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  I just got this from one of one of our media friends,The Bobby Taylor Company.I am very sure some of you will be interested in  Vane style clinic. Veronica Ebie-Odeka will share keys to building that perfect style wardrobe, glam essentials for the 9-5 woman, the mom make over guide to looking your best and of course her famous style yourself 'thin' secret and accessory power.  Media Partners for this event are: Style Vitae,

Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) announces 3rd and 4th of August 2012 will be the date for the sparkle event at London's Spitalfields Market Hall. Following the unprecedented success of last year’s event, AFWL has relocated to London Spitalfields, recent winners of a Best New Open Space award. This year’s event is set to be bigger and better with a larger venue, more designers and tons more exhibitors. This will be the first large scale event  to showcase UK and non-UK based seasoned and emerging fashion designers inspired by Africa.   This year casting for models in Nigeria will be held at French/Nigeria based photographer Emilio Conti in his Villa, No7, Adeyemi Lawson Street Ikoyi, Lagos. All models from different agency are invited. Models should come with their portfolio or Zcard along with them. All models selected should see Joan Okorodudu CEO, ISIS Models after the casting. The casting time: 10AM to 4PM Date: 12 of May 2012. However, R...

Due to the phenomenal response to participate in the much anticipated, ARISE Magazine Fashion Week, which last year hosted 5,000 guests, 51 designers, 81 models, 5 musical acts over three days – ARISE organisers have announced that it will return to Lagos in March 2012, only this time it will feature 77 participants from 6 continents – including designers as far away as India, the Caribbean, USA, Europe and Africa. The ARISE Magazine Fashion Week – Lagos 2012 fashion extravaganza will run for an extended period of SIX days from Tuesday 6th March to Sunday 11th March 2012 in THREE tents on the grounds of the luxurious 5-Star Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria. The much-anticipated designers selected to participate include: Adama-Paris (Senegal/France), Amine Bendriouich Couture and BS (Germany/Morocco), Amrapali (India), Angelo Van Mol (Belgium/Ghana), Be-Grey (Nigeria), Bestow Elan (UK/Ghana), Bridget Awosika (Nigeria), Buki Akib (UK/Nigeria), CHICHIA (UK/Tanzania), Christi...

[caption id="attachment_6712" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="Nduka Obaigbena"] [/caption] 'Now, lets see which of us is the biggest' seem to be the slogan between the organizers of the Arise Africa Fashion week and Joborg Fashion week. Two of the top fashion weeks in Africa has been slated for the same period.While the Joburg Fashion Week is slated to hold between 7 and 10 March 2012, Arise would start one 6 March and ends on 11 March 2012 in Nigeria. A source who spoke with gistmaster.com last weekend said "This could just be another way that African Fashion International and Arise wants to lock up their battle of supremacy. You know they had a major disagreement durning the first Arise Africa Fashion Week in 2009. That is why they have not been able to collaborate on it again. Instead Nduka decided to organise subsequent ones in Nigeria and invited some South African designers and directors for the second one" Another...

Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) kicked of f to a f lamboyant star t for i ts debut launch in London dur ing August 2011. With an impressive turnout of over 4,700 at tendees, the 2-day ext ravaganza created an unprecedented plat form for over 50 international designers to showcase thei r col lect ions. Glowing press reviews and high at tendance f igures in 2011 have boosted AFWL prof i le and now led to capt ivate a wider internat ional audience in 2012, benef iciat ing of an est imated 7 mi l l ion London visi tors set to be in the capi tal for the Olympics. AFWL pledged to cont inue of fer ing equal oppor tuni t ies & exposure to designers f rom al l backgrounds whom are inspi red by Af r ican designs, pr ints & text i les. Of fer ing cut t ing edge fashion, inter iors, or iginal ar tworks as wel l as food, Spi tal f ields Market, winner of the 2007 Best New Open Space, is sur rounded by independent shops, cafes, bars and awarding winning restaurants such as Canteen, Galvin ...

