Pretty In Print: 5 African-Inspired Pieces To Spice Up Spring

 

The transition between winter and spring becomes a fashion lover’s dream when you mix in fab prints from Africa’s hottest designers and the global brands that take cues from the continent. Mix and match these key pieces with well-tailored basics, and you’ll be ready for all the season brings you.

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1. All Capulana Everything

Our favorite version of this ubiquitous print from Mozambique (pictured above) comes  from designer Tabo Bacar. Pair these tailored looks with denim for a mixed chic look, or dress them up with heels for date night or a boozy brunch. Visit sahelle.com for a few items from the collection.

2. From Africa to Spain

Spanish brand Zara has taken inspiration from across the Gibraltar for its Summer 2014 line. This ready-to-wear collection is as affordable as it is chic. You can pick up a few pieces now while they last at zara.com.

 

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3. Duru Olowu Does It Again

If you can get your hands on this dress from Duru’s Summer 2014 collection you will “own” any garden party you enter — or at least look the part. Pair it with fierce sunnies and a belt of your choosing and you will leave a trail of summer suitors behind you (if you haven’t already chosen one!).

4. Ankara Always

 We couldn’t leave an Ankara print off of the list! These hotpants in bright Ankara hues are perfect for the warmer days of spring. Wedges, a clean white tank, and a statement necklace are perfect to pair. We stumbled across these in the Kwanza Inspiration shop on etsy.com.

5. Ethical Clothing Lines

Mohadnik out of the DRC has lots of sunshine-inspired hues to block out the remaining bits of winter gray in your wardrobe. The designer of “Project Runway” fame met rave reviews on the Harlem catwalks of New York Fashion Week and the collection’s casual mix of airy, feminine silhouettes in minimalist prints are perfect for the season.

Cherae Robinson is a self-described “passport stamp collector” and has traveled to nearly 30 countries, 8 of them on the African continent. In 2012 she realized one of her biggest dreams when she took 80 young professionals to Africa and founded the Afripolitans, a collective of professionals interested in creating a stronger narrative on Africa through commerce, connections, and creativity. Committed to being a “Game-Changer” in how the world sees Africa, Ms. Robinson’s vision has revealed itself in the creation of her first independent venture Rare Customs, a tourism market development firm.

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