Wednesday, October 3, 2012

CAMpreneur Sustainable Fashion Designer: Kibonen Nfi

Sustainable Fashion also called eco fashion, is a part of the growing design philosophy and trend of sustainability, the goal of which is to create a system which can be supported indefinitely in terms of environmentalism and social responsibility. Sustainable fashion is part of the larger trend of sustainable design where a product is created and produced with consideration to the environmental and social impact it may have throughout its total life span (Source: Wikipedia)

Keywords: Social, Impact, Responsibility, Sustainable!


Label: Kibonen NY

Designer: Kibonen Nfi




Location: New York, NY

 Meet our CAMpreneur Sustainable Fashion Designer, Ms. Kibonen Nfi...

Project: The Kibonen NY, Threads for a Cause Campaign



Why Sustainable Fashion?
For KibonenNY its just the best thing to do.
Figuring out a way of adding value to our culture definitely means creating jobs for the people who produce these items.


It really feels good when we do what we love and at the same time helping people improve the quality of their lives and adding in the little way we can to make the world a better place. Thats why it just had to be a sustainable business. I belong to a non profit organization www.jci.cc and i just love the impact it has on communities. I have learnt that the importance of helping the community makes us become who we are.

 JCI Event

 Fair Trade Dresses

 Please tell us about the Projects and Initiatives you have been involved in?
Over the past few years iIhave been building the foundation of a non profit organization. iI a co-founder the Cameroon Fashion Industry Association of America. The aim of this organization is to help develop the fashion scene in Cameroon at various levels. I am so excited about this as we have succeeded in building a great team and we have projects lined up to execute for next year.


This is my biggest baby right now. Through this organisation we brought a couple of designers from Cameroon to be a part of the Africa Fashion Week in NY which took place in July 2012. This same organization is the architect behind KibonenNY being present to represent Cameroon at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in SA.
We initiated the Super Model Search Competition in Cameroon which will take place next year.
We are working on a fashion boothcamp to take place in Cameroon sometime next year
 

We set up the Made in Camer Production unit in Cameroon which is a fairtrade production center based in Bamenda, Cameroon. Made in Camer also has a sales outlet in New York where products from this center is sold and products from other designers from Cameroon
Besides elaboration and carrying out projects for my non profit i am actively working on my fashion brand as i aim to franchise all stereotypes and barriers to be a premium fashion designer.



Describe Kibonen NY? 
Kibonen NY is a fresh brand that just basically strives to project the freshness of African fashion, producing sensual Garments with with a modern fusion. We aim to capture that smooth lifestyle and instill more value in our clients by making them contribute to the betterment of the world in a very subtle way. At the same time this brand is a Cameroonian brand that continuously puts Cameroons pride in Culture at the forefront and n the fashion map. 



What should we expect from your brand?
Expect nothing but the best since this is just the beginning. We have amazing plans for this brand and i will ask you to stay tuned first to see what Mercedes Benz Fashion Week SA will look like.





 How did it all start ? Kibs in Fashion World....
When we discovered the value of the "toghu"  we delved in to exploiting it and presenting it to the world. I did not realise how much of a sensation it was going to be. I am truly happy and proud it is gaining grounds and imposing itself as a distinct style in African fashion.  





What is this Campaign about? Threads for a Cause...
When I started fashion my first ever fashion show was wrapped around a charity cause hence it was named "Threads for a Cause". My project is entangled with my social responsibility cause and helping me build my brand is helping me move ahead in the cause of helping alleviate poverty in Cameroon by providing opportunities for the people less privileged that i am to further develop and exploit their competence through more valued productions.


This campaign is to help Kibonen NY be able to take care of the logistics to be present at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa and also help improve on our production facilities and be better prepared for the challenges that a major exposure like this will bring.
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Africa is the largest and most industry standard fashion event in Africa and i will be one of the few Cameroonian designers to grace this platform. It is a huge honor for me and I need you all to make it. It is at a point where it is not about me it is about US.


Pictures Courtesy of FE Photography & Kibonen NY.

OK people, support a sister with a great cause to life, Threads For A Cause....Thumbs up Kibs. Keep up the great work of flying the Green, Red, Yellow flag high. All the best in your new venture...




Y.M.

IRepCamer



Thursday, September 27, 2012

INTRODUCING....... AJU B COUTURE



  • Did Someone say there is an Ankara Invasion? Ankaranista Afropolitan all the way!

    Introducing......

    Label: Aju B Couture

    Designer: Nancy Sieno

    Location: Bamenda, Yaounde, Cameroon

    In 3 words: Sexy, Edgy, African!











