A Love Letter to the African Fashion Industry

Africans are so creative. I need not provide many examples, as this entire organization is dedicated to doing so. We create, form, and mold the world’s greatest discoveries. Every individual of African descent has something so beautiful embedded into them. Our style…. It transcends seas, borders, nationalities, ethnic groups, races, and social classes. Style is something that can divide us, but it also has the ability to unite us. Ekinken is here to showcase to the world what African style is. We need a library, a documentary space, just for us to revel in the work that we create. We need to remember who exactly we are.

Do you know who we are? Unfortunately, many of us may not know, and many of us may not remember. Many of us were not taught about our excellence, and it was consistently stated that perhaps we didn't deserve to know because we hadn't written it down. Or maybe it’s just me that statement was said to. I despised that statement because you can’t tell me that because one did not write it down, it completely erases who we are. Anyways, no more. We write, we remember, we teach, we admire, we love, and we innovate. Ekinken is a home for the African fashionista. A place for us to revel, relax, and learn. A spot for African creatives in the fashion world to shine. We do not beg for fallen petals; instead, we take the flowers that we grew with our own hands.

Ekinken is a safe space for every one of African descent. You are cherished, you are loved, and your style is impeccable. I have created this space for us to document everything we have contributed and accomplished in the global fashion industry. My nerdy social science major self is thrilled about all the learning everyone will undertake. I’m excited about all the fashion shows we will cover, the events we will attend, the businesses we will conduct in-depth analyses of, and the inspiration we will provide to people who want to make a positive impact on the African continent through fashion.

Here is my spiel, the one I have written down in case anyone asks me…why? 

My purpose is to push economic development of the African continent through social science education. Ekinken is one of the ways I plan to do so. Through my studies of African History, Economics, and Globalization Studies, I have come to realize (and, to be honest, you don’t have to have studied all of these things to do so) that our history is not recorded accurately and has been rewritten by others. Every day, we discover something new about ourselves, but we deserve to know who we truly are. Fashion has been a staple in my life since I was very young. I have always loved designing dresses, poring over magazines, and watching fashion shows to truly understand the dichotomy of a good outfit. Over the years, I have seen the African fashion industry have some of its biggest moments, but I think something is missing, and that’s an organization that truly fawns over it. That looks at it and uplifts its successes while pointing out ways to make it shine even brighter. In short, Ekinken is simply a love letter to the African fashion industry.

We are simply a space for the Home of African Fashion. We remember, we report, we admire, and we innovate. The essence of Ekinken is to document all the contributions that people of African descent have made to the fashion industry as a whole.

We pride ourselves on slow creation, creativity, education, and open-mindedness. The creative is at the center of this organization, and we hope it shows as our audience consumes our content. Let’s learn, appreciate, and look at the talents naturally embedded in us.

Forever For the People, From the Lord! Stay tuned and stay blessed!

Signed,

Meloseri Dumnoi

Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Ekinken