Proud To Be African Clothing product launch in London

International Thu 21-07-2011

Proud To Be African Clothing product launch in London
Press release | Proud To Be African Clothing

New African designed Urban Clothing Brand Launches in London. Proud to be African Clothing announced the launch of their First summer collection on the 18th of July with a 10% off offer for all customers.

Female T-shirt

Proud To Be African Clothing was founded in London in December 2010 to showcase the beauty of African design and African clothing. Founder Chidi Nwaonu explained the rationale behind the brand.

He explained that whenever anyone see’s images from Africa in the media the images are generally negative, however this is a different reality from the Africa that he and others grew up in. He also related to his experience last year when he saw a presentation by Chimamanda Adichie to TED on the ‘The Dangers of a single story‘.

It covered the same points about the dangers of seeing a situation from only one perspective, so he resolved to put his money where his mouth is and put out a product that carried a positive message of Africa everyone could wear and relate to, that gave the other side of the story.

casual hoody

The initial summer collection consists of designs from renowned artist and poet Inua Ellams and eminent cartoonist Tayo Fatunla.

Inua says “When I was asked to design for the project, I searched for a single iconic image to pair with the slogan 'Proud to be African'. But nothing besides the continent worked, confirming my belief that Africa is beyond a single story or concept and its narrative is beyond the sum of its parts”.

Male black T-shirt

This viewpoint is reflected in his designs one of which was eventually used as the 'Proud To Be African' logo bringing together impressions of traditional African masks and tribal patterning.

His other design is based on the theme ‘Born in the UK, Made in Africa’. “The brief essentially was to capture the reality and emotions that that statement conveys” said Chidi, “it’s essentially the modern diasporan African’s way of rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and to Africa what is Africa’s!”

Male white T-shirt

Tayo’s drawing showed his Nigerian bias and was inspired by iconic images from Nigerian history and culture with a brief to visually represent the slogan ‘Proud To Be African’, in his own words, “ Sketching this iconic posture has to date been one of my favourite drawings in its simplicity. The effect around his hands is my interpretation of Black Power”

casual hoody

Proud to be African Clothing’s first collection consists of 3 designs on male and female T-shirts, unisex hoody’s, children’s T-shirts and babies’ bodysuits.

The T-shirts are made from 100% reactive dyed cotton; the male T-shirts have a crew neck style while the female T-shirts have shaped side seams to give an exquisite flattering fit. The baby’s and children’s clothing is made from 100% organic ethical cotton and fits kids from 0-18 months (for body suits) and 2 to 12 years (for T-shirts)

baby bodysuit

The garments are priced competitively in order to spread the 'Proud To Be African' message as far as possible and also move African designs into the realm of urbanwear.

The designers and founders hope that the African themed designs will find their niche not just in African fashion,but in ethical, hip hop and casual wear.

Female White T-shirt

With Proud To Be African Clothing, the message is the product and the product is the message!

Proud To Be African Clothing's garments are ideal as a gift for friends or loved ones or as a little treat for yourself, until 1st October 2011, customers can get 10% off all purchases using the discount code ‘Nigeria50’

Contact Address:

Chidi Nwaonu
PTBA
Michin Trading and Investments Ltd
601 International House,
223 Regent Street,
London,
W1B 2QD.

Email: info@proudtobeafrican.co.uk
Website: www.proudtobeafrican.co.uk
Phone: (+44) 787 8955102
Facebook: Proud To Be African Clothing
Twitter: Proud2BNigerian

Posted By: Clara Mbithi

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