Amaka Speaks

   Photo by Skyberry Studios DISCLAIMER : This is not an Intellectual Property article. If you do not take anything else from this article, remember this, happiness is a choice. Technology has made it easier to see at a glance, how other people live and what constitutes some of their daily activities (and for some, all of their daily activities). This, in turn, may have led to the increase in personal wants, as we can examine other people’s lives vis-à-vis our own. Before the advent of social media in Nigeria, my wants were limited to things I saw in magazines, heard about or saw physically myself thus my wants were far less than they are now.  Furthermore, society constantly pushes us to want more things, expect more out of our lives, and attain higher levels of success. The retail industry promises us that happiness lies in the next purchase and keeps us hooked to products, like an addict in search of the ultimate high. We fill our lives with things...

West Africans ditch Dutch wax prints for Chinese 'real-fakes' Togolese fabric markets are increasingly stocked with low-cost Chinese reproductions. Koko Masseme Nina Sylvanus , Northeastern University Since the early 20th century, Vlisco has produced African print cloth – otherwise known as Dutch wax prints. This vibrantly coloured and intricately patterned fabric dominates West African markets and is globally recognised as quintessentially “African”. Ironically, this iconic bold cloth was originally forged by Dutch colonial companies attempting to mechanically reproduce handmade Javanese batik cloth. When this failed to take off in Southeast Asia, Dutch traders began to sell the cloth in West African markets. The patterns were modified to fit local tastes and quickly became popular. The rise of mass-produced, Dutch wax prints partially displaced domestic textiles, which lacked the colourfastness and material lightness that ulti...

WHAT EXACTLY IS CLOSET CURATION? Think of it in terms of a museum, a fashion show, or a boutique. Curators, designers and store owners only put up work that they feel reflects their brand. It is the same with your closet; you should only have stuff in there that represents you. Before you can begin curating your closet, here are a few questions you should ask yourself: 1.      Who am I? Okay I know this may sound deep but I promise it is not. This question deals with your age, sex, finances, fashion likes and dislikes, colour choices, body shape, religion etc. 2.      What is my lifestyle? This refers to your job and social habits. For example, do you work behind a desk or are you more in the limelight? Do you work on television, does your job require meetings with clients or are you working on a computer all day? Does your office have a dress code, do hang out a lot with friends and  have a popping social life or are you more of a...