My first glimpse at African-inspired Fashion in Canada

So it has been just over a week since I braved the cold and returned to Canada and it has been interesting to say the least. I have not yet had a chance to meet with any of the Canadian-African Fashion bloggers or designers etc. Hence, I thought this week I would talk about my observations about the readiness of Canada for mainstream African-inspired fashion versus that which we see in the UK. It really is not a surprise that Canada seems not to have embraced fashion from the continent in the same way as that which is found in the UK. One of the most obvious differences which I think sheds some light on the difference is that the demographic in Canada is very different than that which we see in the UK. Canada has a larger Afro-Caribbean population and the UK has a larger African (directly from the continent) population. Hence, there is less of a buzz, less people to highlight and drive the development forward and therefore it is not surprising that African-inspired design is more disparate on the high streets and in shops versus the UK....that is not to say that Canada is not ready to see something different or experience more pattern and design in its shops just that it is not as prevalent at the moment.

There are a smattering of labels which exist and some..well really just one article written about African Fashion in Canada (a 2009 article about a fundraiser done where Canadian fashion designers used wax prints in their designs to raise funds for HIV/AIDS) but that seems to be it at the moment. The search continues to find out whether the conversation has evolved from a focus on aid (which is important) but it would be interesting to see if there is more of a discussion about development and investment instead.

Overall, Canada is a more conservative market than that which is found in the UK but it is also less competitive than that which is found with our Southern cousins the US (Canadian retail space is less prevalent than that seen in the US hence, it is nearly 50% more productive than the US). It will be interesting to see what the next few weeks brings...the journey continues...

PS - I will try and post some pics of my wintery outfits for the rest of the week!


xx
mefie uk

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 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

The Beginning of a Journey- Mefie UK

Welcome to the first post for mefieUK. I suppose I have been planning this for a while and now I am taking the plunge! For a long time I have tried to understand my passion-- it's art; it's fashion; it's food and it's interiors...yet the one common thread which ties them all together is my love of Africa and its profound impact on so many cultures. As those of African descent spread to different parts of the world there is a commonnality in our foods, traditions and culture. For me, I feel that I have now come full circle-my family emigrated from Jamaica to Canada--I left Canada to move to Europe and I have fallen in love with Ghana...the next stop!

Follow me in this journey of exploration--from the extrepreneurial spirit of the markets to the increasing influence of Africa on fashion and pop culture. I love it all and am happy to be a part of this conversation.

Enjoy!

xx
Mefie uk
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