5 African Brands that were Inspiring in 2015!

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1. IAMISIGO

East Of West – AW 15/16

Colour Story: Contrasts of White and Black, Grey and Silver, Yellow and Gold; Inspired by parallels between the designer’s youth and the American film Calamity Jane. 1950’s western, that chronicles a young Doris Day who embraces the duality of a masculinity and femininity, first as a ‘tomboy’ and then as a woman in pursuit of love.Ultra femininity and hyper masculinity contrast and complement each other and ultimately, birth a truly liberated woman, East of West.

Source: www.iamisigoonline.com

2. Orange Culture 

Adebayo Oke-Lawal has been designing since the age of 10, and since officially entering the fashion industry, he’s dabbled in writing and styling, working with African designers, actors, pop stars and even magazines like Rita Dominic, Tiwa Savage ,Mochedda, Wow magazine and Élan But design is his greatest passion, and since starting the label in 2011, he’s been hard at work trying to bring Orange Culture to the world. It’s hard to believe, with all he’s accomplished, that he hasn’t even lived a quarter century.

Source: www.orangecultureng.com

3. MaXhosa by Laduma 

MAXHOSA BY LADUMA knitwear started in 2010 with Laduma Ngxokolo’s desire to explore knitwear design solutions that would be suitable for amakrwala (Xhosa initiates). His vision was to create a modern Xhosa-inspired knitwear collection that would be suitable for amakrwala, who are prescribed by tradition to dress up in new dignified formal clothing for six months after their manhood initiation. As a person who has undergone the process, Laduma felt that he had to develop premium knitwear that celebrates traditional Xhosa aesthetics. Along his journey into exploring astonishing traditional Xhosa beadwork patterns, symbolism and colours, he discovered that they would be the best source of inspiration for the knitwear, which he then reinterpreted into modern knitwear.

Source: www.maxhosa.co.za

4. Lukhanyo Mdingi 

Lukhanyo Mdingi is a young South African fashion designer who aims to interpret minimal aesthetics through his clothing, finding the balance between line, form and texture. Creating clean minimal looks that are distinct and powerful, with a flare of contemporary elegance and sophistication.

Source: www.lukhanyomdingi.co.za

5. Sophie Zinga

The Sophie Zinga woman is socially conscious, well travelled and is part of today’s cosmopolitan world. She has timeless elegance and channels a unique mix of contemporary, sophistication with a touch of minimalism while still embracing colors and shapes. The collection features exquisite and the finest materials and fabrics namely silks, hand made Senegalese cloth and semi precious stones.

Source: www.sophiezinga.com

We hope these 5 brands inspire you as much as they did us in 2015!- The LPNY Team