashion attracted a sizeable audience and featured nine designers.

Opening with a series of rich and colourful African male and female khaftans designed by David George, the showcase flowed smoothly with emcee Hans Des Vignes informing the audience of each designer’s name and contact information. George blessed the runway first with his collection entitled “The Power of True Creativity” under his Daniel’s Den of Fashion brand and was followed by the equally impressive designs of Ghanian bride, Faustina Kwakye Ansong.

Ansong’s “Charisma Fashion” line is sure to be a hit in TT, as she brings her wealth of authentic African design experience and colour sensibilities to the local market.

Haylooks Designs by Josephine Hayford offered a multitude of more casual, but stylish outfits and dresses next, before Darianne Phillips wowed the audience with her regal, classy and definitely eye-catching “Euphoric Designs”.

“Fashion is an expression of who you are, what and how you feel,” she stated on the programme booklet, “even if it’s all at once or one at a time; it’s not just cloth.” Phillips’ striking pieces had the audience itching to try and buy as her line appealled to the mature and classy fashion lover, who will surely turn heads and command respect when wearing any of her garments.

Lecthris Holder and Innovative African Clothing Solutions closed off the first half of the showcase with the intense and engaging Wasafoli Drummers and Dancers saluting the setting sun and welcoming the evening during the intermission.

Well-known designer, Deron Attzs began the second-half with a splendid showing of his Deron Attzs Design label creations for this occasion, including a series of well-designed casual and regal dresses and outfits for men and women. So comfortable were the models in his garments that they began dancing and expressing themselves freely to the background music onstage during their walks. It was clear to see the contentment and ease of movement that his garments inspired and with the backdrop of dusk falling Under The Trees, his pieces truly came alive onstage.

Andre Lovelace then showcased his “affordable line of clothing” under “The Nubian Experience” brand, before Johan Mohammed added his splash of “African Ark Jewellery” to just a few pieces designed for the more modest dresser. Veteran, Shaun Griffith Perez then closed the showcase with his line of elegant pieces in mostly white and pastel shades and prints.

Following the explosion of colour which came before, this neutral ending seemed fitting and Fashion Focus must be commended for their organisation and stage management duties in this regard.

As patrons rushed to the accessories booths stationed behind the audience, the models buzzed backstage with the excitement of an amazing showcase, filled with so many great clothing options, that the only problem will surely be limited resources and having to choose from the impressive lot.

“We were all blown away at the African fashions that came from all the designers,” said Ms World TT 2012 and the chosen “Face of Qurux Afrika 2”, Athaliah Samuel.

“A lot of the styles we like were made from authentic African fabrics and that’s what all the models have been really into these days, so it was really very trendy as well. I would personally wear a lot of the designs and even on the traditional end, the kaftans and dresses are modernised with fashionable prints and unique fabric art and colour mixes – it was a great mix of Trinbagonian and African styles and trends... This event keeps growing from strength-to-strength and I expect nothing but greatness in the future.”