History

Fashion is a way to be protected from the weather but also to express peoples creativity. The origins of cloth production in Africa is lost in time, but archaeological findings indicate some of the earliest sites. Early clothing in Africa was also made from treated animal hides, furs, and feathers. Now they make clothing from cotton, camel and sheep wool. Other sources of fiber include the raffia palm, jute, flax, and silk. All these fibers can be dyed using vegetable and mineral dyes.

ALPHADI

Seidnaly Alphadi was educated at the Chardon Savard Studio in Paris and the Fashion Institute of Technology in Washington, D.C. He has been a significant presence on the international fashion scene for some time. Known as the “the child of the desert”, Alphadi combines traditional African techniques with contemporary style to create fashion for the modern African woman. He is aware of the fashion’s power to bridge cultural gaps. Alphadi has expanded his collections from the Avant Garde and Haute Couture to include Ready -to- Wear fashion. He continues to draw inspiration from the desert where he grew up. Alphadi is a founding member of the Federation of African Creators. From his base of operations in Niger, Alphadi organized the first Festival International de la Monde Africaine, FIMA. He would like to prove that African designers “can reach the summit of fashion like all other famous designers”

SARA ABERA

Sara Abera was born in western Dembidollo, Ethiopia. Prior to starting her business, Sara Garment Designers and Manufacturers in 1989, Abera studied fashion design in Ethiopia and Europe. More recent academic pursuits have focused on the rigors of running and expanding an international business. While Abera’s designs are influenced by European styles, she has a great interest in increasing global awareness of Ethiopian hand-woven fabrics. She has not only carved a niche for herself in the high fashion and ready to- wear markets, but she has built a client base in the hospitality industry, creating uniforms for Ethiopian Airlines and Hilton Hotel personnel. These markets provide much needed visibility for her designs and for Ethiopian textiles.

OUMOU SY

Oumou Sy has made a name for herself as a designer of Couture and Ready-to-Wear fashion, as well as jewelry and other fashion accessories. Sy has also made a name for herself as a costume designer for theatre and films, garnering awards for her work in film festivals in Milan, Johannesburg and Ouagadougou. She has even done set design in films. She has over a dozen films to her credit. She has strong ties to the international entertainment industry. Singers Baba Maal and Youssou N’Dour and filmmakers Ousmane Sembene and Flora Gomes are among her clientele. An artist and a businesswoman, Oumou SY works to build a sound infrastructure for the African fashion industry. To that end she has organized the annual Semaine de la Mode (fashion week), during which designers from all over Africa display their work. Further promoting the continued African presence in the world of fashion, Sy has taught at Ecole des Beaux Arts and ultimately founded Ateliers de Stylisme et de Formation aux Arts et de la Parure en Afrique et en Occident. Métissacana, a cybercafe Sy created, not only highlights her work, it is a project she uses to help build and promote a stronger Senegalese presence.