President Barack Obama has inspired some interesting and unique fashions in Africa. Because of President Obama's Luo (Kenyan) roots, African fashion designers are designing fashions to commerate his historic presidency.
One designer is Lola Faturoti a Nigerian fashion designer originally from Ondo, Nigeria. Lola is the daughter and granddaughter of tribal chiefs and is heavily influenced by her African heritage and personal experiences. Faturoti's grandmother was a designer and had Lola picking out seams when Lola would have rather been playing with her friends. Adding to Faturoti's interest in fashion was her mother. Her mother did a lot of traveling to London and New York and brought back a lot of clothes for Lola to wear.Lola Faturoti studied in London and moved to New York in the early 1990's. She worked in the trendy Charivari boutique where Barbara Weiser, the president of the company, took notice of Faturoti's unique style and helped her launch her first fashion collection. This collection brought Lola and her designs into the international spotlight.
In February 2000, Faturoti upstaged and stole headlines from Ralph Lauren by conducting a fashion show directly across the street for the people leaving his fashion show. Lola Faturoti has created a dress commemorating the election of President Barack Obama. The dress is a one of a kind print created by Faturoti based on Kente cloth designs. Kente cloth is worn by people of the Ashante tribe in Ghana for celebrations. The roots of Kente cloth date back as early as 3000 B.C.
The Obama commerorative dress features a picture of President Obama with the words "Oluwa gba President Barack Obama" meaning "God bless President Barack Obama" in Yoruba. The dress is made of 100% silk jacquard with solid black chiffon hem panel and v-style chiffon neckline with a tassle.
Lola Faturoti's Obama Commemerative Dress is available exclusively at ShopCurious.com where you can also buy several of her other designs including her icon tank she is wearing above. The silhouette is actually the silhouette of Lola's own head created into an African mask-like style.
Lola Faturoti also has her own website located at LolaFaturoti.com where you can view her entire collection. Lola's designs are sold in shops around the world. These shop are listed on her website as well.
