Passion for Fashion

A friend of mine told me he’d seen my blog and thought it was fashion themed, I shook my head in amusement as I write mostly about my musings and DIY sewing. “But you pose for photographs in the clothes you make”.  Yes I do, in a smiley-human-clothes hanger sort of way.

Well, when I want to read about fashion trends, I dash over to Biki John’s because she speaks fashionese intelligently and has a true passion for fashion (yes, it rhymes nicely).  From her witty posts, which are delightful to read, it is obvious that she enjoys what she does.

She’s a cheer leader for African fashion who believes that it should not be defined by prints alone. I agree, just because a garment is made from Ankara print fabric doesn’t make it African, same way rice that’s simply been boiled in tomato sauce is NOT automatically Party Jollof Rice.  It only earns bonafide PJR status after being a burnt offering on the firewood altar.

So, I was glad when she mentioned that she’d produced a new show “Fashion Special” which was filmed in London, for Silverbird TV.  I watched it and was very impressed with the engaging content.  She interviewed leading African designers, shared interesting trend tips and also her favourite street style looks during London Fashion Week.

 

 

Kindly watch the video, I know you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Try not to get carried away by her charming voice. 🙂

Have a lovely weekend.

Sign

32 comments

  2. Passion for fashion does rhyme. 🙂 Calling rice in tomato sauce “party jollof” is an insult to the wood fire. I think it (the fire, not the rice) deserves an apology. 😉

    I chuckled at Biki John’s comment on feeling like a teenager in the butterfly-print dress, minus the acne and insecurities. And she said it with a straight face. 😀

    I love that brown and orange Jose Hendo outfit. Beautiful!

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    1. Hi Sharon,

      Yes, the fire would demand for a formally written apologies published in all the daily newspapers. Party Jollof is a national treasure. Lol

      I chuckled too, Biki has a wicked sense of humor, I love her wittiness. You should see her current post- “A Valentine’s Story“, it’s bursting at the seams with imagination and wit. 😀

      That dress is exquisitely structured, the fabric is very interesting.

      Thank you so much for reading!

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    1. Hi Michelle,

      Thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate your visit too. 🙂

      Lol… I do my best to link my musings and sewing as seamlessly as possible.

      Enjoy the rest of the week.

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    1. Hi Lady,

      Thank you for watching, I am glad you liked it.

      Lol…Ah! Eki Orleans is beautiful, she’s such a yummy mummy too. Her designs are so lovely. 🙂

      Enjoy the rest of the week.

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    1. Hi Timeka

      Jollof rice is great, you’ll love it. It’s basically rice cooked in a spiced blend of pureed tomatoes, peppers and onions. Beef or chicken stock is also added for flavour.

      Thank you for watching, I am glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Have a lovely rest-of-the-week.

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  7. I think it’s possible to make party jollof rice on a gas cooker. It doesn’t have to be sacrificed on an altar to firewood beforehand. And I was seriously pained when I read Miss mondaymonday’s comment. What time does the program air Nedu?
    And yes, I agree with your colleague- your blog is a fashion blog. Just not exclusively so. And I love it.

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    1. Hi Uju,

      Lol @ “Sacrificed”.

      Jollof Rice is quite different from Party Jollof Rice. The prefix “Party” is because of the distinct smoky flavour from the burning firewood, the aroma somehow manages to infuse itself in the grains. Most times, the jollof rice served at large parties is cooked this way.

      Ah! I’d feel rather cheated if an allergy prevented me from eating a delicious meal.

      The first half of the 2-part program aired on Silverbird TV’s DSTV 252 channel in December 2015. The videos are currently on You Tube.

      Thank you so much for stopping by. 🙂

      Have a pleasant rest-of-the-week.

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  9. Oh lord! Hear they servant prayers. Thy word said thou are the only and only fashonista. I mean when i looked around at thou various designs on land, sea and air. I bow before thee. Please Thou shall please endowed their servant with all humility a fashion passionista and fashionista. Amen!

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    1. Hi Immanuel,

      You are hilarious. 😀

      Indeed, God is the champion when it comes to designs, he made all things beautifully with a passion that outshines all others.

      Have a super week!

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  10. Really loving how Africa is spicing up fashion all over the globe. On another note original Pjr.. Odi iche. 😋

    I am unable to see the video… Will try again.

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  11. I went on Biki’s blog and I agree with you she’s amazing!
    Its true that just because a garment is made of ankara print doesn’t make it African but its still great to have something that’s ours out there,getting so much attention. Sometimes I’m amazed at how global african prints have gone,it is well deserved.

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    1. Hi Tonye,

      I agree, her content is always great.

      I am very happy that our prints have gone global too, the popular conception is that African designs are primarily created from ankara fabric or ethnic prints, it’s quite restricting and limits the sphere.

      The designers that Biki interviewed have made garments that reflect African-ness in an exquisite way without being ankara based.

      Deola Sagoe, for example, does wonderful things with aso-oke, her structured pieces in plain fabrics are like art.

      Thank you so much for visiting, I really loved reading your comment. 🙂

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  12. Yay! Thanks so much for the support Nedu, I have a big, actually scrap that-MASSIVE- smile on my face…and likening the African fashion/Ankara thang to PJF is pure genius! Wishing you a lovely weekend hon. X And p.s by you writing about your design pieces, taking pics in them etc, it makes you toooootally one of the nuts and bolts in fashion’s wheel! ( :

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Hi Biki,

      You are most welcome, you did a great job, well done!

      Lol… PJR was the most fitting comparison that came to my mind.

      I suppose it does, in a behind-the-scenes wheel type of way. 😀

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  14. Rice cooked in tomato sauce doesn’t automatically make it Jollof rice: cold, hard facts. 😂😂😂😂😂 Thanks for clip; can’t wait to check it out. (By the way, due to a new allergy, I can no longer eat tomatoes. Meaning no more Jollof rice. Meaning I’m throwing myself off the nearest mountain. Goodbye, cruel world…)

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      2. Yes, I started getting swelling in my lips and face, itching, etc. They thought it was a host of things before I went to an allergist who asked me if I ate tomatoes. And I was like, yes, almost every day (African family; we ate stew almost every evening!). And she replied that the most agitated part of my skin on the test was for tomato. So I stopped eating stew, ketchup, my beloved Jollof–and the swelling and allergic reactions stopped. So I’m sure it’s related to the acidity. Sigh…

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