Stay Tuned...

...As I bring you more info about our 2009 edition of Catwalk for Africa.
Each week, one of our guest designers will be featured on the blog.You'll get to know more about Martial Tapolo, Ally Rehmtullah, Imane Ayissi, Bot I Lam and Pacy Koné.
You'll also get to have a sneak peek at the backstage while we prepare everything for the runway.
There is a lot to come....



  'Til next time...

Talking about African fashion...

In case you have not heard (which I doubt very much)...if you happen to be in London tomorrow, do not miss the Camer Couture Fashion Show!!!!
My girl Cynthia and her team are putting Cameroon on the map. The K Connection is a proud sponsor of the event, which will feature designers Anggy Haif, Olivia Ervi, Kirette Couture, Bot I Lam, Rose Mbango and Ms Mi.
Congrats guys and thank you for promoting African inspired Fashion...



'Til next time...

click on the picture to see the poster.

'Til next time...

It's on!

Here we are again. The countdown has begun.
After the stunning success of the Miami edition, Catwalk for Africa 2009 is officially on.
A bigger show, a spectacular venue, top-notch entertainment, live performances and world-class exhibits: all those ingredients will be combined together during a night of fashion, luxury and entertainment.

Saturday, December 5th is the date.
Tunisia is the country.

African fashion’s new wave, represented by Bot I Lam and Pacy Koné, will rock the runway, together with internationally acclaimed and award winning designers, Imane Ayissi, Martial Tapolo and Ally Rehmtullah. They will be welcomed and accompanied trough the journey by top Tunisian designers.

The fashion show will be the center piece of a special *African Night*.
Oasis Night Club, one of the biggest night clubs in Africa, located at the heart of Yasmine Hammamet, will be the venue for the event.
Spectacular performers, talented singers and off-the-hook entertainers will make this night one to be remembered.

December 2009 Catwalk for Africa is going to be a stunning event.
This end of the year show is not to be missed.
Fashionistas and socialites are all invited to attend.

Would you like to attend but think you live too far? Think again!
Drop us an email: arlie@catwalkforafrica.com and we’ll let you know how to be a part of this great event.




Behind the scene
In a world of fashion where generic is the name of the game, entrepreneurs Arlette Ngo Badjeck and Gwladys Ngo Tedga bring a new vibe to the fashion scene and textile industry with Catwalk for Africa…AfroChic à la Mode. The event was born in an effort to revitalize African fashion, redefine it and significantly increase its presence in the global market. While some may wrongly summarize African fashion to: “ethnic” prints, safari clothing and traditional outfits, Catwalk for Africa demonstrates a side of African fashion with a lot more depth, audacity, creativity and quality.
******
Distinctive Women Agency ... or how to value everything feminine through seminars, exhibits, conferences, events, magazines, and networking parties. Created by Dr. Martine Geronimi, the agency started as a travel club for all modern and cosmopolitan women. In Tunisia, together with artistic director Atef Dridi, Dr. Geronimi wants to make of Distinctive Women Agency a hub for all events planning, from a feminine perspective.

'Til next time...

News news news

Our web site is now up and running!
Please go to www.catwalkforafrica.com
You'll get to learn about the concept and soon be able to have more information on Tunisia09 too!!!
Do not hesitate to leave us your comments back here.
'Til next time...

Hello everyone!
I am just checking in to let you know that everything is going very fast right now and the next Catwalk is taking shape. Very exited about what's coming up next. I am currently travelling to set everything up and meeting everyone in preparation for the show. I'll be back next month with news and pictures.
Have a fashionable summer!!!...

A very Distinctive Woman

I can't go on without talking about the very distinctive woman in charge of organizing the next edition of Catwalk for Africa in Tunisia. The Distinctive Woman Agency is a marketing and public relations agency here in Tunis. The reason why I was led to it was the owner, Martine. She is the image of the modern woman. In love with the continent, international, open to new adventures, and she loooves meeting new people all the time. The special thing about her agency is that it's all about women. Martine has decided to work for and with women only...almost. She carries out women' projects, work with women mostly and fights for their rights any way she can. I like that about her. It's time we as women take charge of our livesand people like Martine are leading the way.

