New Breed of Talent to hit New York Fashion Week Farai Simoyi

 Up and coming designer Farai Simoyi will debut her new brand 'FARAI' during New York Fashion Week on September 13, 2010 at 12pm. Her fashion show will be held in the stunning Skylight West, located in the heart of Manhattan at 500 West 36th Street.


The London-born Zimbabwean designer is a fresh talent, whose Spring/Summer 2011 collection reflects her birth in the American fashion scene. She grew up in West Virginia and moved to New York City shortly after completing her college career. The theme behind the collection, aptly titled “Primordia,” derived from the Latin origin primus and ordiri meaning to begin from conception, represents her birth as an artist. This collection reflects the dreams of a young and fabulous designer waiting to burst onto the American and global fashion scene. Her pieces are inspired by her first sketches as a fashion designer living in New York as well as the colorful prints and pallets of her African ancestry.

The brand 'FARAI' is designed for the urban cosmopolitan. The clientele includes young fashion forward women who are worldly thinkers and are aware of global issues that are changing the fashion, music, and film industries among many others. No stranger to the eclectic style of the New York fashion scene, the look is fresh, edgy, unique, and represents a diverse view that is sure to set new trends for this season.
Farai Simoyi is currently based in New York City, where she is launching 'FARAI' and her online store.

For more information on Farai Simoyi and her brand, visit her website at http://www.faraisimoyi.com/.

Follow her fashion blog for updates on her Spring/Summer 2011 collection and upcoming projects at http://www.fashionfarai.wordpress.com/.

If you would like to attend the fashion show please contact: pr@faraisimoyi.com

EXCLUSIVE: AFRICA FASHION WEEK in New York City

"See your royal roots, see your reflection- see Africa.

*Side Note* Did anyone see the World Cup matches? Sigh...."

Adiat Disu, Africa Fashion Week (New York) founder and producer.

"These images are by us, for all to see. Forget what the world

defines as African. We are of the earth and our essence is within

all that you see" Gugu, Africa Fashion Week (New York) Executive

Stylists. 

About Us: http://africafashionweekny.com/fashion/about-afwny 

Press Registration: http://africafashionweekny.com/fashion/press-registration 

CREDITS:

Africa Fashion Week Executive Stylist: Gugu Lethu - Africa Fashion Week (New York)

Photographer: Adda Ehime

Make up Artist: Tamara Figuero

Hair Stylist: Sabrina Adaba

Ayuba Suleiman Diallo

Ayuba Suleiman Diallo (1701–1773), also known as Job ben Solomon, was a famous Muslim slave who was a victim of the Atlantic slave trade. Born in Bondu, Senegal West Africa, Ayuba's memoirs were published as one of the earliest slave narratives, that is, a first-person account of the slave trade, in Thomas Bluett's Some Memories of the Life of Job, the Son of the Solomon High Priest of Boonda in Africa; Who was a Slave about two Years in Maryland; and afterwards being brought to England, was set free, and sent to his native Land in the Year 1734.

He came from a prominent Fulbe family of Muslim religious leaders. His grandfather had founded the town of Bondu, and he grew up with Sambo the heir to the Kingdom of Futa. In 1730, while on a trip to the Gambia River to sell two slaves and to buy supplies like paper, Ayuba was captured by a group of Mandingoes.  Ayuba became a victim of the ever-growing slave exploitation of the Senegambiaregion. Before being boarded on his ship to the New World, Ayuba attempted to negotiate a slave exchange with the captain. However, the word did not reach his father in time, and Ayuba was taken aboard. Ayuba was transported to Annapolis, Maryland, where he was purchased by Mr. Tolsey of Kent Island, Maryland. Ayuba was initially put to work in the tobacco fields; however, after being found unsuitable for such work, he was placed in charge of the cattle. While in captivity, Ayuba used to go into the woods to pray. However, after being humiliated by a child while praying, Ayuba chose to run away. He was captured and imprisoned at the Kent County Courthouse. It was there that he was discovered by a lawyer, Thomas Bluett, traveling through on business.

The lawyer was impressed by Ayuba's ability to write in Arabic. In the narrative, Bluett writes the following:

Upon our Talking and making Signs to him, he wrote a Line or two before us, and when he read it, pronounced the Words Allah and Mahommed; by which, and his refusing a Glass of Wine we offered him, we perceived he was a Mahometan, but could not imagine of what Country he was, or how he got thither; for by his affable Carriage, and the easy Composure of his Countenance, we could perceive he was no common Slave.

When another African who spoke Wolof, a language of a neighboring African ethnic group that Ayuba understood, was able to translate for him, it was then discovered that he had aristocratic blood. Encouraged by the circumstances, Mr. Tolsey allowed Ayuba to write a letter in Arabic to Africa. Eventually, the letter reached the office of James Oglethorpe, Director of the Royal African Company. After having the letter authenticated by John Gagnier, the Laudian Chair of Arabic at Oxford, Oglethorpe purchased Ayuba for ₤45.

Bluett and Ayuba traveled to England in 1733. Ayuba learned English, and when he reached England, he was in the company of many prominent people, including the royal family. In July 1734, Ayuba returned to Gambia and later returned to his homeland. His homeland was ravaged by war, but being a prosperous individual, he was able to regain his old lifestyle, which included owning his own household slaves. His memoirs were published by Bluett in English and French. Ayuba was an extremely rare exception in the slave trade. Due to his intelligence and monetary prowess, he was able to legally escape the hardships of slavery and return back home to Africa.

via{wikipedia}

Fundraising Appeal To Buy Portrait Of First Black African Visitor To Britain

Broadcaster and journalist Zeinab Badawi during the National Portrait Gallery's launch of a mayor public appeal to save the newly discovered portrait of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, the first Black African visitor to Britain at National Portrait Gallery on July 7, 2010 in London, England. 


via{wireimage}

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week F.W 10.11

Joan Smalls for Givenchy Haute Couture F.W 10.11 view more 

Shu Pei for Chanel Haute Couture F/W 10.11 view more

Ajak for Alexandre Vauthier Haute Couture F/W 10.11 view more

Ataui Deng for Georges Hobeika Haute Couture F/W 10.11 view more .

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week F.W 10.11 via Beauty is Diverse

Mary J Blige My Life Fragrance Launch

Lisa Price and Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige attends the My Life fragrance launch on July 3, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. via {wireimage}

Serena's Glam Slam

Photos by William Klein via Harpers Bazar


Some of Serena Williams' best looks have been named after the contents of a fruit basket. When she was 17, there was a dress she christened Peach Pleasure. "It was peach on one half and white in the middle. So cute," she says. At the U.S. Open in 2002, Strawberry Ice (strawberry for the color, ice for the Harry Winston Diamonds), then, at a tournament in L.A. in 2004, Lime Time (self-explanatory).  Read full article here.

Queen Latifah Signs Copies Of Her Book "Put On Your Own Crown"

Queen Latifah Signs Copies Of Her Book "Put On Your Own Crown"at Barnes & Noble Bookstore at The Grove on July 1, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. 

"Modeled after Maria Shriver's Just Who Will You Be, Queen Latifah's goal with Put On Your Crown is to help young women build a strong sense of self-esteem. A US Dept. of Justice survey found that females ages 16-24 are more vulnerable to partner violence than any other group, almost triple the national average. Cases like Chris Brown's assault on pop star Rihanna showed an ugly side of adolescent life. However, Queen Latifah has always been a shining example of a woman happy with herself and unwilling to compromise to fit into the "hollywood ideal" of what a confident beautiful woman should look like. The result: She's one of the biggest A-list celebrities in Hollywood."  Click here to purchase