Valentine's Day is a week away so...

Again this is going to be a short and sweet post in preparation for Valentine's Day.  The first Valentine's Day I spent with my partner it was evident that he was new to the idea of giving gifts.  He says that in Ghana people don't really celebrate Valentine's Day with gifts...so it was all new to him.  Instead he bought me 3 cards, 4 boxes of chocolates and 2 little trinkets...in essence he cleaned out everything that was left in Tesco or whichever shop he went to.  The thought of it still makes me smile hence I thought I would help you out and recommend some gifts...just don't leave it until the last minute!

Enjoy

xx mefie uk

African print interiors - our favourite looks

So it has been some time since I have done an interiors post and so I thought that I would give an update of some of my favourite looks that I have posted to our website www.mefie.co.uk.  Over the past few months of speaking to customers, the one thing that I have found is that some shy away from mixing prints as they are not sure about the complement of colours and patterns in a room.  Below are some of my favourite looks and the reasons why I think they work.

Enjoy
xx mefie uk

This safari print throw pillow and Ercol vintage chair with covered African print covering work well due to the neutral colour palate.  The bold green print in the cushion and the subtle green undertones in the chair covering tie the two together.  The varying woods also provide warmth...not to mention the fireplace ;)!

These three cushions together are one of my all-time favourite combinations.  Again the neutral greens and tans tie the cushions together.  As well all three have a similar cubical print which works nicely.

This cushion combination is a bit more daring but works well because of the pinks which tie them together.  Again a great way to spruce up a neutral sofa!

Again, one of my favourites!  The blues in both cushions tie both together and the contrast of  bright yellow and the subtle greens add interest to the look.

All is available on www.mefie.co.uk

African Fashion in the T- dot O and the Skinny Bi*sh

So it has been about two weeks since I arrived in Toronto and I have finally had the opportunity to meet with a fashion blogger. I met with the lovely Brenda, writer of 'Can Never be a Skinny Bi*sh.' We spent a great evening where we ate, we chatted, and I soaked up the insights and experiences of a girl 'in the fashion know' in TO.

After my meeting with Brenda there are a few things that really are apparent...what I now know for sure is that the internet truly has made the world a smaller place! As we discussed our favourite African-inspired designers there were so many commonalities in the brands that we liked from around the globe. Although I am never surprised about the reach of established brands in the marketplace, it was surprising that there was an awareness of the smaller UK brands. Based on Brenda's experience as well as my own it is apparent that as the number of African Fashion and design blogs, websites and magazines continues to grow, it provides greater outlets for those who want to consume the goods to interact and find the african-inspired designs that we desire regardless of where they are sold worldwide.

My other discovery was that there are a few new fashion designers creating waves with their african-inspired designs. In Toronto, young, up-and-coming designers have developed a following both in Canada and abroad, yet, the recognition of their work still remains largely within the 'black/african/caribbean community. The one question which remains to be answered is whether new labels have neglected the mainstream and have not targetted the Canadian fashion magazines etc or whether Canadian fashion has continued to ignore this growing trend. As brands such as Zeena Kay, Andrea Iyamah and Kaela Kay continue to develop it will be interesting to see whether they will break into the mainstream here, in Canada.

As the demand for African brands continues to grow I suspect that there will be a growing want to discover new talent in our own backyard...yet, we shall see what the next few years brings.

Below is an edit of my favourite looks from some of the up-and-coming Canadian designers and some of the great looks featured on the Skinny Bish blog.

PS - To Brenda - It was lovely meeting you again! Thank you for your time and your insight! And from one fashionista to another...lovin your vibe and can't wait to see you in our mefie satchel!

xx mefie uk

Both of the above are by Andrea Iyamah

Dress by Kaela Kay

Dress by Zeena Kay


Brenda's Blog - canneverbeaskinnybish.blogspot.com

www.mefie.co.uk

Me fie (my home) in Do-South

This week marked a momentous occasion in mefie's start-up journey...we are in our first high street shop, Do-South in Crystal Palace South London! This local interiors shop was actually the first store that I approached to carry our cushions...as a matter of fact, I approached them before even sewing my first item!

