I was reading this interesting topic on how people wanted an Voque Africa. I think there should be a Vogue Caribbean also. Mario Epanya is behind this movement, you should should the amazing covers that he has done. Since, Africa is a continent and has bigger issues, I think having a Vogue Africa would show the "good" side. If Conde Nast won't give Africa a chance, they probably wouldn't give Vogue Caribbean a chance. Here's an article.


http://fashionbombdaily.com/2010/07/19/fashion-bomb-exclusive-did-conde-nast-reject-vogue-africa/




Did Conde Nast Reject Vogue Africa?

by Claire

Earlier this year, photographer and makeup artist Mario Epanya imagined several covers for what would be a future African edition of Vogue. Though there’s a Vogue Nippon, Vogue India, and even a Vogue Australia, there isn’t a Vogue Africa–and Mario was dedicated to changing that.

The last we talked to him, he was pursuing ways to purchase the license to Vogue Africa from Conde Nast International.

Imagine our disappointment when Mario posted the following message on Vogue Africa’s facebook page this past Friday: “DEAR ALL, this is the last cover of Vogue Africa, Condé Nast said no for (a) license. Thank you for all your support. It’s a beginning of something.”

I had to call Mario up to clarify.

Mario, who is based in Paris, said, “I have a friend who is friends with the head of Conde Nast France.”

“…About a month ago I sent the director of Conde Nast France a message, via my friend, asking how I would go about getting a license for Vogue Africa. He replied that no, it would not be possible to do the project.”

He continued, “It’s ok. Now I feel more free to work on my own projects and concentrate on good, original ideas.”

Interesting.

It was my understanding that Conde Nast France is itself a license of Conde Nast International, the originator and creator of the Vogue brand. Does Conde Nast France have the authority to reject Vogue Africa? And shouldn’t Vogue Africa have been discussed in a proper business meeting instead of via e-mails shuttled between friends?

It sounds to me like the idea hasn’t been given the push it deserves in front of the right people. But maybe people really don’t want a Vogue Africa.

Or do they?

Here's some of Epanya's works for the Vogue covers.

BEAUTIFUL! I think Haiti/Caribbean can do this...

They are probably are afraid that there won't be a market for it. That's not the case. Africa has a budding middle class hungry for luxury goods. West Africa has a wealth traditional style to exploit: the traditional patterns, the silk, the tiered skirts, the puffy shoulders, the origami style folding borrowed from the head wrap, the beads, the men's head dress and dashikis. West African designers have been coming up with innovative twists on native style that actually have a modern feel. This would give them a great platform. I'm tired of Western designers "borrowing" African style. Plus it would be great for local models.

TiHomie - 09 March 2012 01:37 PM

ShelaJoe - 07 March 2012 02:42 PM

Honestly, that's nothing compared to Michele. I don't think you get it. I wouldn't look twice if I saw that but if I saw Michele let's say... in the gold dress she wore with the turban or even wearing the aviators while she was driving I would look twice.

Well then you weren't looking for style/clothing. What you were looking at was her beauty. I'm trying to get you to see past that. I really hope that you have.

It is part of it. For a style icon or a fashion icon you to have beauty in some way. It's the whole package! The size, status, etc... Sorry, that's the truth. Take Grace Kelly, Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn for an example.

These bags make me cringe.

and the ads... SMH! We need to get more competitive and stop with this mediocrity.

I am personally against this mass commercialization of Voodoo culture which I regard as a form of prostitution. If you are going to do it, do it with class. The veves themselves a highly valued; sticking small patches of veve on large canvas bags, cheapens them. They should aim at a high-end clientele and limit their products to small clutches aimed at socialites and then branch into medium sized bags made of less tacky material aimed at professional women. The large bags with minimal structure with a whole for a handle are not practical. It might be a good idea not to dwell on the origin of the art work until they have a substantial following. We all know the Haitian brand has been cheapened to death. Luxury branding is the best strategy for Haiti due to its lack of manufacturing infrastructure; we can't compete with Walmart and those bags look like the could be purchased at your local Target.

Haitian designers for the most part lack diligence and focus. Most don't seem to have a define clientele in mind. They don't do enough research to predict new trends and capitalize on them. Their designs are not very original, they just recycle the same concepts without any regard as to what is flattering on most women. They have too relax of an approach for such underdogs.

ShelaJoe - 10 March 2012 02:43 PM

Who are they marketing towards? Teenagers wouldn't even want that. I have to make plans, this is getting ridiculous. I know there is real talent out there amongst us.

You're right ShelaJoe, I doubt that the target group for these bags are teenagers. Vèvè Collections is a more mature taste. I like them.

LVuitton_chic - 10 March 2012 06:52 PM

ShelaJoe - 10 March 2012 02:43 PM

Who are they marketing towards? Teenagers wouldn't even want that. I have to make plans, this is getting ridiculous. I know there is real talent out there amongst us.

You're right ShelaJoe, I doubt that the target group for these bags are teenagers. Vèvè Collections is a more mature taste. I like them.

It seems so but I can't imagine any Haitian woman that I know, who would buy these items. Well... you like them, everyone has different taste but I'm looking at the bigger picture here. This is the Caribbean and this is what Haiti has to offer? We can seriously do better than that. We have to compete with Europe, South America, Asia...