• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Fashion Week

Black Style Now: African Designers

Black Style Now: African Designers
By · August 30, 2011October 28, 2020
01
Ozwald Boateng of Ghana

You may know this Savile row mainstay from his “House of Boateng” docu-series on The Sundance Channel. The former Givenchy menswear Creative Director is known for his impeccably well-tailored suits. In fact, he’s donned superstars such as Will Smith and Mick Jagger in his clothes.

02
Ozwald Boateng of Ghana

A look at Boateng’s bold hued, razor sharp suits.

03
Zeddie Lukoe and Sidney Owino of Kenya

This Kenyan design duo, Zeddie Lukoe and Sidney Owino are reinterpreting men’s suiting. Debuting their most recent collection at Africa Fashion Week New York this summer, they sent Masai-plaid inspired suits fit for a dandy down the runway, alongside ankara printed harem pants with matching blazers.

04
Zeddie Lukoe and Sidney Owino of Kenya

A bold take on masculinity is seen here with this look by Zeddie and Sidney of Blackbird.

05
Darryl Jagga of South Africa

After cutting his teeth and perfecting his craft for lines such as Chaiken and Calvin Klein, Darryl Jagga has gone on to create his own line 43.26 aggaj. Full of perfect for any occasion dresses; who says diamonds are a girl’s best friend when you have Darryl Jagga’s clothes?

06
Darryl Jagga of South Africa

Ladylike glam is what Jagga’s collections are all about, as seen in this beautiful cocktail dress.

07
David Tlale of South Africa

Imagination and creativity surely never fail David Tlale – not when it comes to his clothing at least. He never fails to come up with one inventive collection after the next, each collection promising to be more inspired and decadent than the last.

08
David Tlale of South Africa

This breathtakingly gorgeous gown shows of Tlale’s expert hand in design.

09
Folake Folarin-Coker of Nigeria

Undeniably one of the biggest and best known designers in Africa, with its own manufacturing facility, Tiffany Amber’s beautiful and luxurious clothes are truly Made In Africa. Folake Folarin-Coker’s clothes represent the epitome of the fashionable, glamorous and well-to-do African woman.

10
Folake Folarin-Coker of Nigeria

Elegant and sophisticated pieces like this are a hallmark of collections designed by Folake Folarin-Coker.

11
Maki Oh of Nigeria

Amaka Osakwe’s line is barely two years old, and already it’s the recipient of much buzz and praise from the Afro-fashionista crowd. It’s quirky and envelope pushing styles make this line wearable – only for those fearless and daring fashionistas!

12
Maki Oh of Nigeria

Sexy, sultry, bold pieces like this exemplify the Maki Oh collection.

13
Aisha Obuobi of Ghana

Color and flair, with a dash of sophistication, are the active sartorial ingredients that make up Christie Brown. Bright and spirited pieces reflect a love of fashion and of country, with its energetic color intermingled with kente and ankara accents.

14
Aisha Obuobi of Ghana

Bold and dynamic plays on colors and textures are a hallmark of Aisha’s work for Christie Brown.

15
Thula Sindi of South Africa

Elegant. Graceful Glamour. Want to look like a lady? Put on Thula Sindi’s clothes. A darling of the South African fashion scene since launching his eponymous line in 2006, the Johannesburg native perfected his craft as the head textile designer at Vlisco, the dutch manufacturing company responsible for most of the trade in African textiles.

16
Thula Sindi of South Africa

Sindi’s pieces have a whimsical and lady-like air about them.

17
Kemmy Solomon of Nigeria

KemKemStudio doesn’t rest on its laurels, relying on signature styling. Instead, each season you can expect a different vibe from each collection. The most recent collection can best be described as equal parts cutesy and retro, with a fantastic play on color!

18
Kemmy Solomon of Nigeria

Bold colors and rich textiles are the hallmark of Kemmy Solomon’s designs.

19
Duro Olowu of Nigeria

Our very stylish First Lady, Michelle Obama is a fan of Mr. Olowu and for good reason. She’s been photographed numerous times wearing his signature prints all over the world. Olowu has long been a mainstay of

20
Duro Olowu of Nigeria

A look from Olowu’s latest collection shows his love of bold prints and love of sophisticated, figure hugging shapes.

21
Lisa Folawiyo of Nigeria

Designer Lisa Folawiyo, showing at the ARISE MADE IN AFRICA COLLECTIVE at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, seamlessly blends the traditional African ankara fabric with colorful prints and textures, into unique, modern silhouettes. The result is striking frocks that are fancy, but vibrant and lively enough to still be fun.

22
Lisa Folawiyo of Nigeria

Chic, sophisticated looks like this exemplify the Jewel by Lisa Collection.

23
Mimi Plange of Ghana

Pure luxury is this designer’s aesthetic and she draws on unique points of view for inspiration. From the scarrification rituals of idigenous people, to haute safaris, Plange’s attention to detail is always immaculate and superior. We look forward to her upcoming collaboration with Manolo Blahnik!

24
Mimi Plange of Ghana

A look at one of Mimi’s intricate and gorgeously designed gowns.

25
Tsemaye Binite of Nigeria

This young Nigerian designer, showing at the ARISE MADE IN AFRICA COLLECTIVE at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, is the king of sleek. He can pull off slinky and sinewy silhouettes with the best of them, and still flatter a woman’s body. Not just a one-trick designer, he can pull off equally bold looks with just as much ease. He will be making his New York Fashion Week debut as part of Arise Magazine’s Made in Africa runway show.

26
Tsemaye Binite of Nigeria

Tsemaye’s imprint is all about sultry subtlety, and sophistication.

27
Deola Sagoe of Nigeria

There is hardly a rival to be had for the designs of Deola Sagoe, If you ask us. One of the names synonymous with African fashion, she doesn’t just makes clothes, she creates wearable works of art. Hardly over-the-top, Sagoe’s exceptional clothes unerringly hits the mark at sensational, but never a catastrophe.

28
Deola Sagoe of Nigeria

Couture coquette is how we describe Sagoe’s flirty, feminine, yet strongly structured pieces!

29
Idyll and Ayaan Mohallim of Somalia

This line’s moniker literally translates to “twin” in the native Somalian tongue of the twin talents behind this collection. Offering a double dose of style with their blend of wordly, earthy, sometimes retro-leaning designs, Idyl and Ayaan Mohallim are soon-to-be fashion superstars who already have an Oprah appearance and a CNN profile under their belt.

30
Idyll and Ayaan Mohallim of Somalia

Soft shapes and feminine colors are the hallmark of pieces by the ladies behind Mataano.

Read More

Entertainment
Lil Kim Shares The One Thing She Wants Viewers To Take Away ...
Travel
Airbnb Cancels All DC Reservations Ahead Of Inauguration Week
Oprah Winfrey Documentary Coming To Apple TV+
Videos
Who is Lorna Simpson
Beauty
Skincare Products For All Your Problem Areas
FOLLOW US
Privacy Policy
Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now