September 17, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“African fashion debuts in Auckland, New Zealand” Auckland, New Zealand

PRESS RELEASE – On Saturday 12 October, KFM, Auckland will host the first ever African inspired fashion and art exhibition. This spectacular event will acknowledge and celebrate the very best of African fashion and art in New Zealand.

Event founder Makanaka Tuwe realized the lack of visibility of African art and fashion in New Zealand.

“Its time to raise awareness about African inspired fashion and art in New Zealand. International designers and fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Gucci and Burberry have embraced Africa in their designs. Its now New Zealand’s turn to experience some African flavour”.

The vision of the show is to showcase and promote multicultural art and will feature four local African designers: Chipo Chiyangwa, Maureen Chimwayange, Nomsa Botshiwe and Portia Muumbe.

In 2012, Nomsa Botshiwe won the New Zealand Fashion Museum’s Home Sewn Fashion Festival. In the same year, Maureen Chimwayange dressed Miss Africa Auckland 2012 for the cultural section and took home the sash and price for best African attire.

Apart from four local African born designers, Africa on my Sleeve will showcase designs from New Zealand born Lucy-Mae Goffe-Robertson and Thai born Lucie Sutichinta.

“I believe in inclusion of all, a wise man once said to me mixing diversity with anything is the recipe for success”, Makanaka says.

Currently, Lucy-Mae the owner of the label Lucy*Mae’d has a boutique in GreyLynn: Lucy-Mae’s Eclectic Boutique. Lucie Sutichinta designer of L is for Lucie has had the pleasure of assisting Jeremy Scott's S/S12 Collection "Lust in The Dust" at New York Fashion Week in 2011. One of Lucie’s statement crop top appeared in Remix Magazine Issue:69.

In its first year the show will fuse elements of a fashion show and an art exhibition to give guest attendees a chance to experience the African creative class. The art exhibition will feature batik paintings, canvas paintings and traditional artifacts sourced from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco and Egypt. 

For further information or comments please contact: Makanaka Tuwe Founder Africa on my Sleeve 021-1321-481 makanakatuwe@gmail.com