    A  recent graduate of the University of Buea, Nancy  conceived, sketched and sewed her own "out of the box" designs because she never really found what she liked around. Her decision to take it to the next level with Aju B came in July 2011 when she received lot of compliments on outfits aka "ashwabi" for a funeral service!When one door closes..another opens and may be for someone else huh!

    After receiving her degree in January, she decided it was time to turn her love for fashion into a brand...AJU B COUTURE!!She is currently working on her debut collection..but I love what I see soo far.....Edgy indeed!!

    I love this Ankara buttons necklace - Very Afropolitan..LOL!



    Lovely Ladies rocking their Aju B outfits!!












     Sahndra Fon Dufe  proudly reps' Camer in Aju B Couture




     @ Nigerian Entertainment Awards, 2012 - New York, NY


    Meeting with Isaiah Washington on her upcoming film, Yefon the Movie.

    Check out Aju B Couture on Facebook & Blogville!!

    Aju B Couture Facebook Page

    The Aju B's World  Blog


    Thumbs up Nancy...Keep doing your thing.Looking forward to my necklace and more...The Official release of your debut collection!!

    Y.M.
    IRepCamer

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

ANKARA INVASION: INTERIOR DESIGN 101

 The post was inspired by a feature on the Africa Prints in Fashion blog!
 I probably read about a new African designer every other day on an a blog by an African blogger or other.
With.....
Aldo's  popular Ankara wedges, celebrity appearances with African print outfits
Popular Ankaranista Label Boxing Kitten
Ozwald Boateng Ankara print suits @ NYFW
 Burberry's  SS 12 Collection (Every Ankaranista's Fantasy)
 Wall Street Journal Article..Out of Africa Into the Home
and much more....
It is safe to conclude that there is an "Ankara Invasion".

I went looking and it is amazing how much cool stuff there is out there..So my first Ankara Invasion post is "Interior Design 101"....Ankara  + Afro-inspired Style...

Ankara Interior Decor Inspiration Board...


 Here I a couple of sites with some really good ideas and online shops!

Houzz - South African Interior Design

OneThirdTribal

London Based lifestyle company, Eva Sonaike

Graylivin - Modern African Home

Home Edit African Themed Interior Design

Interior Design It Your Self - African Interior Design

Amazing Decoration - Decorate Yourself African Style


Ankara Interior Decor Inspiration Board - Afrocessories by JM Prempeh



 Pictures Courtesy of (Sources Listed Above)

Stay tuned for more "Ankara Invasion"..

Have a nice week

Y.M.
IRepCamer








Friday, September 21, 2012

MEDLEYS FOR THE WEEKEND BY ANITA ETTA....

Medleys for the weekend by Anita Etta...

Enjoy.....





http://www.anitaetta.com/


Totally Loving..Thumbs up Anita.

Have a nice weekend people..Enjoy the medleys!!

Y.M.
 IRepCamer

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

FACES & PLACES - JOSEPH ETA PHOTOGRAPHY!

I love pictures, pictures and more pictures.."A Picture is worth a 1000 words"....How true is that? It captures the moment...Time + Space + Freeze = Moment in Time!LOL

I am inspired this week by amazing photography..
Enjoy these lovely pictures by Joseph Eta..You will understand why I called this post "Faces & Places".

                 Kribi..Isn't that amazing?

 Tres Picturesque...
 The Power of Sharing...

Lighthouse...Lighthouse..

 @ the Queen's Jubilee

 The Scrable for passengers..."It's the Hard Knock Life"..LOL

 Carnival Fever

 Trafalgar Square..in all it's glory!

Twilight In London....

 Lovely Scenery...Pride and Prejudice Movie location

 St Paul's Cathedral London

 "Because I got high" @ the Notting Hill Carnival

 Yes I can..LOL

 Hamburg, Germany....Movie Set for Double O Seven's Tomorrow Never Dies

PDA.
 Bellerina & London Telebooths

 What says thee Big Ben?

 London Gherkin

 Manhattan, NY

 Times Square NY

 Earning their pay....

 London Bridge....Is Falling Down?

 Daddy & his Twin girls

 ....Joy Cometh in the Morning....

Kudos to Joseph Eta Photography...OK people,Enjoy the rest of the week!!

Y.M
IRepCamer

Monday, September 10, 2012

ANKARA PRINT SUITS: OZWALD BOATENG & KIBONEN NY

As the saying goes  "Great Minds Think Alike. Creative Minds Think Together"

Presenting Ankara print suits by Ozwald Boateng & KibonenNY

                                                              Nso David in KibonenNY

 Ozwald Boateng Ankara suits on the runway @ The Mercedez New York Fashion Week



                         KibonenNY suits on the Runway @ Africa Fashion Week New York

These suits are soo similar it is not funny...Check out KibonenNY on Facebook

Y.M.
IRepCamer

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

THE H.I.V. - "HUMANITY IS VANISHING"......REVIEW!

