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Category: Buy African
A curated selection of goods and services made in Africa and/or made by Africans. Fashion, interiors, gifts, food, places and more.
Goodbye Asilia: new business directions
This month marks 5 years of running my business. It's been a hell of a ride – high moments, challenging times and everything in between. All with a great business partner and an amazing team by my side. But now, it's time for a change …
A key part of the Asilia ethos has always been about following your heart and doing work you love. We’ve constantly strived to practice what we preach. That’s why we love working with other passionate people and why our self-directed projects are so important to us.
Over the past 5 years, these projects have evolved in different ways. Some have been more satisfying and successful than others – Afri-love, Afriapps and Black White Simple being the ones that have most resonated with the wider world.
Products of change
These projects, along with our experiences working with clients over the years, have taught us important lessons; opened up new opportunities we couldn’t have foreseen and; challenged and expanded our visions, when it comes to the contributions we want to bring to the world.
In being true to ourselves, our passions, our new circumstances and environments, we have decided on a new future for our professional paths.
EVENT: Home Affairs – a Cross-Cultural Installation
NOW Gallery will be celebrating London’s diverse creative landscape in a new cross-cultural installation, Home Affairs.
The exhibition is a collaboration between furniture designer Yinka Ilori, fashion designer Christine Mhando of London-based CHiCHiA and creative consultant Arieta Mujay. It features four theatrical, visually compelling conceptual spaces, brought to life with curated film, archival footage and performance. Framed by the language of traditional Nigerian & Swahili parables, the spaces will be filled with thought-provoking furniture, indigenous plants, designed objects, garments and wallpapers inspired by bespoke Khanga textiles. There will also be artwork by The installation will also be artwork by Jason Barka and Berjo Mouanga; a mural by myself, Lulu Kitololo; hand-carved wooden stools and bowls by artist Gary March and; on opening night, spoken word performances by the Bazaar Bohemian, of Project Tribe.
Art director/brand consultant Ola Shobowale (aka @imustcreatenow) is also on-board, helping to bring it all together.
Dates: 20th August – 4th September 2015
Venue: NOW Gallery, The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, Greenwich Peninsula, London SE10 0SQ
Join us this Thursday evening for the NOW Later opening night
You can expect:
Continue reading “EVENT: Home Affairs – a Cross-Cultural Installation”
Jewellery by Katra Awad: Artist of Love
I recently came across jewellery designer, global nomad and artist of love, Katra Awad.
Born in California, raised in Europe and the Caribbean and of Egyptian and Hispanic roots, I love her perspective on creativity, in the grander scheme of wellness and love:
During one of my travels someone once said to me, "It is our responsibility in life to pursue our talents to the fullest extent & make every second count.”
Buy African: Stitch Sainte Luce Embroidered Fashion and Home Furnishings
I managed to escape my stand at the Women of the World festival marketplace last weekend, to have a look at all the other beautiful crafts on offer. I was particularly mesmerised by one incredibly vibrant table – the photo above represents merely a quarter of the space!
Stitch Sainte Luce produces hand-embroidered belts, bracelets, cushion covers, tablet and e-reader cases, bags, purses, cards and more.
Continue reading “Buy African: Stitch Sainte Luce Embroidered Fashion and Home Furnishings”
Interview with Screenprinter, Lusungu Chikamata of Creativity and Noise
Today’s interview features screenprinter, Lusungu Chikamata, founder of Creativity and Noise. It’s a great story of persistence and resourcefulness – I think sometimes we think everything has to be perfect before we can begin when actually, just getting started gets you to perfection faster! Find out how Lusungu learned a brand new skill and launched a creative enterprise, all alongside his day job.
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Invitation to Asilia’s Open Studio – 5th March 2015
I moved office a few months ago and my Asilia team and I are finally opening up our doors to welcome our clients, collaborators and friends.
You're invited!
Drop by our new studio in Brockley, London, any time between 4pm and 8pm on Thursday 5th March.
You’ll get to see some of our work and enjoy some nibbles, and of course, our company.
Some of my art will also be on display, including a mural in progress. Lusungu will be showcasing his screenprinted goods and if we're lucky, there just might be a demo and opportunity to try the technique for yourself!
The address is:
Continue reading “Invitation to Asilia’s Open Studio – 5th March 2015”
Portraits of 2014
Last year, I started taking commissions for the style of portrait illustrations that I’d previously made for my design business and a few of our clients. The response was really exciting! People ordered illustrations for themselves and their loved ones, coming up with reasons and occasions that I hadn’t even thought of.
This is what they’ve been used for, to date:
- Present for a wife, just because
- Birthday presents (especially for ‘big’ birthdays, e.g. 50, 60)
- Wedding presents
- Christmas presents
- Website banners
- Social media avatars
- Editor’s portrait in a magazine
- Illustration of interview subjects for a magazine
The image above is a round up of commissions from 2014. I really love making these.
2015 commissions
To help me manage my time, I’ve decided that I will only take 12 of these portrait commissions this year. I’ve already got a few in the works so, get in touch ASAP if you’re interested in one: lulu [at] weareasilia [dot] com. You can also find more details on ordering here.
See larger versions of the portraits above, on my Pinterest page.
All illustrations copyright yours truly, Lulu Kitololo
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Related:
- Female Relations – older portrait work in oil paint
- Interview with artist Toyin Odutola – this woman creates hauntingly beautiful portraits!
- Inspired: Robert Pruitt’s women at Studio Museum Harlem
- Afri-love on Easy – portrait edition
- Inspired by Lubaina Himid’s collage portraits and kanga paintings
Don't miss an installment – different ways to get your Afri-love delivered. You can also stay up to date by liking the Afri-love Facebook page or following Afri-love (@afrilove) on Twitter or on Google+.
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Buy African: Last-minute Christmas Gift Ideas
It’s less than a week to go until Christmas so, ordering your gifts online is now pretty much a gamble. If the thought of braving the madness shops this weekend makes you want to crawl into a dark hole, fear not – I’ve got some ideas that will hopefully keep you in the festive spirit.
The gifts here are all things that you can buy, right up until Christmas Day. They are organised by interest so, hopefully you’ll be able to find something appropriate for all the people on your list – whatever they fancy!
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In Pictures: The Road to Renegade (+ An Epic Giveaway)
The Renegade Craft Fair London is 3 days away and Lusungu and I have been busy getting our ‘Fly South For Winter’ collection ready! It’s inspired by our motherland love and a yearning for the tropics in these wintry times. All the designs are hand-drawn by me and then hand screen printed by Lusungu (aka Creativity and Noise).
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