HURRY! Enter to WIN 25 FREE Tickets to Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Arise MADE in Africa Show!!

Ladybrille Magazine exclusive ticket giveaway contest to the Arise Magazine Made in Africa show ends on Monday, September 12th, 2011. So, HURRY, and enter for a chance to attend New York Fashion Week to check out a fab show.

For contest rules and details, click here. In the meantime, here are the cool entries we have received so far:

“Ladybrille and Arise magazine both serve as platforms to showcase African design, providing very much needed visibility/exposure to the diversity in talent and fashion styles emanating from different parts of the continent.
….
It is tremendously difficult for young designers to break through the fashion industry in the USA regardless of whether they are from Africa or residents in the USA. Just.
.. like any business , designers emboldened to launch their own fashion line need to be innovative and creative. Pursue their business venture with skill and adopt a niche strategy. Different designers have been successful through various experiences. There is no one perfect or pre-designed model/approach to success.“- Liz Omondi/New York, NY

“Ladybrille and Arise magazines have shed a whole new light on african culture and fashion. I feel like african fashion is widely overlooked by most people. Ladybrille and Arise bring diversity and elegance via fashion to one of the most interesting countries in the world. Nothing excites me more than being able to understand culture through fashion. Ladybrille and Arise are amazing at portraying that.

I think that in order to breakthrough into the US market, african designers should put their own spin on what is currently in fashion. Collaborating with other designers and forming a sort of fusion is also another way to break through.” -Erica Rusell from New York, NY. Thank you.

“1. The most important contribution Ladybrille Magazine & Arise Magazine have made to Africa’s fashion industry is making African fashion desired by the masses. Both Ladybrille and Arise have gone above the goal of mere exposure and have made African fashion likeable and proven how wearable the African take on fashion is.
2. In order to truly breakthrough to the USA Market, African fashion designers need to prove wearablity of their clothing. They need to show versatility. American fashion is embracing African fashion trends. But in order to truly make a name in the USA, the brand needs to be able to be worn with other articles of a fashionista’s wardrobe!” – Candy from Brooklyn, NY

” ‎1. Ladybrille & ARISE’s one major contribution to Africa’s fashion is exposure. Without having both of these awesome outlets, the world of fashion would still have no clue to the shear creativity & forward fashion that if taking place in Africa.

2. I believe African designers need consistency, continuity & technology. Consistency for the sake that you cannot be here one minute & then nowhere to be found the next. You must have a consistent brand. Continuity in 2nd aspect of knowing what the trends will be & having ur line speak w/ elements of it. Not just designing haphazardly but w/ a flow to tell a story. 3rd technology in the sense to use to the benefit of your brand. A well working website, programs that assist in the growth of the brand ie Autocad, photoshop etc. & connections to social networking sites for exposure.

3. St. Petersburg, FL” – Fulei Ngangmuta/FL

“Back in the day African Fashion in America was fake kente cloth & kufi hats…today though thanks to the contribution of magazines like Ladybrille & Arise there is more awareness because they have brought the diversity of African Fashion to the international community. Also in this age of celebrity, fashion is very much tied to the music & movie industries…so African designers need to bring their fashion to those industries first if they want to expand their impact in the US market….thanx & I wish Africa continued success!!! Keep Rising, ~

Afia Nortey
Repping Accra, GH via NY, NY”

“Ladybrille and Arise Magazine continue to bring African fashion to the forefront of international fashion. Now all eyes are on Africa! New African designers need to start cultivating strong partnerships with already established brands or personalities who have made their mark in the U.S fashion industry.” – AJ’waa Abeasi, Atlanta, GA

“I think that one of the contributions that Ladybrille and Arise Africa have made to the African Fashion industry is definitely the international recognition of its photographers and models.

I think African designers should create alliances with stores, designers and magazines to stimulate the exposure of their creations to the American market.

My name is Ren and I live in NY. I’m hoping to win tickets for fashion show. Thank you.” – Ren Dc/NY

“1.) One contribution I believe both Ladybrille and Arise Magazine have made to Africa’s fashion Industry is giving Africa an international and sophisticated voice and mode of expression. For so long, many Africans, including those of the Diaspora, have craved for representations of Africa and its influence in an elegant, positive and self-motivating light. These magazines have done just that and the impact is immediate–from Burberry Porsum adopting ankara for one of their recent collections to Mercedes Benz hosting African designers at this year’s FNO.

2.) I think the number one requirement for African designers breaking into the US market is authenticity. If one’s product is good, people will love it and subsequently buy. Hard, true and authentic work does not go unnoticed.

3.) New York City (Manhattan), NY” – Pam Ebele/NY

“Ladybrille Magazine & Arise Magazine have contributed tremendously to the African fashion industry by exposing our rich fashion/culture to the Global economy. I personally think African Fashion designers need to think out of the box from the basic pieces to other fashion accessories, although initiatives have been adopted in the past year to expand from just clothes to african printed shoes, bags, etc., many other fashion apparels have yet to be made using our vibrant African prints (eg hand lauggage made out of gorgeous ankara prints….who knows??) 😉 ………….Far Rockaway, NY.” -Grace Odeh/NY

Ladybrille Magazine

Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.