Goodbye 2010 it has been great!

What a fantastic year this has been. I actually got up and was 'about it' rather than talk about it. I am very proud that after all of my talk I actually did something. The start of Kenema & Co was a bit random, which is no surprise as random is me! I can honestly say that any moment of doubt has been momentary. I am a feelings person and tend to go with my feelings about stuff, and Kenema felt right from the very start. I could get really overly emotional but I haven't got time!! This is a blogpost giving an over view of the Kenema journey thus far...

So Alizé and met in January and it felt right...she agreed to join this adventure without really knowing where it was going and to be honest neither did I...Any way we met in January planned and plotted and left for sunny Sierra Leone in April 2010.

We arrived in Lungi airport Sierra Leone to be greeted by a black out on the baggage reclaim! It was hilarious we thought it was a scam to steal our luggage!

We walked up and down the main market for fabric in Freetown under the HOT HOT sunshine it was like 1000 degrees. We were in and our of shops and checking out all the market stalls to select fabric to bring our designs to life...

We worked everyday apart from the weekend when we went to the beach and partied...

We made cute summer pieces for the ladies:

We had a launch party at No.5 Cavendish Sq! (Thanks for sorting that Alizé)...

We started a charity and provided two school scholarships:

We organised a cool event with Sonia Meggie

And we launched our new collection:

AND HAD COUNTLESS MOMENTS OF FUN IN BETWEEN GRINDING FOR THE GREATER GOOD!

In 2011 we will continue to create, support, motivate and inspire!

Thank you to everyone that has helped along the way.  Your support has been phenomenal and we count on it in 2011!

PEACE xxx

AW10 snap shot...whilst we wait for the website to be finished...

Exclusive Batique designed by Kenema & Co.  You will not see this print anywhere else.  It was designed by us for you exclusively (you won't get exclusive prints like this from ANYONE else).

Sweet heart dress made with 100% Java cotton.  I'll give you some information about the different fabrics on another post.  Just so you know Java is a very high quality fabric usually worn by the middle and upper classes in West African societies.

On the left and right we have the Audrey dress the blue version is made using 'High Target" cotton, a very fine yet robust cotton printed using high quality dying techniques.  The brown and green Audrey is another EXCLUSIVE batique print designed by Kenema & Co.  You will not see this print anywhere else.  In the middle we have the blue version of the "Rosie" dress.  Knee length pencil style dress made from 100% Wax cotton.

The Cool Crew review of The First Lady Christmas Fayre

The lovely Christina Daniels founder of The Cool Fashion (a spotlight for all things creative) give's her run down of The First Lady event. *Big Smiles*.  Make sure you are at the next one!

xx

Flyprints Skype interview with Kenema & Co.

Flyprints  had a chat with me about The First Lady even that took place on 28th November 2010.  If you missed it you better not miss the next one.  It was a great event full of positive energy and all things creative, fresh and new!  

Listen to my conversation with the lovely Osei here.  Please note no children were neglected during this interview!!

xx

THIS IS LONDON

WE ARE SHOWCASING HERE! BUY YOUR TICKETS IMMEDIATELY :)

Some out takes from the AW10 photo shoot

Our gorgeous models and ultra FYNE MUA Thom Ticklemouse

Picture from The Roots of Fashion event 23/10/10

The First Lady UPDATE!!!

Come and shop till you drop with 

The First Lady | This Sunday 28.11.10 | Queen of Hoxton | 1 - 5 Curtain Road | Shoreditch | EC2

Hello everybody,

The count down has begun, The Shopping Event of the season is nigh!  I have decided to send you an update to give you an idea of what you can purchase on the day!

We have...

Ghanian inspired jewellery from GPUK with prices ranging from £1.50 - £20.00

Bespoke leggings, catsuits and other VERY sexy attire from Puckoo Couture from £20.00 - £150.00

Beautiful hand made jewellery from BeRare from £4.00 - £22.00

Gorgeous vintage accessories and clothing from Aunties Closet from £10.00 - £150.00

African inspired attire from yours truly, Kenema from £20.00 - £50.00

Premium hair extensions for all hair types and divine eyelash extensions from Weave Good Hair ranging from £25.00 - £100.00

Fun and funky beaded jewellery by Purple Turtle beads from £5.00 - £25.00
Hand customised sparkly clothing from Embellished attire ranging from £1.00 - £65.00

Don't forget we have sumptuous skin and hair care for all hair types from Shea Butter Cottage, African inspired street wear from Kayobi clothing, funky street wear from Dat Tag, brilliant art from Mister Giles, beautiful bangles from Love London Monroe and fashion inspired by East London from SDG East...

PLUS some new additions!

Bespoke chocolate from ChocImpress www.chocimpress.com

Beautiful home ware and leather goods from Figiini design www.figiinidesign.com

Guest speakers to motivate and inspire:

Joy Odunsi - Potential U - personal styling

Raw Skin Foods - Clare Eluka - skin care

Ms Afropolitan - Minna Salami - online business

Jewel Clothing - Lyande Kaikai - fashion

And last but certainly  not least LIVE music performances from:

ARUBA RED

OBENEWA

CAROLINE JAY

SHERRY DAVIS

SARAH FARRELL 

and new addition - CLEO SOL

with DJ Kengo Oshima on the ones and twos!


Hosted by Roses Gabor and Sonia Meggie.

This will be a day jam packed with with gorgeous products, smooth vocals and chat to inspire, so come early to take it all in, network, shop eat, drink and be merry!  

Start the festive season with The First Lady!

Sneak Peak from the ZIA collection

Kenema Loves... The Holy Rosary Secondary School in Kenema Sierra Leone

As you must be aware we at Kenema & Co are very passionate about support our sisters in Africa.  Managing Director, Tamu's trip to Sierra Leone in October 2010 initiated the first phase of our charitable work!  In the Summer we co-organised AskYouGirl's OFF THE RADAR event and used the door fee to raise money to provide school scholarships for two girls in Kenema, Sierra Leone...here are some photos...

Pupils at the Holy Rosary Secondary School in Kenema, Sierra Leone.

Hawa the first recipient of the Kenema & Co scholarship.

Mariama the second recipient.