Fashion: Mimi Plange

I was looking for some in-depth info concerning designers of Ghanaian origin who showed at this years Arise fashion Week in Nigeria when I stumbled across a piece about Mimi Plange, uber new to Ghana Rising’s radar via the Shadders website. Incredibly talented, Mimi Plange designs are coveted by fashion insiders, and American Vogue’s André Leon Talley’s a fan. The above collection is called ‘Scarred Perfection’ and was presented as part of Mimi Plange’s A/W 2011 Presentation at NYFW. For more information about Ghana Rising’s latest label crush visit: http://mimiplange.com/

You can also check out the Shadders website, an excellent fashion blog at: http://www.shadders.net/

Edward Enninful in 'The September Issue'

The September Issue is about the inner workings of the september 2007 issue of American Vogue!! I love Anna Wintour [she is living my life. Give it back Anna hehehe] and off cause there is a lovely little scene with one of best Fashion stylist of all times [ and my very favourite] -our very own Edward Enninful. The scene is soo funny [I love that brother]....xx

Doing 'real' charity with 'real' style: Lisa Lovatt Smith

Lisa Lovatt-Smith with Damon Dash and Rachel Roy


Lisa Lovatt Smith and Mr Francis Hurtut [French Ambassador in Ghana]
Lisa Lovatt-Smith and Marcel Desailly
"Our policy, in line with UNICEF guidelines, is to avoid institutional care whenever possible. We believe that the family is the structure most suitable for providing care for children. International research has proven that consigning children to orphanages for long term care can be detrimental to their development and does not respect a child’s basic rights...............Children may be placed in orphanages after loosing a parent, despite having family members who want to care for them but lack the means to do so. Orphanages often represent access to food, clothing, and education, when what really should be done, is make these necessities accessible in the local villages and communities. When an orphanage is treated as the principal solution, it can hinder the incentive for the local population to address the orphan problem and at the same time channel resources into making better orphanages, which encourages parents and families to abandon their children for lack of a better alternative. For all these reasons we channel our resources into supporting families and encouraging family and foster care as opposed to orphanage care for vulnerable children." OrphanAid Africa

A touching piece by uber fashionista, Rachel Roy, -in the May issue of American Vogue,-struck a cord. Moving and inspirational, -Rachel talks about her trip to Ghana -for the United Nations to participate in a fashion show, -benefiting their World Food Program in Accra. She talks about taking her daughter -Ava, who, -like her mother was greatly effected by this humbling trip. Shopping, sleeping off her jet lag on the beach and collecting unique seashell, -Rachel then mentions, an orphanage [that her friend had told her about] called OA (OrphanAid Africa), -run by Lisa Lovatt-Smith. Well, I just had to google her.

Lisa Lovatt-Smith is a 'tour de force'. A mother and author [she wrote 'Paris Interiors' and 'London Living'], -and the hard working founder of, -OrphanAid Africa (OA), this ex Vogue editor -is tireless. Born in 1967 in Barcelona of British parents, Lisa is a well connected, glamorous fashionista, -with a heart of gold. Lisa is passionate about -how to raise orphans [and I totally agree with her philosophy, -'that orphans left in orphanages are not nurtured and that prolong time spent in theses institutions -can be detrimental to their development'] -and thus started, OrphanAid Africa [a NGO that offers support 'to strengthen families and communities so they can care for their own children']. Lisa's OrphanAid Africa works tirelessly to keep families together -enabling extended families to look after orphans -who would otherwise be left in institutions, -sometimes not receiving good care. They also help to send children to school, help mothers and protect children by -transforming their lives. Ghana Rising would like to take this opportunity to thank Lisa Lovatt-Smith, for her tireless work and incredible contribution to Ghana. For more information on OrphanAid Africa or to donate, please visit: http://www.oafrica.org/

Black Star: Edward Enninful

If you're a fashion gal like me -you will already know, this iconoclastic, superordinate doyenne of the fashion world, -stylist Edward Enninful (above with fellow fashionista and uber Vogue stylist -Grace Coddington). Born in Ghana and known for his beautiful, innovate editorial work -and for working with others fashion greats -like hairstylist Guido and uber make-up artist Pat McGrath -Edward was destined for greatness. This trailblazer was appointed fashion director of uber fashion magazine, i-D at the age of 18, and instantly became the youngest editor of an international glossy (a title he still holds today) -and presently, works as contributing editor at Italian Vogue (Mr Enninful was the stylist behind Italian Vogue's 'Black Issue'), L'uomo Vogue and American Vogue. Edward has worked for the best and is arguably the most sort after fashion stylist on the planet and is the, go-to-guy for runway presentations and advertising campaigns (Dolce And Gabbana, Jil Sander, Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Missoni, Anna Molinari Blumarine, Allessandro Del'acqua, H by Hilfiger, Aquascutum and Commes Des Garcons, and beauty giants like -Lancome, Covergirl and M.A.C). Kudos Edward...

(The photograph above is of supermodel Gisele and top male model Jamie Dornan, in Aquascutum's A/W 08 campaign -shot by Michael Thompson and styled by Edward Enninful)

(The 'Sept 08' cover of i-D -features the beautiful, Jourdan Dunn and was created by Photographer Emma Summerton, styled by Edward Enninful -with hairstylist Sam McKnight and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury)

(The 'Dec 07' cover of Italian Vogue -features the lovely Lara Stone and was created by Photographer Steven Meisel and styled by Edward Enninful)