Fashion in the African Diaspora - Stories

Fashion History Minor: American Royalty Stephen Burrows

Meet American fashion designer Stephen Burrows, who was the first African-American to achieve international acclaim in the 1970s.

FashionPROTOChic TeamNovember 1, 2018Fashion History Minor, Fashion, Step, Robin Givhan, 1970, Bethann Hardison, Pat Cleveland

The Age of the Black Model

We are beyond pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibition The Inverse Color Perspective: The Age of the Black Model by artist Freddie L. Rankin II that captures 42 black models from throughout the diaspora behind the scenes of fashion weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris.

Cushnie's Spring / Summer 2019 Soars Solo

It is safe to say there was some pressure for CEO and Creative Director Carly Cushnie, who took control of her 10-year old brand, now known as CUSHNIE, after separating ways with her co-founder Michelle Ochs eight months ago.

Celebrate Nigerian Pride with 5 Best Loved Designers from the African Diaspora

All over the world Nigerians wave their flag in honor of Nigeria’s 58th year of independence. Cheers to another year full of revolutionary style from creative talents from throughout the diaspora.

FashionPROTOChic TeamOctober 1, 2018Nigeria, Kenneth Ize, XII Glover, Lisa Folawiyo, L'Enchanteur, I.AM.ISIGO, Bubu Ogisi

5 Gold Statement Jewelry Brands to Transform Your Fall Wardrobe

In want of hand sculpted jewelry inspired by the Fulani women of Northern Africa or the Akan tribe from Ivory Coast and Ghana? We’ve compiled our picks of the best gold statement jewelry brands inspired by African heritage.

Social Cues: Casual Cool Dominated London Fashion Week

With another London Fashion Week in the books, we had to round up our favorite looks from the week from Mayfair to Covent Garden.

Bonang Matheba’s New York Fashion Week Wardrobe is a Treat in Color Coordination

New York Fashion Week has come and gone, but all the looks worn by South African entertainer Bonang Matheba are still on the brain.

FashionPROTOChic TeamSeptember 19, 2018New York Fashion Week, Bonang Matheba, Coréon Dú, David Tlale, Style, LaQuan Smith, Telfar, H Diddy

Artist Simone Leigh Makes Meaning with Black Women in Mind

Thank you for blessing us. That was the refrain overheard by one patron to artist Simone Leigh at the opening of her highly anticipated exhibition at the Luhring Augustine Gallery in Chelsea.

Designers To Watch: ASHYA

Bolivia. Tenesar. Jamaica. These are just a few of the places the team behind contemporary brand ASHYA looks to for inspiration for their two-year old enterprise famously known for its luxurious leather belt bags.

FashionPROTOChic TeamSeptember 11, 2018Designers To Watch, ASHYA, Accessories, Art, Carl Van Vechten, Mona Annece, Ashley Cimone, CFDA

Sneak Peek at our New York Fashion Week Schedule

On the back of our recent announcement to expand into IRL programming this year, we want to give you a peek into the rest of our New York Fashion Week schedule. See below for our picks of SS19 runway shows, presentations, and performances.

Lagos Concept Store XII Glover Fills the Gap for African Millennials on Global Streetwear

They boast, "ONLY PLACE IN LAGOS TO COP LEGIT SUPREME, PALACE, PALM ANGELS, OFF-WHITE..." New concept store XII Glover is the latest to bring those labels to the fore with insiders right in Ikoyi.

FashionPROTOChic TeamSeptember 3, 2018Streetwear, Lagos, XII Glover, WFLSNCRM, Off-White, Nigeria, ALARA, Fashion, Most Popular, Supreme

PROTOChic Launches 'West Africa to the West'

We are proud to announce the launch of our latest initiative 'West Africa to the West,' a series focused on West African artisanal heritage and creative confidence connecting to a global consumer.

Creating Spaces with South African Artist Banele Khoza

Contemporary artist Banele Khoza opened his design workshop and art gallery BKhz Studio earlier this month at 68 Juta Street right off the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein.

CulturePROTOChic TeamAugust 30, 2018Banele Khoza, South Africa, Bkhz Studio, Johannesburg, Art

Homegrown Competition ALÁRA Awards to Honor African Designers

Last month, the Victoria Island based retailer announced a continent-wide search for exceptional talent across various categories in a newly launched Emerge ALÁRA Awards.

BusinessPROTOChic TeamAugust 7, 2018Maki Oh, Nigeria, Kenneth Ize, ALARA, Lagos, Reni Folawiyo

Gift Giving Goals with Post-Imperial

In honor of fathers and father figures to be celebrated worldwide on the third Sunday in June, PROTOChic rounds our favorite selects from Nigerian menswear label Post-Imperial.

CulturePROTOChic TeamJune 13, 2018Gift Giving Goals, Post-Imperial, Niyi Okuboyejo

Bubu Ogisi's Religious Revival Speaks to a New Generation

Celebrations were also in order for Nigerian designer Bubu Ogisi who unveiled an art installation of her Autumn / Winter 2018 collection in New York. The installation took the key pieces and her accompanying campaign images shot by the ocean to distill her creative process in its most pure form.

FashionPROTOChic TeamJune 11, 2018I.AM.ISIGO, Bubu Ogisi, Fall 2018, Nigeria, Pyer Moss, Fashion Week

Queen of Print Lisa Folawiyo Strikes Back

"All I want to do is create clothes that match up to the incredible beauty of all women," remarked designer Lisa Folawiyo on the set of her look book shoot for her latest collection.

FashionPROTOChic TeamMay 30, 2018Lisa Folawiyo, Nigeria, Fall 2018, Lagos, Editor's Picks

Thebe Magugu Perfects Unconventional Daywear with "Gender Studies"

PROTOChic chatted with Thebe Magugu last year, asking how the contemporary womenswear South African designer starts his day. That same sense of playfulness rang true in his Spring / Summer 2018 collection presented during South Africa Fashion Week.