All is now set for the much talked about London Fashion Week. The event is scheduled to hold this February in the United Kingdom. Top designers such as House of Jola, Ayo Van Elmar,House of Farrah Studio 24,Zoe Taglit and Hallero are expected to to showcase their create designs to the world at the Fashion Week. Media organizations from all over the world are expected to be  in London for the event. -Niyi Tabiti niyi@gistmaster.com  

The South Africa Fashion Week winter and summer collections is set to take place between October 2011. According to information sent to gistmaster.com today,the winter collections would be showcased at Crowne Plaza, Rosebank between September 22 and 25. The SA Fashion Week Summer pop up shop 201 collections would hold at Sandton City Fountain Court between October 30 and 2 October. SNEAK PEAK-GUGULUM South African designer, Gugulum dream is to create timeless designs. She was a stylist for Soul magazine before setting up her label in 2008. Where did you study? I studied at the Wits Technikon. How long have you been designing. I have been a designer for many years but my label has been operation for three years now. When you start with a collection do you start from scratch or build on an existing collections? I start my collection from scratch and then pull in some ideas from my other collections if necessary. Does your culture have an influence in your design aesthetic? The world cul...

[caption id="attachment_6346" align="aligncenter" width="319" caption="Omoyemi Akerele"] [/caption]Leading telecommunications company in Nigeria, MTN, in partnership with Style House Files and the British Council Nigeria, has announced the dates and venues of the regional auditions and interviews for the 12 young designers to feature at its high profile fashion and design event slated for October, MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week. According to the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, the auditions will hold in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos to draw up a shortlist of applicants from which the 12 finalists will be selected for the four-day show. Giving more details, Oyeyemi said the auditioning team will first berth in Port Harcourt on the 25th and 26th of July at the British Council Office, 127 Olu Obasanjo Road, GRA Phase 2. He said the next audition and interviews will hold in Abuja on the 28th and 29th of July...

The organizers of Lagos Fashion and Design Week (LFDW) has formally announced the take off of entries into various competition during the event. MTN British Council Designer of the Year Competition Are you a budding young designer with design talents that can be nurtured and developed to propel you into the Nigerian fashion industry’s limelight, log on to www.mtnonline.com/fashionweek for a chance to win an opportunity to show your designs on the MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2011 runway, a brand new Hyundai Jeep provided by MTN and Master Fashion Design Classes facilitated by British Council. MTN British Council Designer of the Year 2011... Enriching lives. Apply NOW! Deadline for application - 24 th July 2011. Screening will take place across 3 locations in Nigeria - Port Harcourt 25 th and 26 th of July, Abuja 28 th and 29 th of July and Lagos, 2 nd and 3 rd of August. For more details, log on to www.mtnonline.com/fashionweek   MTN British Council Young Creative Entr...

[caption id="attachment_6158" align="alignright" width="319" caption="La Bendelle Design"] [/caption] [caption id="attachment_6159" align="alignright" width="319" caption="Model"] [/caption] Four designers showcased their works at the Women on Wellness Seminar organized by Allure magazine produced by Vanguard Newspapers on Saturday 2 July 2011 i n Lagos. It is presented here as captured by Gistmaster.com [caption id="attachment_6162" align="alignright" width="319" caption="model wearing native dress"] [/caption] The Four designers are Larry Kay Ojomo of Mon Ami Couture,Ngozi Onyeakwu of Vivis Design, House of Jonah led by Mrs. Joan Okorodudu and Imol Design led by Adeyinka Jonah. The Guests, which included Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, wife of Lagos State Governor and her Ondo State counterpart, Mrs. Olufunke Mimiko, Mrs. Abah Folawiyo, Mrs. Yetunde Onileere, Mrs. Sarah Sosa...

NEW YORK COUTURE FASHION WEEK 2011 REVIEW Nigerian models have shown  they have all it takes to be the best anywhere they find themselves in the world. In the recent review of Best of Haute Couture at New York Couture Fashion Week 2011 review by Fashion TV (FTV), Models from Isis, a modelling agency by Mrs. Joan Okorodudu came out to show their ingenuity on the runway. click on the link to see the video

[caption id="attachment_6061" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="British Council Lagos Rep,Cherry Eromosele, senior manager with MTN Nigeria (middle) and Omoyeni Akerele of Style House Files"] [/caption] By Niyi Tabiti Lagos Fashion and Design Week is set to make its debut this year, with MTN as the major sponsor and supported by British Council. This was officially announced by Omoyemi Akerele, the Creative Director of Style House Files, promoters of the event. The  fashion week is slated to hold in October this year. At a press conference held this afternoon at Villa Medici, Victoria Island, Lagos, Mrs Akerele disclosed that the event would raise the bar in the fashion and style sector. Omoyemi said it would promote and celebrate those who are making valuable contributions to the style industry. The Young designer of the year  award winner would go home with an Hyundai Car worth #4.5 million while young fashion entrepreneur of the year wo...

