This year’s Arise Africa Fashion Week was yet another success and it seems that African fashion could be on the rise. There are certainly lots of African-inspired pieces in the Annie Haak 2012 silver jewellery collection to choose from.

 

After starting in Cape Town in 1999, this year’s event took place in Lagos, Nigeria, and was such a huge success that organisers plan to make Lagos a regular location for the Fashion Week with the aim of putting African style on the map. Event organiser Penny McDonald commented:

 

"You've got Milan, London, New York and Paris. Why not Lagos?...We've been invited to showcase in New York, and to return to Cape Town and other places, but there's such an appetite for fashion in Lagos that we were comfortable with a vision for making this the fifth fashion capital of the world."

 

The 2012 African Fashion Week started a fashionable two days late and, from more than 70 African-based talents, five were selected to show their designs at next year’s New York Fashion Week. Winners included Tiffany Amber, who has shown in New York before, and Ozwald Boateng, the first black designer to open a shop in London’s Savile Row.  

 

Designers and fashion lovers travelled from all over Africa, but it wasn’t just about animal prints and tribal patterns. Long-legged models strode the catwalks in sheer suits adorned with frills for a stylish edge. However, clothes inspired by African traditions did make an appearance and Kinabut’s designs featured miniature native corals woven into the fabric.

 

Annie Haak Designs has some gorgeous sterling silver jewellery featuring coral that would coordinate fabulously with Kinabut’s creations. Our Limited Edition Sama Fire Silver and Red Coral Bracelet is a stunning set of three sterling silver charm bracelets with fiery red sponge coral and sterling silver tubes, beads and charms.  Alternatively, if you’re looking to channel that African look with something a little less bright and bold we also do the stunning Sama Pure Silver and White Coral Live Well Bracelet, which has been featured in You Magazine!

 

Despite a few technical glitches with power supplies and problems with the local textiles industry, Arise Africa revealed how the continent's fashion industry could grow.

 

"Talent doesn't have any boundaries. [To be an] African designer is just where you're from. I don't see myself as any less privileged just because I'm based in Nigeria," explained celebrated African designer Tiffany Amber and Alek Wek, one of the first black women to rise to supermodel stardom, added:

 

"African fashion isn't just one thing, just like there are many different African beauties out there. It's an aesthetic, it's the music, the energy and colours,"

 

In response, top sterling silver jewellery designer Annie Haak says: “We love the vibrancy of African culture and love to reflect this in our jewellery designs. We can’t wait to see more from Arise Africa and we’ll be looking out for trends created by emerging new talents to inspire our jewellery collections going forward.”