Self-Expression from an African-Inspired Perspective

Ethiopia’s Surma and Mursi tribes in the southwest Omo River valley region present a unique perspective on self-expression in the African style.  As a result of their nomadic lifestyle, location near lush vegetation, and inventive nature, tribe members have taken body painting and adornment to a new level of creativity which has inspired the color palette for ethniciti collections.

Sophisticated color palette

Colors taken directly from nature, the various strata of rock in the vast Rift Valley geologic formation, yield subtle shades of ochre, red, pure white, off white, and light gray.  Green is obtained from stone found in the riverbed.  The canvas for this sophisticated mixture of colors is the flesh of the tribe members, a reddish, copper hue, lighter in shade and more reflective of light rays compared to the darker skin of the Ugandans, Kenyans, and Sudanese to the south and west.

Natural accessorization

Flora and fauna found near the river – grass, leaves, stems, flowers, roots, shells, nuts, wild fruit, papyrus, and gourds- are accessories to this creation of natural fashion.

Shapes and forms

The amazing and aesthetically brilliant juxtapositions of color, texture, shape, and form, are not pondered and studied.  Spontaneity is key to the effects achieved with body painting done rapidly to preserve the natural colors.  Pigments created using water and stone fragments dry within a minute’s time. The result is a creative work worthy of any modern artist or fashion designer, but with the natural freedom of childhood.

The design spirit of the Surma and Mursi exemplifies ethniciti’s philosophy of organized eclecticism, freedom of self-expression, and African-inspired design.  We have organized items from our five collections – foundations, décor, bon appétit, boudoir, entre nous, into color groups based upon palettes inspired by the Omo River valley tribes.  What do you think?

Photography by Hans Silvester in his book, Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa.

A New Breed of African Home Fashion Designers

There is a new breed of young, talented, and aggressive African designer in the market. Inspired by the Xhosa face cutting tradition, ceramic designer Andile Dyalvane cuts into tile in a decorative manner combining his technique of paint, bold shapes, and color.

Influenced by Picasso, his creations carry the spirit of the past, the energy of the moment, and a vision for the future.

In Search of the ethniciti Woman

Self-expression and an eclectic approach drive CarrMel White’s design sense as she has worked to make her home a reflection of her personality and a place she can share.

“I want my friends and family to feel what I feel,” she says, sitting on the cream-colored leather sofa in the African-inspired ambiance of her home in Columbus, Ohio’s historic Olde Towne East.  “I am very interested in African-inspired decoration and décor because it is a part of me…. what you see in my home is what I feel, what I like. “

CarrMel’s eclecticism is evident immediately in the entrance area of her home, which she has reserved as a sort of gallery, with pieces ranging from a mask-like painting done by a street artist in Uruguay, to African-American designed sculptures, and a magnificent West African elephant mask with embedded coins which her husband found.

But creating a home environment that is both emotionally satisfying and unique has not been easy for Carr’Mel .  She feels that there just aren’t enough sources to meet her need for self-expression in the home.

“It’s very hard.  I’m lucky to know a person (I can turn to for advice) but I don’t think the average person can do that.  … I find that it’s like a treasure hunt for me.  It’s not something that I can just pick up a catalog or go somewhere and go, ‘OK this is what I’m looking for.’”

As performing arts director for Columbus’s King Arts Complex, CarrMel is constantly in the company of artists.  “I’ve been lucky enough to work with and around artists, so I have a lot of pieces that people have made for me.  I have people that I know who are collectors, and I’m purchasing from them.  And some things I’ve put together myself.”

CarrMel White’s lifestyle embodies the essential ingredients of the ethniciti brand – a contemporary fusion of styles, a strong desire to express her personality, and a love of African-inspired design.

Sleperwoods – environmentally conscious home fashion

As a good steward of the environment, I am always on the lookout for products that satisfy my fashion sense as well as being responsible to the land.

I recently came across a company, Sleeperwoods, situated close to the Kruger National Park in White River, South Africa. They utilize reclaimed sleepers (railroad ties) as well as a range of recycled hardwoods to fashion unique furniture and tabletop accessories. Their design approach offers products for both a contemporary and causal settings. Take a look.

 

 

 

 

The Artisans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fundamental building block in the ethniciti design philosophy is the influence and contribution of the artisans.  These talented, aggressive, and forward-thinking individuals spread the notion of African-inspired design and the important role that art plays in interior design solutions.

In a recent edition of O Magazine, this notion is brilliantly expressed in the home of Peggy Cooper Cafritz a long-time art educator, activist and supporter of young African-American artists.

Her home exudes on the one hand this sense of confidence and commitment to the culture, while the overall presentation and integration of furnishings and artifacts projects the essence of her personal style, how she sees herself, and how she wants others to see her.

Photography by Sang An.

Opening Night, the Gathering

As designers we begin each assignment with a high expectations in creating an exciting and memorable living space for our clients.  As we move through the discovery, then the creative phases, we begin to visualize the end game, what will it look like what will it feel like. What we do know is our clients expect a space that reflects who they are and how they want people to see them.

