{"id":10420,"date":"2014-12-02T14:28:51","date_gmt":"2014-12-02T18:28:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/newyork\/?p=10420"},"modified":"2018-06-25T21:02:55","modified_gmt":"2018-06-26T01:02:55","slug":"afro-punk-inspired-menswear-collection-by-kiko-romeo-at-mercedes-benz-fashion-week-africa-and-3-powerful-messages-sent-about-africas-dna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/afro-punk-inspired-menswear-collection-by-kiko-romeo-at-mercedes-benz-fashion-week-africa-and-3-powerful-messages-sent-about-africas-dna\/","title":{"rendered":"Afro Punk Inspired Menswear Collection by Kiko Romeo at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (Africa) and 3 Powerful Messages Sent About Africa&#8217;s DNA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4YW06NYGyOE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Ann McCreath, the managing director and head designer of the fashion brand\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/newyork\/tag\/kikoromeo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kiko Romeo,<\/a>\u00a0showcased on day three of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (Africa), hosted by African Fashion International \u2013 AFI, at the Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, South Africa from October 29th \u00a0&#8211; November 1st 2014.<\/p>\n<p>The DNA of the African Fashion Industry is quickly being decoded by designers like Ann McCreath, who with her menswear collection &#8212; a la Afro-punk &#8212; told a different African story.<\/p>\n<p>The fashion delivered on the runway was diverse, incorporating subtle and some dramatic use of traditional patterns and symbols, sending a message and \u00a0telling a story adaptive to global consumer taste and trends.<\/p>\n<p>Here are three clear-cut messages that her collection and brand sends us about Africa\u2019s growing fashion industry:<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1AzpqonkdwdshGWqxWx-HuZxg5o41fQSAki91u5JrcEY\/edit#heading=h.521dz38spyav\"><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><strong>1. FASHION FROM THE CONTINENT IS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE &amp;\u00a0<\/strong><b>CONSCIOUS<\/b><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg\" rel=\"mfp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12410 alignleft lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"580\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg 387w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-225x337.jpg 225w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/20-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-20x30.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" \/><\/a>Ann McCreath is known for producing fashion collections that incorporate community trade materials, and using fashion shows to send powerful messages about the continent.\u00a0At Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa, the Kenyan fashion line opened with Sanele, a model with albinism, wearing a sweatshirt with the slogan \u201cIt\u2019s in my DNA\u201d etched on the front.\u00a0The opening was layered with meaning, as Ann McCreath disrobed the intentions behind her show\u2019s opening, stating that many years ago she was challenged by Lupita Nyong\u2019o to put people with albinism on the runway, ensuring that they also be seen as beautiful. \u00a0McCreath wanted to contribute to the reduction of stigmatism around albinism\u2014 in Kenya, a movement Oscar winner Lupita is known for.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>2. FASHION FROM THE CONTINENT HAS GLOBAL APPEAL<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/22-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg\" rel=\"mfp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12411 alignleft lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/22-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"580\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/22-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg 387w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/22-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/22-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-225x337.jpg 225w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/22-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-20x30.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" \/><\/a>The 10th\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/afropunk\">Afro-Punk<\/a> Festival a few months ago was covered by the likes of Vogue, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.toovia.com\/lists\/19-reasons-why-we-can-t-stop-talking-about-afropunk-2014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Toovia<\/a>, and other media platforms &#8211; a two-day celebration of the music and culture of the black alternative set.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The movement continues to grow. And the participation of black people globally in the punk and alternative music culture also continues to grow.<\/p>\n<p>Ann McCreath\u2019s use of Afro-punk as an inspiration for her collection is proof that designers from the continent can identify with global movements, and appeal to growing trends.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><strong>3. FASHION FROM THE AFRICA IS AN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY (YEAH, PUT IT IN THE BAG)\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/19-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg\" rel=\"mfp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12412 alignleft lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/19-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"387\" height=\"580\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/19-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108.jpg 387w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/19-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/19-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-225x337.jpg 225w, https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/19-MBFWA-KikoRomeo-Africa-Fashion-Week-1108-20x30.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 387px) 100vw, 387px\" \/><\/a>There are many black consumer segments (globally and locally), and I don\u2019t expect every investor or perspective sponsors to understand the nuance of each subgroup. \u00a0However, with so many culturally infused movements occurring daily in local markets, companies can begin to use each global black network and movement in their local arenas to study and also identify investment opportunities.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kiko Romeo is a brand that has made her presence known in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2011\/WORLD\/africa\/07\/27\/africa.fashion.new.york\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York\u2019s edition of Africa Fashion Week,<\/a> and has also created fashion platforms on the continent such as \u00a0Festival for African Fashion and Arts, and showcased at other Africa Fashion Weeks, such as Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (Africa).<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong><img class=\"ngg_displayed_gallery mceItem lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/newyork\/nextgen-attach_to_post\/preview\/id--10465\" alt=\"\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ann McCreath, the managing director and head designer of the fashion brand\u00a0Kiko Romeo,\u00a0showcased on day three of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (Africa), hosted by African Fashion International \u2013 AFI, at the Melrose Arch in Johannesburg, South Africa from October 29th \u00a0&#8211; November 1st 2014. The DNA of the African Fashion Industry is quickly being decoded&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12413,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[72,73,75],"tags":[2875,136,1019,2876,90,2877,2878,2030,2879,535,2880,86,2881,146,2882,915,916,186,2883,2090,133,2884,2885,2886,2887],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10420"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10420"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12414,"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10420\/revisions\/12414"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashionweek.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}