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12 African Fashion Icons Who Give Back In Unique Ways

12 African Fashion Icons Who Give Back In Unique Ways

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Fashion designers are creative by nature, and their philanthropic styles tend to be just as creative. Like other successful business people, many fashionistas donate their knowledge, their time, or even their products to the communities that helped enrich them, or gave them inspiration. Here are 12 African fashion icons who give back in unique ways.

Source: Zenmagazineafrica.com, Answersafrica.com

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Liya Kebede

Ethiopia-born Liya Kebede is a supermodel and fashion designer with her own clothing line. Lemlem is her line of hand-woven women’s and children’s items. Kebede started the Liya Kebede Foundation, which supports leading organizations working to reduce maternal and newborn deaths in Africa through advocacy, education, grants and partnerships, according to Lkfound.org.

Korto Momolu. Photo: fashionjunkii.com
Photo: fashionjunkii.com

Korto Momolu

Liberian fashion designer Korto Momolu has appeared in the hit U.S. TV series “Project Runway” and appeared in several major fashion magazines. Momolu is also the founder of the Gracie’s Gift charity, an organization that works to provide Liberian orphanages with necessary supplies, according to Kortomomolu.com.

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Adebayo Jones

Adebayo Jones is a Nigerian fashion designer who made a huge name for himself among African designers in the U.K. He has hosted charity fashion shows, worked with organizations like the British Red Cross and UNICEF Children’s Fund, according to Venturesafrica.com.

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Alek Wek

Alex Wek is a South Sudanese supermodel and handbag designer who does humanitarian work, primarily campaigning for refugee rights, says Unrefugees.org.

Idyl and Ayaan Mohallim. Photo: flickr.com
Idyl and Ayaan Mohallim. Photo: flickr.com

Mataano

Mataano means twins in Somali, and it’s the name of the fashion label owned by twin sisters Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim. They donated one of their coats and tickets to their show at Fashion Week to an auction that raised funds for the Global Language Project. The Global Language Project develops language programs in schools around the world to help children compete in a globalized world and workforce.

Sources: Charitybuzz.comGloballanguageproject.org

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Youtube

Deola Sagoe

Nigerian Deola Sagoe has dressed top models like Naomi Campbell and had her pieces featured on runways along with Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Sagoe is the Nigerian representative to the U.N. World Food Program’s “Catwalk the World: Fashion for Food” — a series of shows that raises money to fight hunger, according to Lionessesofafrica.com.

Konnectafrica.net
Konnectafrica.net

Lanre Da Silva Ajayi

Lanre Da Silva Ajayi is a Nigerian designer known for elegant dresses with a modern twist. The couture visionary donated one of her dresses to an auction at the Future Awards Africa that raised funds to fight Ebola, says Thenet.ng.

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Bisila Bokoko

Bisila Bokoko is an Equatorial Guinean entrepreneur of many things including fashion. Bokoko’s marketing firm, BBES, has worked with Zara, Mango, and Desigual, to name a few. The marketing guru also has a nonprofit organization called the Bisila Bokoko African Literary Project that builds libraries around the continent, according to Zenmagazineafrica.com.

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David Tlale

South African designer David Tlale has appeared six times in New York Fashion week. He makes his donations in a patriotic manner. Telecommunications company Nashua Mobile ran the Donate a Flag Campaign, in which South Africans could donate their national flag to be repurposed into useful items for the less fortunate. Tlale turned in his own flag, according to Wecanchange.co.za.

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Mai Atafo

Mai Atafo is a Nigerian designer to the stars, having dressed the likes of Nigerian singer Waje. Atafo takes an interest in his country’s youth, serving on the Future Awards Africa committee. The committee works to address social issues on the continent and to recognize individuals under the age of 30 who have made outstanding achievements, says Thefutureafrica.com.

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Duro Olowu

Nigerian fashion designer Duro Olowu donated a piece of his family history to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. If you visit the museum, you can find a pair of traditional ceremonial slippers from the Yoruba people that belonged to Olowu’s grandfather. You can take a peek at them on Metmuseum.org.

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Twitter

Folake Coker

Folake Coker is a Nigerian lawyer and fashion designer whose fashion line, Tiffany Amber, has appeared in New York Fashion Week several times. Coker also serves as a mentor at the Mara Foundation, according to Tiffanyambergng.com. The Mara Foundation works with young and women entrepreneurs in developing countries, providing financial support and guidance in their new businesses, says Mara-foundation.org.