DIY: Vlisco

Continuing on with the DIY theme, did you know that you can craft your own bomber jacket with premium African fabric and a sewing pattern from Vlisco?!

Oo oo  we'll have the second from the left please!!!

GIVE-AWAY: Tribal Earrings Tutorial

We live in a self-sufficiently sexy, fashionably frugal, 'Do It Yourself' day and age. 

If you're part of the DIY movement, you'll love this tribal earrings tutorial from the beautiful Youtube DIY queen that is 'TheNotoriousKIA'. 

Stud-tastic!

ILA Challenge: Think you can do better? Why not make your own pair in ankara or a fabric of your choice and let us know how it goes because we're giving away 10 pairs of stud components to 10 UK readers absolutely free!

All you have to do is tweet (copy 'n' paste): 

@iloveankarablog make me stud-tastic! #tribalearrings

So, what are you waiting for? On your marks...get set...go, Go, GO!!!

Af-Ccessory of the day: Prada

Ok ok so we've gone a little bag crazy recently, but we cried a little when we saw this special edition tribal pattern Prada bag and just couldn't keep it to ourselves!

Ankara at London Fashion Week: Peter Pilotto

Now we know we're all about accessories...but what are accessories without the fly garms to match?! 

That's why we couldn't resist a little fashion digress after we saw today's Peter Pilotto Spring / Summer 2013 show for London Fashion Week.

ILA: Snap Back Into Action

We all love having that fresh cut, pristine locks and bouncy curls but sometimes, a laid back simple snap back hat does the trick. If worn correctly it can say "Hey! I'm having a laid back day, but at at any point now I can snap back into action!"

Mos Def dons a snap back for GQ magazine

Clutch this: Tribal-style

We were gutted to find out that the infamous Angela Simmons 'Bee Clutch' and Virgo's lounge other tribal clutch were out of stock.

Out of stock #SadTimes

However we're SO sprung on the Art-Deco beaded style of these lovelies that we went on the prowl to find the next best thing and thought we'd share them with you. 

ILA Celeb Files: Angela Simmons

True to form, budding fashionista Angela Simmons has been spotted out and and about looking ultra fab at New York Fashion Week.

New York Fashion week SHEEK!

Af-Ccessory of the day: Sass & Bide

Part of the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative we mentioned last week is the Australian fashion house Sass & Bide.

Sass & Bide's 'Heading North' shopper and 'On your marks' clutch bags

Ankara's Secret: Aya Morrison & Adama Paris

Lights on lights off...never be too afraid to show what you have, every girl has a secret just make yours an ankara-secret!

Don't limit the colour to just what people can see, even in the bedroom colourful secrets are needed to keep things hot and spicy.

Ann Summers says "shh keep it a secret"

ILA TIP: Instead of wearing the same old black matching bra and pants when choosing lingerie and saucy intimates, colours and prints can create illusions, enhancing and complimenting

Af-Ccessory of the day: Manaka Handmade

Presenting a unique and creative punky twist on 
af-ccessories...the Ankara ear plug from Manaka. 

Ear plugs are used in stretched ear lobes - a body piercing technique where a healed piercing is deliberately expanded - and we've never seen ear plugs like this before.

Fashion gives back: Ethical Fashion Project - Vivienne Westwood

Fashion's night out events have been occurring worldwide in advance of London Fashion Week - one of the most anticipated weeks on the fashion calender.

However, what many people who are waiting for LFW to start don't know is that a select number of high fashion designers will be flying out to East Africa straight after the London Fashion week shows, for the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative.

One of those designers is Vivienne Westwood.

Inspired by the colour and embroidery of African Fabrics and solely made of recycled parts, this drawstring duffel bag is from this season's Vivienne Westwood Ethical Africa collection:



The aztec triangle pattern is also found in this tote version of the bag:

The Iconic British designer developed the collection alongside the International Trade Centre (a combination of  the World Trade Organisation and United Nations) in order to produce and source sustainable accessories that give back to Africa. 

The Ethical Fashion Africa project aims to encourage women of the project's host country Kenya, to develop an interest in fashion using and sourcing recycled materials in an ethical way.

Vivienne Westwood's new Red label collection will be shown at London Fashion week on Saturday 16th September at 2pm in SW1.