I have been an admirer of Do-South since it's opening a few years ago. I remember the first time that I drove past and I was drawn in by the vibrant colours, the mix of vintage mid-century furniture and accessories, as well as the modern design. The store reminds me of many of the pieces (now considered vintage) that I would see in my Great Aunt, Aunt Bea's house when growing up, hence, the decor makes me smile.

My love of mid-century pieces began at a young age, when I would spend hours playing with the coloured glass vases and admiring the clean lines of the furniture in my aunts house. When I enter into Do-South, I feel transported back to that time yet as I look around the space I am also intrigued by the modern furniture and accessories and I am convinced that both new and old complement one another and that accessories, such as my cushions, complete it. Do-South strikes a balance between new and old and I am thrilled that it is my first store as it really does embody my style and shows the versatility of African prints.

We hope that our addition to this Crystal Palace shop will be the beginning of a great relationship as our line has found a new home in South East London!

PS - Thanks Freddie for your feedback and support since the beginning of this journey!

xx
mefieuk

A Day Late and a Dollar Short but my bags have finally arrived

Over the past few months since launching mefieuk, there have been a few issues/hiccups which have arisen along the way and as this journey continues I want to share them as well. For this post I want to look at 3 issues which have arisen for me in starting a business abroad.
1. Whether to have seasonal options which keep with the colour palate that is prevalent in UK seasonal dress;
2. The cultural differences in dealing with an overseas provider and;
3. Consistency of goods.

Over the years as I have been following African fashion, I have read about the dilemma of many fashion designers emerging from the continent as to whether to have seasonal collections which reflect the 4 seasons which exist in much of Europe and North America or to stick to the bright colours and attire used in a year-round warm climate. As a company that is creating goods to be sold primarily in Europe and North America, (...and anywhere else there is uptake...I am not choosy) I decided to reflect the seasons and as such the newest handbags which are about to be listed on the website, feature warmer colours and deeper tones which will still add interest to any outfit but also fit nicely with the colour palates that are prevalent throughout the winter season.

Some of you may be scratching your heads as to why it has taken so long for me to bring the new stock out and all I can really say is that the hiccups of a new business have definitely had an impact. Thus far I have found that supplier timeline management and consistency have lead to my delays. Many of my deadlines were not hit hence, shipments were late and on and on it goes. I have to say that this is a steep learning curve but I am still passionate about this journey! When I began, one of the tenets of the business was to celebrate the craftsman and artisans in Ghana and the skill that is there. My intention is still the same but as always there have been stumbling blocks along the way. Some have suggested that it is better to manufacture in China or the UK but I am adamant that my perseverence will pay off...I want to be about something more than the norm and I want this business to reflect it too..so the fight continues...

Anyhow below are some of my favorite looks with the new bags! Let me know yours!!! All will be available on www.mefie.co.uk, StlyesAfrik and there will be a promotion on Chictopia

Enjoy!

xx
mefieuk

Ghanaian Textiles and Contemporary Prints

In 2010 the iconic Ghanaian textiles brands, GTP and Woodin (part of the Vlisco Group) were sold to a private equity investment group named Actis. The company specializes in emerging markets and is responsible for over $1.5bn in investment across the continent (they are also responsible for Accra Mall). One of their goals in acquiring the company was to further grow the brands under the Vlisco umbrella and protect the industry from cheap textile imports from China. Their intention was to promote the quality of the goods and the distinct segment that each of the textiles brands occupy ie.GTP is a more traditional print versus Woodin which specializes in the contemporary.

I was drawn to this story and felt a need to share a little background of the african prints as it really does align to what I would like to do with mefie.co.uk in terms of promotion of the skill and beauty that already exists adding a new twist to an established favourite. For me, I love both the traditional and the contemporary. In this blogpost I will talk about one of the contemporary prints that I used for bedroom design. I styled a small bedroom with cushions and found that the combination of light walls and light bedding with really striking vibrant cushions finishes the room.p I keep on looking at the combination and find that it does draw my eye.

