How do we keep our heritage and culture and use it as a niche to promote the [fashion] industry without becoming the ‘Chinas’ and the ‘Indias’ of this world?

Lulu Shabell, SilverBacks Valley Interview Excerpt.

Lulu Shabell, Meron Demisse & Safi Seck, sat down to an interview with Ibrahim Sagna of Silverbacks Valley – a podcast bridging the worlds of venture capital, tech, sports, media, and lifestyle in Africa.

Tech can help us find the balance between growing our African fashion industry and sustainability goals.

Lulu Shabell, SilverBacks Valley Interview Excerpt.

Lulu Shabell is the founder of Lulubell Group, a consulting firm servicing African luxury brands with sustainable strategies for expansion into global markets. Meron Demisse is a writer and media platform founder of Culture and Conversations on Africa – a platform that brings to the centerstage, conversations about culture in Africa. Safi Seck, a fashion designer, is the Founder and Director of Senegalese fashion label, Saraaya.

Lulu Shabell speaks on harnessing the blessings that fashion in Africa has to offer; “now, Africa is blessed with an abundance of creativity. However we have not, until now, looked at fashion as a component of creativity that can be used for economic development. Because generically speaking, we look at agriculture, we look at medicine, we look at engineering, we look at manufacturing in its grand scale without thinking that fashion could be a contributor, actually, to the growth of our continent.” The consulting firm founder champions the creation of structures within the creative and cultural industries, particularly in fashion, that will create access for the youth into an ecosystem that enables them understand what the value chain can be like in a bid to have African fashion available everywhere in the world.

Meron Demisse, Founder and CEO, Culture and Conversations on Africa, speaks on driving visual integration by amplifying the cultural economy which focuses, she says, on 6 pillars – visual arts, entertainment, music, literature, culinary art, and fashion. From an advocacy perspective, the media platform founder looks to ensure that the creative capital from the fashion perspective is in the entire eco system; drawing out Ghana’s institution of National Wear Program, where Ghanaian Identity is celebrated, and tailored local fabric is proudly worn as business attires, every Friday. “Everybody is wearing their national dress, proudly so, and also… thinking about what that does to the respective economy!”. Meron Demisse also speaks on Tourism as an untapped market to appreciate cultural heritage, how much growth said industry has had in recent times, and the clog that has slowed things down.

At the heart of it, business and policy have to meet in order to be able to create an enabling environment so people can consume and appreciate heritage and culture.

Meron Demisse, SilverBacks Valley Interview Excerpt.

On looking inwards and creating brands that can stand the test of time, fashion designer, Safi Seck, Founder and Director of Senegalese fashion label, Saraaya, speaks on Integrity being a key player.

Integrity needs a big connection into your deep self. I have been through some challenges that actually affected my mental health, but it has taught me something very important- you need to be true to yourself. You have to be true to yourself; you cannot try to be someone else. Being able to express my emotions, my true emotions into my design, has helped me to release, connect, accept who I was, no matter what, because integrity means also being able to stand up despite people not agreeing with you, and having the courage to do it.

Safi Seck, SilverBacks Valley Interview Excerpt.

Dubbed the three Champions of African fashion, Lulu Shabell, Meron Demisse, and Safi Seck have discussed even more in their sit-down at the valley with Ibrahim Sagna. With every second thought-provoking, tap here to watch.

Who is the Queen of Cowries?

The queen of cowries, Lafalaise Dion is a visual artist and designer from Côte d’Ivoire. Over the years, thanks to her passion for African spirituality, she has created many jaw-dropping fashion pieces that we believe are here to stay. We dare to say that she has created a niche for herself by strongly championing an era of cowrie fashion and art.

What does the Cowrie shell mean to Lafalaise Dion?

To Lafalaise Dion, the cowrie shell represents the Motherland’s legacy and spirituality.

“The brand’s mission is to promote the richness and uniqueness of African cultures by celebrating this specific shell. We want to highlight African spirituality and tear down the stigma around it considering how it has been subjected to vilification and dismissal due to colonization.”

How far has she come?

Today, the queen of cowries through her brand works with fashion designers, muses, and visual artists around the world to bring to life pieces and images that capture the mind and speak to the soul.

Her unique designs were recently worn by two notable female figures – R&B singer, Summer Walker, styled by Haylee Ahumada and ‘Sistas’ actress, Novi Brown, who elegantly styled her unique dress on the BET Awards 2022 red carpet. 

You can learn more about Lafalaise Dion’s work through her Instagram page @lafalaisedionn

Know all of Africa’s best fashion luxury designers when you follow Lulubell on Instagram @lulubellgroup.

These are 3 Hamethop bags we are living for at the moment…

1. The Dogon Arc bag

The Dogan Arc Bag By Hamethop

With this handbag, the lady in red is no competition. It comes in a variety of colours which includes lime and black. It is perfect for the lady dressing to win a business deal or to capture the heart of her first-time date.

2. The Lozi Ndebele Art Grande bag

Lozi Ndebele Grande Art Bag

It’s absolutely brilliant how Tsakani Mashaba knew she wouldn’t go wrong with this design. The Lozi Ndebele Art Grande bag stays true to its name, as it is beautifully designed with the style of Ndebele art. For the ladies who want to step out in extra casual outfits, this design also comes as an artistic backpack.

3. The Fure Bucket Bag

Hamethop Fure bucket Bag

The first time we saw this bag, we were in awe of how far African fashion designers have come. It reminded us of why we at Lulubell Group have chosen to showcase African fashion brands to the world. This bag is an embodiment of perfection and a true representation of what black girl luxury entails. Do you see yourself stepping out to a date with this bag?

If you can’t get enough of these beautiful pieces, join over 10k lovers of Hamethop on Instagram @hamethop

Do not leave without following Lulubell on instagram @lulubellgroup. We love African Luxury and we love fashion!

“I chose the brand Mayyisah because of the detailing, the twists, and because it blended with the unusual which is what you’ll expect with Odio Mimonet pieces.” – Odio Mimonet

Find out more at Haute Fashion Africa.

Do you know you can make cross-cultural references just by looking at African prints and fabrics? Check out this insightful read from Minds Africa now!

Through Albert Savana