News&Features 5 5 BY RENA MEDOW ccording to A frican-inspired designers sharing their collections at African Fash- ion and Art Movement Vancouver’s Feb. 16 fashion show, African fash- ion is all about eye-catching prints and vibrant colours. The designs shown at AFAM reflected the diversity of culture and tradition within Africa’s 54 countries. Some of the design- ers drew inspiration from plants and nature, and others from their childhood memories and native cities. One Ethiopian-style brand that walked the runway, Ethio Fashion House, used hand-woven cotton fabric to create diaphanous gowns that twirled as the models walked. ; AFAM’s fashion 4 designer of the year, Safari Kabumbe uses _&@ African fabric to create — inspired pieces, drawing his inspi- ration from nature. Influenced by the fashion and accessories she admired during a trip to Kenya, Uganda and Tanza- nia last year, designer Ebru Pinar decided to introduce those local styles into her line. “When I was there, actu- beautiful sandals, so colourful and fun, and accessories and jewelry,” she said. “I was like, oh my gosh, these are amazing.” In her debut line “Unconditional Love,” she used the motif of the heart as an accent on her sandals and jewels. Emmanuel Okee’s brand, Udamma Fashion, utilizes ankara fabric, a print style made Designs draw inspiration from 54 countries by using wax on cotton to create bright patterns traditionally worn for celebrations. Ankara wax prints are often named after well-known people, places or things, conveying messages through its motifs. Okee often collaborates with his sister in Nigeria to create Udamma Fashion. The fashion line was inspired by his trips home to Lagos, the country’s largest city, to visit family. “I just couldn't ignore the fash- ion, it was really popping,” said Okee, who has lived in Canada for over a decade. “It reminded me of where I came from, and how we had different fashion designers and different colours and it was very much more expressive and vibrant, even in our clothing.”