Hey Creatives,
This Friday, we’ll be hosting the fourth edition of our ‘How I got started’ series with amazingly talented sustainable fashion designers ; Awa Meite and Cynthia Abila. Our co-hosts will be in ‘Fashversation’ about their creative journey, major milestones, their pain points and opportunities.
The Event
The purpose of the event is to inspire and empower African startups in the creative industry with insights into the process of exceptional brand owners in starting up and running successful brands.
Meet the Anchors
AWA MEITE – FOUNDER AWA MEITE DESIGNS
Awa Meite is a Malian textile and fashion designer. She develops and designs fashion and accessories in cotton and leather. All the designs, from weaving to the finished product are 100% made in Bamako, Mali, with high quality handmade, limited editions and done in her atelier. Each piece is unique.
Awa Meite is a sustainable, eco-conscious brand that stands for quality and high hand fashion design, dedicated to local transformation and production in Mali, because it is made in Africa for the world.
Her work shows diversity in fashion by enlightening the traditional cotton weaving techniques and leather craft in a modern way. Africa remains an important source of inspiration in the world of fashion, but the brand believes that the under representation of African designers can change with the creative process of the new African fashion designers which is the uniqueness of materials, the patterns and local know-hows, while empowering communities, because fashion tells our own narrative.
CYNTHIA ABILA, FOUNDER CYNTHIA ABILA
Cynthia Abila is an eponymous brand created by Cynthia Otiyo-Abila founded in 2016. Cynthia Abila is passionate about African cultures and story telling. She interprets these wonderful traditions through her pieces by reinventing them as modern silhouettes made for the traveling woman.
Based in Nigeria, we inspire locally, design, source and produce materials by engaging artisans across the country. Our influences are rooted in the tribal ways of the South-South and Southeast Nigeria. We promote local production and the preservation of centuries old techniques of hand made fabric production. In doing so, we also provide vital work opportunities and essential training to local communities. Our beaded and adorned pieces are also worked by hand and finally machine finished.
With the adoption of flexible work policies, women represent 70% of the workforce, which enables them to support their families. Our pieces are made for the fashion-conscious woman who explores the world beyond her walls and yet holds passionately to her roots. Our mission is to display the timeless nature of African heritage and its application to the aesthetics of modern clothing.
Who is this event for?
- Emerging fashion designers looking to translate their unique perspective into creatively designed fashion products.
- Aspiring sustainable designers and existing designers interested in sustainable fashion.
- Brand owners interested in learning about industry peers
- Fashion enthusiasts & lovers of African inspired Fashion
What to Expect
Gist and ideas that can transform your business.
Platform: Instagram LIVE
Date: Friday 31st July, 2020
Time: 6pm WAT | 5pm GMT | 7pm CAT