The Ankara Festival Los Angeles, created by Peter "Lentini' Efezokhae, was pure fabulousness! Designers from Nigeria, Berkeley, Los Angeles and Bloomington brought their avant garde/afro chic, co-ed fashions to the Belasco Theatre, in downtown L.A.
Hosted by the crazy talented Yvonne Orji and Duain Richmond, this event was anything but your typical fashion show. There were performances by a fantastic international dance troop as well as Nigerian musical artists. And before the show began, vendors made available, baubles, bangles and clothing made from African textiles.
I do not possess a vocabulary that can give the fashions their just due. Fortunately, my camera was right there on the front row with me and was all too willing to capture the awesome that strutted its stuff on the runway.
A special shout out to one of the show's co-producers, and a local Nigerian curvy curly, Dunnie Onasanya! Thank you for such a rich afternoon!
xo
Lila
headliner Evarize
hosts Yvonne & Duain cutting up
Mahrima Suma of Sumahrie Collections (in black) & friend