About the fashion designers Abai Schulze

ZAAF is a collection of handcrafted luxury leather handbags and accessories produced by artisans in Ethiopia. Each piece is made to exacting standards and showcases beautiful craftsmanship and natural resources unique to the region it draws its inspiration from. ZAAF is a word that means tree in the ancient and noble Amharic language. orn in a remote !illage in the Ethiopian pro!ince of "ollo# ZAAF$s creati!e designer# Abai# reflects deep influences that span from the countryside to the capitals of the world where she has li!ed and studied. %er life &ourney has ta'en her from an orphanage in Addis Ababa to the (nited )tates and the rest of the world# and bac' to Ethiopia. )he is committed to using her bac'ground in economics and fine arts to create unique and practical expressions of beauty# and to open a!enues of opportunity for talented artisans in Ethiopia and the rest of Africa. ZAAF products are made from the finest materials beautifully integrated with ageless patterns created on traditional looms. %er designs draw upon precious cultural relics and allow them renewed expression through fresh# uplifting# modern designs. *olor# texture# and form merge to create a discrete statement of elegance and practicality for those who are at home in the world. ZAAF belie!es in exercising a !ery high standard for goods and products sourced from Ethiopia to produce a distinct statement of sophistication and functionality for our customers.

Thula Sindi-South Africa

+hula )indi is a ,--. graduate of the /ational )chool of the Arts in 0ohannesburg and of later of 1ondon international school of fashion. %e started his career first2 as head designer at 3utch textile company 4lisco the day after he graduated and shortly after showed at )outh African fashion "ee' 5)AF"6 in ,--7. 8n February ,--9 +hula started de!eloping his own range# which hit the runway at )AF" ,--9 since then +hula )indi has gone on to show his collections in %ong :ong# ei&ing# /ew ;or' #1agos# <aris and many other cities across the globe. +hula produces his effortlessly elegant women=s wear from his 0ohannesburg headquarters... retailing in !arious boutiques in )outh Africa# Angola# the (: 1ondon and online at www.style>9.co.?a and www.thulasindi.com

Taibo Bacar-Mozambique

+aibo acar was born in @o?ambique in .AB7 and originally studied 8nformation +echnologies. +he son of a seamstress# acar grew up around the sounds of sewing machines# fabrics and the design s'etches that he drew for some of his mother$s clients. acar who later studied 3esign and pattern cutting at 8nstituto @arangoni in )pain launched his +aibo acar brand in ,--C. +oday +aibo acar brand has two simultaneous lines in each collectionD + 5prEt2a2porter6 and +A8 F A*AG couture 5high fashion6. "ebsiteD httpDHHwww.taibobacar.com

Kibonen-Cameroon

:ibonen/; is the brain child of *ameroonian designer :ibonen /fi. 8nspired by traditional *ameroonian garments# "est African fabric and /ew ;or'$s !ibrant fashion scene# :ibonen del!ed into fashion by de!eloping a label which actuali?es her !ision as a designer. :/; came up with the inno!ati!e and indigenous idea of ma'ing the most delicate and intricate hand embroidered traditional garments I+oghuI more contemporary. :ibonen/; creates sensual clothing# accessories and footwear to fit fashionable lifestyle. After reali?ing the potential that ethical fashion could pro!ide# :ibonen/; together with some partners formed the *ameroon Fashion Association of America and instigated the startup of an ethical factory# @ade 8n *amer *lothing and Accessories Fair +rade @anufacturing in amenda# *ameroon. "ebsiteD httpDHH'ibonenny.comH

Chouchou Lazare-Gabon

1a?are :ombila# popularly 'nown as *houchou 1a?are# disco!ered his lo!e for fashion as a child# while wor'ing on a dress2s'etch inspired by his mother# who was a seamstress at the time. %owe!er it was not until he graduated from high school that his career too' off. +he self2taught designer later got an opportunity to wor' with famed /igerien designer# Alphadi as an intern# gi!ing him access to one of the continent=s most successful designers. +oday 1a?are who is famous for his e!ening outfits# that combines luxurious 8talian and French sil'# soft cotton and intricate embroidery# as well as !arious African fabrics# says he is inspired to create from the world around him.

Sindiso Khumalo- South Africa

)8/38)F :%(@A1F is a womenswear brand with a strong focus on contemporary textile design. )he studied Architecture at (ni!ersity of *ape +own before mo!ing to 1ondon to wor' for award winning architect 3a!id Ad&aye. Following that she went on to study an @A 3esign for +extile Futures at *entral )t @artins *ollege of Art and 3esign# graduating with a distinction for her final pro&ect. 8n Fctober ,-., she was shortlisted for the Elle @aga?ine Gising )tar *ompetition and showcased her debut )).> collection at the Awards. 8n February ,-.># her Aretha 3ress was nominated for @ost eautiful Fb&ect in )outh Africa by the 3esign 8ndaba *ape +own. )he wor's with /JF=s in !arious parts of the world in de!eloping new textiles for her collections. Gecently her A".> collection was showcased in <aris at 1aboethni' Fashion "ee'end. "ebsiteD httpDHHwww.sindiso'humalo.comH

MaXhosa b Laduma- South Africa

@aKhosa by 1aduma is a distincti!e 'nitwear brand that is rooted in 1aduma /gxo'olo$s &ourney into creating Khosa2inspired 'nitwear. (sing traditional Khosa beadwor' motifs and patterns# @aKhosa celebrates the rich heritage of the Khosa culture through pro!iding traditional clothing for Khosa initiation rituals. +he creations are modern# yet culturally rele!ant and bring Khosa aesthetics into any attire. @aKhosa by 1aduma is proudly 'nitted in )outh Africa with )outh African mohair and merino wool.

!atience Torlo"ei - #igeria

<atience +orlowei launched her first line in ,--9 with <atience +orlowei 4 A# a bridal wear company. +wo years later# in ,--B# the company added a lingerie line# the first lingerie manufacturer in /igeria. Founded on the ethos of nothing less than the best# <atience <lease and <atience +orlowei items only use the finest of materials from the softest sil's to the most dentelle de *alais.

Mushana- $SA% $ganda

@ushana was founded by Angela +ucci Gobinson in ,--A with the !ision of building lasting bonds through ethical consumerism# and creating a lifestyle brand that would allow artisan women in communities in (ganda to connect with consumers in the (.). Angela desired to create sustainable li!es from sustainable products. "anting to find a way to ma'e a lasting difference# she became in!ol!ed through a charitable relationship with an orphanage and A83) widow community. Angela$s initial financial support for this !illage led to the de!elopment of @ushana# which means sun in (ganda. "ebsiteD www.mushana.com

Kenema- Sierra Leone

:enema is a 1ondon2based fashion brand that uses traditional African textiles and wax cotton to create modern style. +he brand is representati!e of its founder +amu +homas$ experience of life as a .st generation 1ondoner of "est African parentage. 8t is a combination of 1ondon$s !arious cultural influences from language to music with roots steeped in "est African tradition. :enema is a socially conscious brand sourcing fabric in "est Africa ethically# supporting pro&ects that promote female entrepreneurship# education for women and pro&ects that ha!e a direct impact on local communities in )ierra 1eone. "ebsiteD httpDHHwww.'enemaco.comH