FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New African designed Urban Clothing Brand Launches in London


 
Proud to be African Clothing announces the launch of their first collection. Proud To Be African Clothing was founded in London in December 2010 to showcase the beauty of African design and African clothing. 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 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 (T shirts).

Founder, Chidi explained the rationale behind the brand “Whenever one see’s images from Africa in the media the images are generally negative. However, this is a different reality from the Africa that I and others grew up in. Last year I saw a presentation by Chimamanda Adichie to TED on the ‘The Dangers of a single story ‘which covered exactly the same points about the dangers of seeing a situation from only one perspective, so I resolved to put my money where my 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” The initial summer collection consists of designs from renowned artist and poet, Inua Ellams (www.phaze05.com) and eminent cartoonist, Tayo Fatunla (www.tayofatunla.com).

Inua say’s “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 continent worked, confirming my belief that Africa is beyond a single story or concept and its narrative is beyond the sum of its parts”.  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 Caesars and to Africa what is Africa’s!”

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”. 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. 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’

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

Email: info@proudtobeafrican.co.uk

Website: http://www.proudtobeafrican.co.uk

Phone: 07878955102

Facebook: Proud To Be African Clothing

Twitter: Proud2BNigerian

Proud To Be African Clothing

http://proudtobeafrican.co.uk/

http://www.facebook.com/ProudToBeAfrican

Share Your Thoughts for the Day – Attitude

~ Vincent Brown Jr.

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will.
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are out classed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of your-self before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

Ministering Through Music – Falu Phalu

~ Princess Asha Okojie

For more than eleven years now, Christian musician Falu Phalu has been an integral, innovative and uncompromising part of ministering through music. “As a young musician I wonder, where my music comes from?” says Falu Phalu. “I’ve become a bit of a historian of Jazz and World-music genre, listening to music from across the globe. With the gift God has placed in me and the view I have of Him as a pioneer of all things and creator I strive to be like Him in such ways by reforming the known and bringing familiar things together to make the music that I would like to see happen.” He started his musical education learning to play the drums at the young age of seven and picked up other instruments in his later teenage years : the Piano, Guitar, Upright bass, Djembe and other percussions. His native Nigerian formative years found him firmly rooted in many different musical traditions, making him very fond of jazz, soul, blues, Latin Putumayo, and classical music. Right now touring, ministering and performing as an artist with very unconventional musical deliverance, Falu Phalu is out to keep bringing the unusual that we all enjoy to God’s glory. Falu pays homage to God whose masterful works of creation inspired his development as one diverse music performer creating his own style of Acoustic, jazz influenced, pop hint music with Pan African rhythms and soulful singing sometimes fused with rap. Former member of a young Christian group known as O3 (Chosen Okonrende, Miss Ree, Falu Phalu) and a pioneer of Acoustic rap, Falu Phalu reaches back to the primary sources of jazz and soul music to create his personal and spiritual interpretations of classic performers of the past and present. For example, some of his influences are Jim Reeves, Louis Armstrong, Jimmy Needham, Mali Music, Sam Cooke, Jason Mraz and Esperanza Spalding. While exploring and expressing himself through music, Falu Phalu acknowledges his own key role striving to carry on these powerful legacies by creating a distinct style to hopefully touch lives.

Falu Phalu will be performing at ATVA Center, Houston, Texas 05/29/2011 @ 6pm-9.pm. For more information email: dreamweaversentertainment@yahoo.com

Share Your Thoughts for the Day – Comfort Zone

~ Vincent Brown Sr.

I used to have a comfort zone
where I knew I wouldn’t fail.
The same four walls and busywork
were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you’re in a comfort zone,
afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.

Reach for your future with a smile; success is there for you!

Share Your Thoughts of The Day – Promise Yourself

~ Vincent Brown Jr.

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel like there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living person you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too strong for fear, and to happy to permit the presence of trouble.