Studio One Eighty Nine by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah lands on Vogue Black / Yoox.com x F4D, the project launched by Vogue Italia and yoox.com to support Fashion 4 Development. The capsule collection is now available on yoox.com.
Vogue Italia and yoox.com partner up again to launch a new initiative to support Fashion 4 Development and join forces in an ongoing project that features exclusive creations by the most talented artists selected and curated by Vogue Black.
Fashion 4 Development, the global initiative which Franca Sozzani of Vogue Italia was named the first Goodwill Ambassador in 2011, is a charity that supports a number of initiatives in several African countries. Proceeds will be donated to F4D
At the forefront is the Vogue Black / Yoox.com x F4D project launched in September 2014 by the magazine and the e-commerce platform in collaboration with Stella Jean who presented her Le Tap-Tap Bags. These were two exclusive purses manufactured in Ethiopia. The bags became part of the Vogue Black’s selection of the best-printed garments, accessories and designer objects on sale at yoox.com.
This years project highlights Studio One Eighty Nine by Rosari Dawson and Abrima Erwiah. It has a capsule collection exclusively created for Vogue Black / Yoox.com x F4D. Their project that aims at using fashion as a change agent in Africa has produced three collections to date.
Abrima and Rosario explain that the marvelous prints used for their garments are all handmade. They are inspired by African culture and to that of the amazing work of talented local “artists”.
Ethical and sustainable Fashion Designer Marina Spadafora has also been involved with the project and is collaborating with the ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative. Marina has followed the collection's development in Ghana and the launch of the project at the “Vogue Talents” event at Palazzo Morando in Milan during fashion week in September 2014. Marina Spadafora also coordinated the purchase of the capsule collection by yoox.com on behalf of Vogue Italy.
“The prints of the garments have been designed in Ghana with the help of our artisans. The direct collaboration with the community is crucial for us and represents the soul of what we do”, explains Marina.
The Women’s Wear range includes mini dresses, shirts teamed with slightly flared mini skirts – to wear mixing different prints and T-shirts, kimono jackets and fabric clutches. For Men, Studio One Eighty Nine proposes shirts, scarves and backpacks.
The capsule collection is now available on yoox.com.
“The prints of the garments have been designed in Ghana with the help of our artisans. The direct collaboration with the community is crucial for us and represents the soul of what we do”, explains Marina.
The Women’s Wear range includes mini dresses, shirts teamed with slightly flared mini skirts – to wear mixing different prints and T-shirts, kimono jackets and fabric clutches. For Men, Studio One Eighty Nine proposes shirts, scarves and backpacks.
The capsule collection is now available on yoox.com.
The Project
STUDIO ONE EIGHTY NINE
STUDIO ONE EIGHTY NINE is a social enterprise created by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah that consist of creatives that seeks to provide a platform to help promote and curate African and African-inspired content through an ecommerce shopping site, a supporting agency and an artisan produced fashion collection, called FASHION RISING COLLECTION, launched in support of V-Day's One Billion Rising. We focus on creating opportunities for empowerment, education and employment of artisans and creatives.
FASHION 4 DEVELOPMENT
In January 2011, Evie Evangelou launched the Fashion 4 Development (F4D) media platform on South South News (a digital media platform working in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals).
It has since expanded to a private sector global platform that supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and “Every Woman, Every Child,” the UN Initiative spearheaded by the Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.
The mission is to harness the power of the fashion and beauty industries and implement creative strategies for sustainable economic growth, wellness and independence of communities worldwide and the preservation of culture through the expression of fashion.
Its guiding principles are the 4E’s: Educate, Empower, Enhance and Enrich. F4D’s tag line is “Giving Back is the New Luxury.” Fashion 4 Development’s message is being received with open arms around the world.
ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Its aim is for businesses in developing countries to become more competitive in global markets, speeding economic development and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.
ITC's mission is to foster sustainable economic development and contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals in developing countries and transition economies through trade and international business development.
ITC uses fashion as a vehicle out of poverty, at the same time fulfilling fashion's desire to be more fair.
Ethical Fashion Initiative connects the fashion business with artisans in Africa and Haiti. They provide work for marginalized people who have a strong desire to change their lives. They make it possible for the fashion world to embrace the skills of artisans in the developing world.
Vogue Black
The July 2008 issue featured only black models, photographed by Steven Meisel and the articles pertained to black women in the arts and entertainment. The magazine claimed to showcase black models in response to anger caused by the disinclination of fashion magazines to display black models on their covers. Fashion industry insiders claim black models are featured less often because they are unable to sell. This statement, along with the formation of a protest group in New York that challenges racism in the industry, convinced Italian Vogue's editor, Franca Sozzani to create this issue that is become a fashion channel dedicated to successful black models, stars, actors, pros and stylists
YOOX.COM
yoox.com, established in 2000, is the world's leading lifestyle e-store for multi-brand fashion, design and art. Shopping on yoox.com is all about discovery - an eclectic and playful journey beyond fashion's strict seasonal rules - allowing men and women to express their individuality through timeless and creative style.
STUDIO ONE EIGHTY NINE is a social enterprise created by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah that consist of creatives that seeks to provide a platform to help promote and curate African and African-inspired content through an ecommerce shopping site, a supporting agency and an artisan produced fashion collection, called FASHION RISING COLLECTION, launched in support of V-Day's One Billion Rising. We focus on creating opportunities for empowerment, education and employment of artisans and creatives.
FASHION 4 DEVELOPMENT
In January 2011, Evie Evangelou launched the Fashion 4 Development (F4D) media platform on South South News (a digital media platform working in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals).
It has since expanded to a private sector global platform that supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and “Every Woman, Every Child,” the UN Initiative spearheaded by the Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon.
The mission is to harness the power of the fashion and beauty industries and implement creative strategies for sustainable economic growth, wellness and independence of communities worldwide and the preservation of culture through the expression of fashion.
Its guiding principles are the 4E’s: Educate, Empower, Enhance and Enrich. F4D’s tag line is “Giving Back is the New Luxury.” Fashion 4 Development’s message is being received with open arms around the world.
ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Its aim is for businesses in developing countries to become more competitive in global markets, speeding economic development and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.
ITC's mission is to foster sustainable economic development and contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals in developing countries and transition economies through trade and international business development.
ITC uses fashion as a vehicle out of poverty, at the same time fulfilling fashion's desire to be more fair.
Ethical Fashion Initiative connects the fashion business with artisans in Africa and Haiti. They provide work for marginalized people who have a strong desire to change their lives. They make it possible for the fashion world to embrace the skills of artisans in the developing world.
Vogue Black
The July 2008 issue featured only black models, photographed by Steven Meisel and the articles pertained to black women in the arts and entertainment. The magazine claimed to showcase black models in response to anger caused by the disinclination of fashion magazines to display black models on their covers. Fashion industry insiders claim black models are featured less often because they are unable to sell. This statement, along with the formation of a protest group in New York that challenges racism in the industry, convinced Italian Vogue's editor, Franca Sozzani to create this issue that is become a fashion channel dedicated to successful black models, stars, actors, pros and stylists
YOOX.COM
yoox.com, established in 2000, is the world's leading lifestyle e-store for multi-brand fashion, design and art. Shopping on yoox.com is all about discovery - an eclectic and playful journey beyond fashion's strict seasonal rules - allowing men and women to express their individuality through timeless and creative style.