In my mind this print is perfect for a child/tween/teen bedroom....it is funky and fun and really striking to brighten up a room. All the children I know, have brighter rooms and so these cushions would be a great addition!

Enjoy
xx
mefieuk

The Unknown Artist

This year I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana twice and there is no other way to say it but I fell in love! There was something really mesmerising about the country...from the hustle of Accra to the lush greenery of Kumasi I loved it all. It reminded me of so many places that I had been before...it felt somewhat foreign but familiar all at the same time.

While in Ghana, I went to the craft market in Kumasi where I met lovely painters and carvers. I spent hours walking through the stalls and I was struck by all the beauty and talent. As I bartered with one of the painters he said something that has stayed with me...he said that he was an artist and that as an artist, he didn't paint for the money because he didn't need the money. He painted because he enjoyed it and that his goal was to have his paintings seen and admired around the world. In the end I bought three paintings which I brought back to the UK stretched and which now sit nicely in my dining room.

I have long enjoyed many types of art and gone to loads of galleries and exhibitions (although I am by no means an expert) my question, however, is why is the beauty of this art not recognised or cherished? Is it because of 'The West' dictating what the image of beauty is; is it simply the exposure of one artist versus another or is it a combination of factors? I have had this conversation many times but still have not made any definitive conclusions. So, I ask the question again--why is the beauty of one artist celebrated while another is lost? Hopefully this is a small step to change...

xx
Mefieuk

The Open House and my Afro-chic sofa

On Saturday I held my first mefieuk open house! It seems that all of my hard work paid off as it was a success! Those who attended gave me great feedback and overall the designs were well received. One of my favourite things to do was to dress the house with my inspired looks...particularly the living room which has been a labour of love.

When I purchased my home in the UK three and a half years ago I realised that there are two factions to the interiors world here...the really high prices found at The King's Road and the Chelsea Design Centre (I love the stuff but just can't afford to decorate my house in it) and the lower end Ikea etc (which I love for the colour but I crave a bit more individuality). I am somewhere in between and so my hunt for the perfect items to reflect my style began. I have been dismayed by the lack of variety in the mid-range interiors market, hence I started sewing to reflect my style. It took me nearly two years to purchase the pieces that I wanted but I am happy with the final look. The finishing touches are the scatter cushions which I love. They add a pop of colour and I can change them with the seasons.

Here is the look from my open house. I have a cushy Stepevi rug (which was a hit at the open house especially with the kids who played on it all night long). The sofa is The Morelia from Darlings of Chelsea custom sewn with Linwood Zoo II fabric, the mirror is from Dwell and I finished with cushions from www.mefie.co.uk

Enjoy!

xx
Mefieuk

Welcome to Design Wednesday!!! The little stump that could...

Welcome to my first design post! I have to admit, I had planned to write about something else but as events unravelled throughout the day, I opted for a change. Today was supposed to be about my prized Ercol chair with an afro-chic flair. Yet,as I prepared for my open house to launch my little business, I hit a snag...I needed to try and find a creative way to display my items for friends and family to see...should I buy a display unit or look for an alternative. As we all know London is not big on space so I really didn't want displays cluttering up each room. As I cleaned my living room, I sadly glanced at the remaining stump of a tree in which I had invested, the Pachira Aquatica. According to a post on ApartmentTherapy.com, these plants are supposed to be kill-proof but I reluctantly concede defeat...I tried to keep it alive but one of the pair of plants bought, has sadly died. I am not ready to part with the remaining stump (after all it may spring back)! So as I planned for my party on Saturday, I hung a tote bag on a branch then another and another and to my surprise I really like the look--the varying levels of pattern and colour against the hardening trunk provides interest and I think/I hope,it will breathe new life into the branches. Even now as I stare at the arrangement, I am still pleasantly surprised. We shall see how Saturday goes but for me the bag tree is a winner!

Let me know your thoughts!

Xx

Mefieuk