Rewind: what we wore

Because my blogging skills are, lets say, lacking.  I am going to attempt to go back and blog about different things that I have done and experienced while away!

Back in May we had our Sankofa fashion show here in Liberia. And as you know it was a big hit! But I am not going to talk about how successful it was, how amazing Korto Momolu’s designs were, or even how the message of transformations was shared to hundreds of Liberians.

I am going to talk about what I wore! Not only what I wore, but what my fellow Creative Director, Stephanie, and the Director of Amani, Becky, wore!

You may have already guessed it but we all wore something that was designed and created by me while I was here.

Stephanie wore an awesome hot pink pencil skirt that I designed. The fabric is beautiful woven Nigerian fabric. She pared it with a fun floral print top she had and some great gold heels! Who said you couldn’t rock some fabulous high heels in the middle of the Jungle!

Becky looked stunning as usually in my asymmetrical dress made from all African fabric. She really can pull anything off, she has an amazing wardrobe full of beautiful African textiles, this dress just adds to it.

I wore a dress I designed that used a few variations of tye-and-dyed fabrics, along with a very African like textile that I purchased years ago at a yard sale. I am so glad I held on to it for so long. It was the perfect piece I needed to complete my design.

Designing for Amani

Designing for Amani is bringing me so much joy. I have designed some great pieces for Amani Kenya, But the abundance of extraordinary West African fabric is really inspiring me here in Liberia. Amani Liberia will be focusing mainly on clothing production, which I couldn’t be more excited about. So a part of what I have been working on is designing, pattern drafting, sizing, and training on different designs for Amani Liberia. My goal is to have 6 new designs in production by the time I leave.

This past week I introduced a new dress:

What do you think?

I am excited to see this in the production. The women say it is “Fine!” This is a big complement!

 

I just so happened to make this in my size, which means it will probably end up in my suitcase. I am thinking I want to wear it to my sister’s baby shower. Which is another thing that I couldn’t be more excited about! Being an Auntie!!!

Belts

If you know me at all you know that I can never have too many belts. I love belts. They can pull your whole outfit together, and not to mention they define your waist and making the look very flattering. On top of the neutral everyday belts your wardrobe should have at least a few specialty belts. Belts that will be your statement piece of you look.

I have 4 new products in my shop…You guessed it. Its belts!

Each belt is made with West African Fabric, they come in multiple sizes and are adjustable. If you are looking for more statement pieces these are just for you!

New Designs.

I wanted to let everyone know that I have six new designs up for sale in my shop. I recently designed these pieces while living in Kenya, and used African fabric for each of the designs. All of the proceeds from the sale of these clothes goes to support my missionary work with Amani Ya Ju.








Please visit my shop here, and spread the word. Your support is greatly appreciated.

New designs coming soon!

One thing you can’t deny about west Africa is the amazing selection of fabric. You can’t go wrong with any of it, from the unique mud cloth to the beautiful Lappas.


While in Liberia I purchased some great fabric and have been working hard in Kenya to create new designs to sell. I am pleased to announce that they will be up in my shop very soon. I have been working very hard to create all the garments in time to send it back to the states with a friend going back home. They package finally made it and I am looking forward to getting them photographed and up on my shop. I had the privilege to photograph Betty ,one of the wonderful ladies at Amani Kenya, in a few of my garments. Here are a few shoots from our day.

The new garments will be for sale very soon. Also, thank you to all the people that have been supporting my work in Africa, and thank you for everyone who has been praying for me along the way. I am so blessed to have your support.

It's Open!

I am very excited to announce that my shop is open for business! I have been working hard on producing the ‘Liberia dress’ that is exclusive for the shop. You will also be able to purchase items from my previous collections.

Thank you for your support and remember everything you purchase on my site will go directly to my missionary work with Amani Ya Juu!





I also want to say a very special thank you to my amazing, beautiful, lovely, awesome sister, Ashley, who really pushed me to open the shop and did ALL of the online stuff for me. (because Lord knows it would NEVER have happened without her). I am so blessed to have such an amazing sister/best friend. Thank you Ash!!



God Bless!

Nothing To Wear.

I attended a beautiful wedding in McCloud, Ca. last month and it was my privilege to design and make the wedding dress….WELL I finished the dress the week before the wedding. Eek! And I didn’t have ANY time to find a dress to wear. So the night before the wedding I rushed to the fabric store, purchased some fabric and ran home matched it with fabric I already owned and make this:



Even though I don't do it often I love wearing things I made, especially when people compliment it. I smile and say thank you and find it flattering when people DON’T ask me if I made it. It means I did a good enough job to where they think it is store bought. Right?





The wedding was amazing and the bride was beautiful. I hope to get photos from the actually wedding to show. In the mean time here is my beautiful sister wearing one of the dresses from the fashion show.

The Runway & More.

A month later and I am finally posting more photos from the fashion show!

Here are some of my latest designs, didn't Captured by Robyn. Lee do a great job?



There are some designs missing. I will post the shots that Robyn took out side soon. I am in love with them all:



Below are the designs from Amani Ya Juu. Some of which I designed while I was in Kenya, other I helped with patterning. Aren't they fantastic, the women at Amani are so talented! The fabric is amazing as well! I have some great news about my return move and other news about Amani...I will share soon!





The finale parade...and me dragging my model and giving an awkward nervous smile…Oh man how I love being in front of people!





I was so blessed to have Catherine who I meet at Amani Ya Juu in Kenya speak at my fashion show. She moved to California with her husband about a month before the fashion show. She is literally 15 minutes away from me now...The world is so small!



My beautiful mother selling Amani Ya Juu items.



And of course my sister (who was such an amazing help during the whole fashion show... thanks Ash!) is shopping Corrina's "Dirty Sweet Vintage"

I Left My ♥ In Kenya, Fashion Show.

I have been going none stop for the past few months planning and designing for my “I left my heart in Kenya” Fashion show. And boy did it pay off. I am incredibly happy with every part of the night. I had the best group of models, a wonderful DJ, and AMAZING photographer, all my family and friends who helped out the day of and prior…(and if it wasn’t for them I would have not been able to successfully put on the fashion show)….and a wonderful venue at Space 07 Salon.

The turnout was great, and it was so great to see Amani Ya Juu merchandise here in the states!

Robyn Lee Photographed the event...and can I say I fell in love with the few photos I have seen already! She did an amazing job, and if you are looking for a photographer I highly recommended her. You can see her sneak peek on her facebook here.




This is just half of my designs from the show...I will be posting more so stay tuned. Also I can't wait to show all the amazing designs from Amani Ya Juu!

Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Here Comes the Sun...

You may have remembered back in May I participated in Freestyles Spring Fashion Bazaar.
Well it was very successful and had a wonderful group of models that really worked it on the runway! I was even lucky enough to have a photographer Lindsey Winn who took some great photos of the Ladies…



This collection was really about fun and warm colors. I wanted to stick to my signature look of mixing different patterned textiles but have it more fun and flirty than my previous looks. I did a lot of fabric manipulations to create even more textures within the patterned materials. I also wanted to have ruffles to be one of the key details to the collection. I hope you enjoy this warm and sunny collection...

[I find it kind of funny that I am almost taller than all the models even with flats]

Oh and also the fashion show was very successful in raising money for the relief effort in Haiti!

For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:14

Ashley's Wedding Party

...and finally the beautiful bridesmaids/flowergirls/and mother of the bride.

The wedding was photographed by the amazing Joel Flory.

The gorgeous Katie!

These lovely ladies are
Liz and Danielle.


Moi.


The stunning mother of the bride (top left).
Adorable Flower girls are Kiera and Lorelei.