Mumak Records presents  Cameroonian based rapper "Don 4 Kwat" Jovi's Album H.I.V. - "Humanity Is Vanishing".....The "MuMaK ReVoLuTiOn" is here to stay!!


You can buy the album on ITunes and Amazon

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/h.i.v/id547296597
 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=Jovi+H.I.V

 In the UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=JOVI-H.I.V

Album Cover





Track Listing


Don 4 Kwat
Man Pass Man
All I Have (feat. Elad)
Pitié (feat. Rochereau Tabu Ley)
2 Much (feat. Magasco)
Lapiro
Hater's Coffin (feat. Rachel Applewhite)
Bush Faller (feat. Eko Roosevelt)
New Star (feat. Crisley & Jade)
Nothing to Something (feat. Dee)
Achombo House (feat. Krotal)
You Never Know (feat. Shashan)
 H.I.V (feat. Renise)

Here's My Take on Jovi's H.I.V.......

....First off if you are from Douala, Bonaberi and more specifically Mabanda, then you have another reason to support this artist.Soo many shout outs to Mabanda through out the album so this guy reps his "quartier" well...lol!

A big shout out to the guys "Behind the Music". Stay tuned 'cause I need to unmask the amazing producer "Le Monstre" (Jovi??) and music video  director extraordinaire, "February 16th" (Jovi's Brother?). These young men are taking the Camer music industry to the next level..Thumbs up!

This album is good PR...Good PR for Mumak Records. Good PR for Jovi and the various up and coming artists who feature. Good PR for producer extraordinaire, Le Monstre, Good PR for music video maestro, February 16th. Good PR for Cameroonian Music..So please get "vanished" with H.I.V. Buy the Album on Itunes and Amazon!!

Humanity is Vanishing features 11 artists + Jovi himself in 13 Tracks ...Each one with a story, beats and tunes that make you want more as you go from one track to the next.


The Album starts with Don 4 Kwat...If you haven't seen the music video then you need to check it out. A regular guy chilling with his guys in his quartier where he is the Don..."Ask petits dem for kwat I day for here for helep...Early morning time I day veranda witi cheleps.. Bring me cold shark open am with teeth. When I drink drunk show me any war for peace. When I finish shark I di turn chat chap....."...OK that should tell you how many times I have listened to this song..The finest pidgin lyrics in town....."My tori short e no get part II, Don Kwata style mon gar je suis partout"..."Pity yourself, i beg no pity me."......



Man Pass Man..."no man no pass me. if you know man way pass me..show me".When you start a song where someone challenges another to put "kwacoco bible" and "pepper soup" on his tab..What more can I say...LOL

 "I am the J.O. they feel down in V.I."  2 Much ft bamenda boy Magasco  has very good vocals and beats...."Ya man don be na bosco"? For real..LOL






Pitié is a lovely sampled song from Congolese Rhumba King Tabu Ley Rochereau's 70s classic hit, Pitié Toi Mon Amour.



"New star, sta- aarrrr, New sta-arrrr". Yes,Jovi is the new star!!New star ft Chrisley & Jade....Can Chrisley & Jade release an album already?.Not sure if they are a duo but their juxtaposed vocals are soo on point

You New Know...ft Shashan. I totally love the vocals of Songwriter/producer/Artist Shashan Mbinglo!

Hater's Coffin (feat. Rachel Applewhite)...Love the beats in the intro..Rachel's voice is on point in this track

 



Achombo House ft Krotal. Honestly Le Monstre has some good mix of R&B and Hip Hop beats in this album!"Early Morning Time, Achombo House, Evening Time, Achombo House... " Krotal on the hook!!

H.I.V. ft Renise.. Le Monstre crowns it up with "Indian"/Asian influenced beats and the lyrics are the isshhh.."White flow coming from a black man, flow so immaculate, I call it Albino flow" . Totally love the vocals  of up and coming lady of Mumak records gospel artist, Renise  on this track. "Est que na money problem, I know say things dem tight"

JOVI on Dulce Camer

 Mumak Records on NexDim Empire

Cameroonians can totally relate to Jovi's lyrics..So support your very own artist..His Album is available is on ITunes and Amazon!

Y.M.
IRepCamer

Saturday, September 1, 2012

ANDY ALLO & THE CAMEROON DANCE...........

There is a new dance in town...and it is called "The Cameroon Dance"

Andy Allo debuts "The Cameroon Dance"!!



Courtesy of Cameroon Vibes

Enjoy!

Happy Labour day weekend to US peeps. Have a good one!

Y.M.
IRepCamer


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