The success and visibility of Africa’s fashion industry begins first with a great homage and standing ovation to African models who have been the ambassadors for the continent for decades now. From Iman to the new generation of Ajak and Ataui Deng, African models have shown the world how fashionable and beautiful Africa and its citizens are. Next in line are the fashion bloggers who grabbed the baton and have caused a revolution like no other. We were not happy to see an article by IFashion.com, South Africa’s leading fashion portal, of which we published excerpts here about the ill treatment by some African designers towards African fashion bloggers in South Africa. Below is an example of how African fashion bloggers who take the time to spread the message about African designers and its professionals should be treated. Be nice designers!
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“Tumblr, the image-heavy platform beloved by top fashion bloggers like Tavi Gevinson and Jessica Quirk (What I Wore), is focusing more of its energy on the fashion industry.
In fact, it’s sending more than 20 of its bloggers to New York Fashion Week. Participating Tumblrs include What I Wore; Peace, Love, Chanel; SaraZucker.com. About eight hail from New York, but the rest will be flown in for the nine-day event. They’ll receive complimentary flights, accommodation, and will be whisked off to lunches, dinners, and cocktails with a roster of to-be-confirmed brands and designers. And of course they’ll receive access to several New York Fashion Week shows, says Rich Tong, Tumblr’s newly-annointed fashion director. (Specific shows are also yet-to-be confirmed.) They’ll also be attending the the Independent Fashion Bloggers’ conference, the Bloglovin awards, and an end-of-week party. To make the bloggers’ coverage of events and shows even more visible, Tumblr will host a real-time feed of their content at Tumblr.com/nyfw, mixed in with content from other “media partners.”
Tumblr hired Tong–founder of user-generated street style site Weardrobe–in December. He launched Weardrobe in 2007 and sold it to Like.com in 2009. (Which in turn sold itself to Google in 2010.)
Why does Tumblr need a fashion director? And why do they need to send 20 bloggers–not five or six–to New York Fashion Week? According to Tong, it’s all about the demographic. Tumblr’s fashion bloggers aren’t just personal style bloggers–most are more driven by editorials, runway images, and product shots. “They’re inspiration-based blogs,” says Tong . . . ” ~Full story here.
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.