  Rukkies Concepts the promoters of the much talked about African Fashion Week, London 2011 has confirmed the list of participating designers that would take part in this year's edition. Storming down the runway will be designs from all over the vibrant continent of Africa, with a bit of flare from European influences.  See our list below for designers and show schedule: Show Schedule Friday 5th August 3.00 pm Show Rayo Collection UK/Nigeria Sophia Brown London UK/Cape Verde Island Chancie Style UK/Congo Back2Eden UK/Nigeria Fee Uhssi France/Nigeria 4.30 pm Show Fantazia Clothing Nigeria Prima Rouge Nigeria Niniola Fashion House Nigeria Ouch Nigeria House of Adjeiwaah UK/Ghana Diva Delicious Ghana 6.00 pm Show N Duval Exclusive UK/Mauritius Kamondi UK/Uganda Catalyst by Tamara Joseph UK/Dominica/Trinidad Chiro UK/Kenya/Germany House of Nwocha Nigeria Embellished Truth UK/India 8.30pm Gala Show Eva Grygo UK/Nigeria Sve ...

Folake Akindele the founder of Tiffany Amber proudly show off her creative designs at the Austria Lace Fashion show in Lagos, Nigeria on Saturday 14 May 2011. Here, Gistmaster.com bring you some photos from the collections showcased by Tiffany Amber at the event. Born in 1974, Folake Akindele is one of the daughters of Chief Bode Akindele, a successful businessman, billionaire and philantropist. She studied law at the University of Bukingham in the United Kingdom. Folake, who later got married to Folarin Folorunsho (Folly) Coker, launched her clothing line shortly after her return from the UK. Gistmaster.com remembered vividly her first show at Flamingos restaurant, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island. Today, Tiffany Amber is one of the leading fashion designers in Nigeria. Folake Akindele Coker has taken the gospel of style to various fashion weeks across the globe. Story by Niyi Tabiti/gistmaster.com Newsroom: news@gistmaster.com niyi@gistmaster.com Related links Ituen Basi show cas...

[caption id="attachment_5108" align="alignright" width="319" caption="model for Vivid Imagination at Austria lace show in Lagos- May 2011"] [/caption] Godwin Mekwuye the man behind fast growing fashion designing company, Vivid Imagination also showcased his designs at the Austria lace Fashion show in Lagos. Vivid imaginations’ is know for its brand of mature designs especially for the elite and traditional celebrities who want to marry class with extravagance and colour and quality at functions. Aside from high profile clients in politics and society, Godwin Mekwuye’s Vivid Imaginations have designed clothes for the likes of Sir Shina Peters, King Wasiu Ayinde and several others. Most of his contemporaries have either closed shops or diversity into other things but Vivid imagination remain in business and cultivating the rich habit of creativity. Story by Niyi Tabiti email: niyi@gistmaster.com Related Links Frank Osodi designs at Austria lace Fa...

[caption id="attachment_5068" align="alignleft" width="275" caption="Model for House of Bunor by Frank Osodi a Nigerian designer"] [/caption] Frank Osodi, the man behind House of Bunor showcased his collections alongside three other designers selected by the organizers of Austria Lace in Nigeria for their 50th anniversary. The event took place on Saturday 14 May 2011 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. Gistmaster.com bring you photos from the colorful show. [caption id="attachment_5077" align="alignleft" width="319" caption="Frank Osodi, the designer behind House of Bunor"] [/caption] [caption id="attachment_5070" align="alignleft" width="246" caption="House of Bunor model"] [/caption] [caption id="attachment_5074" align="alignleft" width="319" caption="model- House of Bunor Nigeria"] [/caption] To see the collections ...