I am always inspired by Jessica Harris, noted African-American author and educator whose writings weave a masterful web of food and places of the Diaspora.  I see an opportunity to help our clients celebrate the completion of a new space with a gathering that ties together the notion of African-inspired interior design with tangible expressions of styles and tastes.

Here are a few of our approaches.  Let me know about yours.

Spreading the ethniciti Message

This week I’ll be speaking in Houston and San Antonio as part of the Design Arts Seminars program.

As I’ve emphasized in the ethniciti blog, dramatic changes in demographics and lifestyles have created a heightened interest in African-influenced design. Manufacturers of home fashion goods must understand the need to develop collections inspired by regional artistic styles: East African, sub-Saharan, West African, etc. During my seminar presentations, I define African styles to help designers grasp the modern African-American consumer’s fundamental preferences.

I go beyond the traditional to consider an organized eclecticism that best matches today’s African-American’s purchasing motivations in home fashion. I explore contemporary, modern interpretations of African cultural influences, as well as the impact of Cuban, Brazilian, Caribbean, and regional U.S. inspiration. I emphasize the necessity to avoid the trite and cliché by creating authentic design solutions that speak to the modern African-American’s ancestry.

 Designers must surpass standard classifications to develop a unique interpretation of Classic, Contemporary, and Casual through a prism of ethnic-inspired design.

Take a look at the overview video and let me know what you think.

Predetermined Solutions

With the coming of spring we can expect a few constants – daffodils, lawn mower noise and new spring catalog from Crate & Barrel that looks a lot like last year and the year before. As one of the country’s premier lifestyle retailers, they have mastered the concept of predetermined solutions: if we didn’t sell it to you last year we simply recycle the palette with perhaps some small modifications of style and present it again as new and trendy.

Don’t get me wrong. I believe C&B is one of the best at inspiring customers with effective visual marketing and a fill-in-the-blanks approach. But when do we move from room-in-a-box to a more open and eclectic approach that reflects a modern reality, in particular a response to the tastes of the modern African-American consumer?

Can you image the expectation and joy of receiving a catalog that projected a sense of “organized eclecticism” that would focus on the inspirational needs and wants of the African- American consumer and others who appreciate the uniqueness and richness of the culture? I can.

Sadly this won’t happen with idle coffee-and-donuts conversations about the “opportunities” in the market. Good, bad or indifferent there is an existing process in the design, licensing and manufacturing of home furnishings. From my point of view that will not change in the short term.

In an effort to discover more efficient and profitable approaches for interior and product designers to bring their designs to market, we have formed ethnicitiSTYLE. We are collaboration of professional designers formed to pool our energies and resources to create African-American home fashion collections that will be developed and licensed to mainstream manufactures and distributors. Our goal is to create new lines of home fashion developed, designed, and managed by African Americans.

It is time. Let me know what you are thinking.

More than Just an Experience

Every morning we should arise blessed with a sense of renewal. In spite of the current challenges we face today on many levels, we still seek to satisfy our search for inspiration and fulfillment… SO WE SHOP.

We have been told time and time again that the retail landscape is dramatically over stored, some say by hundreds of thousands of stores. This fact is undeniable, but finding a source for African-inspired home furnishings on a reliable basis still remains a huge challenge.

Clearly when money is no object it is relatively easier. Even then what is available is a version of products I describe as Shangri-la: poor imitations of authentic artifacts from places existing only in the manufacturer’s imagination… STILL WE SEARCH.

In the major metropolitan areas with substantial African-American populations, the task of filling this unmet need is being soldiered by forward-thinking entrepreneurs who are committed to promoting a sense of pride and awareness of the African culture. These individuals deserve our encouragement and support in their quest to advance the notion of African-inspired design.

In this article, I’ve shared with you images of our retail gallery opened in Columbus, Ohio. While at this moment we feel we are alone in the wilderness in our quest, a new-found ability to network with like souls gives us hope.

Are there any retail outlets carrying high-quality, African-inspired home furnishings? I encourage you to make us all aware of the retail/gallery owners in your city who are grass-root movers in this struggle. We would like to recognize and support them where it counts… LET’S SHOP!

From Runway to Hallway: African Cultural Inspiration

I am always fascinated by the migration of style from one segment to another. The notion that fashion is driven only by high-minded designers seems not to tell the whole story. While it is true that couturier design concepts at times seem over the top, they do signal to me a trend that creative types need to pay attention to – African cultural inspirations.

A recent New York Times Magazine spread deftly illustrates the juxtaposition of African-Americans and Africans IN America. This dramatic black-and-white photo shoot of Lacroix, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Prada, etc. designs, clearly defines a modern interpretation of an essence of African culture – textiles thought about in a unique and creative way.

The New Arrivals to our shores are bringing a new sense of energy and timeliness to the creative environment that will surely make its impact on all areas of fashion.

Tell me what you’re thinking.