Best African Styles - Brief Article

Ebony, Feb, 2001 by Eunice W. Johnson

African designers are offering creative attire that showcases refreshing ingenuity. At a recent New York fashion show featuring the Spring 2001 creations of several African designers, the runways were lively with colorful, glittering garments that sizzled while highlighting the sensual femininity of the female form. There were long skirts, skimpy tops and sexy, sassy evening wear. One designer demonstrated a love for denim by creatively using the durable fabric in two-piece, ankle-length ensembles as well as pants and midriff tops embellished with safety-pin accents. Another showed a daring 24-karat, African gold breast-plate top (valued at half a million dollars) worn over a long shimmering skirt, another African designer displayed a metallic minidress and effectively used gold-thread fringe to fashion a sexy top over hotpants. These interesting designs were accessorized with bold, gold chokers, necklaces of safety pins and puff-ball bags, as well as gold net shawls, painted faces, long braids, bald heads and African headwraps. The overall effect was captivating.

Deola Sagoe of Nigeria designs colorful hotpants worn under sleeveless top with an array of gold metallic fringe flowing from high collar.

Accessorized with striped stole and gold sandals, Note: Long braids and dotted-face decoration of models.

Black crepe strapless, ankle-length evening with cut-out sides, double-sequined stripe and V-beaded decoration front, by Tracy Lee of South Africa. Note: Gold metal choker and safety-pin necklace.

Julian of South Africa designs two-piece ensemble with diamond shaped 24-carat gold-shield halter top worn with doublelayer silk skirt.

From his favorite denim fabric, Bonga Bhengu of South Africa designs two-piece, two-tone ankle-length sleeveless ensemble with decorative gold safety pins off front of top.

Accessorized with arm bracelets, matching denim turban and red leather sandals.

Two-piece ensemble by Deola Sagoe with spaghetti-strap, cummerbund-corset top with lace-up sides, worn with high-waist, knee-length skirt with decorative inserts at bottom edge. Note: Shimmery gold thread throughout ensemble beaded evening bag.

Two interesting denim ensembles. Left, two-piece denim patchwork pant ensemble with safety-pin detail on pants. Note: Large gold safety-pin necklace. Right, pheasant-look denim strapless blouson ankle-length dress, gathered at waist with light blue ruffled edges. Note: Mail carrier-type denim shoulder bag, gold necklace and bracelet, both by Bonga Bhengu.

Deola Sagoe designs strapless evening ensemble with abstract design of geometric shapes. Note: Gold netted shawl, long braids and decorative ball-shaped hanging evening bag.

Tracy Lee creates long-sleeve, abstract-designed turtleneck top with corset-type waist and black skirt panel over straight ankle-length skirt. Note: Gold butterfly sandals.

Julian designs halter-neck, knee-length dress with tree-branch beaded design. Accessorized with organza stole.

Halter-neck gold minidress with scalloped-edge neckline, with fringe detail on sides and down front with overlay of gold net, by Deola Sagoe. Note: Long braided hair.