Thank you my dear friend for everything. Thanks to your work, our next event will be smashing!

You can check Martine's blog out at www.distinctivewomen.com

Villa Noria

Courtesy of M. Geronimi
Courtesy of M. Geronimi
Courtesy of M. Geronimi



Very very proud of myself here people...I found the perfect spot for us to stay in Tunisia during the show. Villa Noria is the place to be at. This 'hotel de charme' is not one of those crowded, busy and anonymous hotels you find everywhere. It's cosy,natural, peaceful, simple and it'll look like heaven in December. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...oh yeah, and there is a private beach too! sweet!

Memories

A couple of pictures from THE K CONNECTION's first photo shoot...

About the K Connection

You have to understand how it all started...Back in 2007 ( yeah, like it was such a long time ago lol), after my grad school graduation, I started pondering about what I would do about my future. No corporate America for me, been there done that. I wanted a job I was going to be passionate about and I really wanted to work in a field where I would give something back to my continent.

Fashion came to mind and with my couz and partner in crime, we started THE K CONNECTION. 

K stands for KABA, which in my home country is the traditional dress for women. The goal was to introduce African designers in mainstream america. Oh what a world, what a blast we had...we met so many talented designers that the idea of showcasing them together came up. Yeah! Why not set up an international yearly event where a few African and African inspired designers are going to show their work?

CATWALK FOR AFRICA...Afrochic à la Mode was born. Fashion and entertainment...bam!!! There is the concept. And a successful one I might add...

Since THE K CONNECTION was our own marketing and public relations agency, we decided to produce our first show, and I am glad we did. We really had fun.

For more information about THE K CONNECTION and our humble beginnings, you can check our blog at www.thekgirls.blogspot.com. There are just a couple of articles up there. Things got so crazy and so busy after that we right out had to leave the blogsphere for a while. But we are back again...yeah!

This year in Tunisia, CATWALK FOR AFRICA will be produced by the DISTINCTIVE WOMEN AGENCY. I will tell you all about it in the next article. 

Loads of love to all of you fashionistas...

In Tunisia

As I was saying, our next stop is Tunisia. Bigger show, more designers and more fun! 

Also, you'll soon be able to catch us on www.catwalkforafrica.com

I'll keep you posted!

Winnie and our first catwalk

The pictures above are pictures of CATWALK OF AFRICA...Afrochic à la Mode,  MIAMI  edition, featuring CHAFA-GOVHA DESIGNS.

First, let me tell you....

I know , I know, this should have been done a while ago but oh well... here I am now to introduce the latest event in the African fashion world, CATWALK FOR AFRICA....

The idea for such an event actually came up early last year, in 2008. My cousin and I have this thing for african fashion (we are crazy about it actually), so we created our own marketing agency 

(THE K CONNECTION) to introduce african fashion designers to the North American market.

Now we are thinking: why just the North American market? why not the whole world?...

Anyway, the first edition of CATWALK FOR AFRICA occured in March 2008 in beautiful and sexy MIAMI!!!!  It was a small scale event, but very successful. It was our first official runway event and I have to say we did pretty good (yeah us!)...

The designer who was showcased that first year is WINNIE CHAFA GOVHA, a multitalented, African inspired artist. 

Born and educated on the continent of Africa, designer Winnie Chafa Govha studied fashion design and fine art at the Fashion Institute in New York, and at the international Fine Arts College in Miami. She brings a complete startlingly original talent to the world of fashion. Her designs are chic, witty, young and whimsical. With her resources, she musically repeats motifs and color, place and patterns in her designs.

Thank you Winnie for your work!

So...after the success of the Miami edition of CATWALK FOR AFRICA, the second edition is in the making!

All I am going to tell you for now is that it'll happen at the end of this year in jazzy Tunisia...stay tuned for more infos...