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Features: As Seen in Print, Online & Television For all press inquires contact: Katherine@blinkpr.com, 305 490 5911 Blink PR Showroom, 212 966 8797 580 Broadway, Suite 604 Btw. Houston & Prince Street & naanab@naanab.com
I said it before and I am going to say it again ... African inspired prints/fabrics are the new Blacks. Designer Naana B. Moonspire mini ruffle dress is featured in Teen Vogue March 2010 Spring Fashion editorial titled Global Citizen. Honestly, I never knew of her work until I came across the editorial. She makes beautiful dresses that I, myself seeing wearing them. But, who is Naana B?
According to her site, Naana B is a self-confessed dream chaser and globetrotter. The designer began her artistic journey creating steel sculpture and paintings at Columbia University, later inspiring a long lasting love affair with clothing and accessories. After crafting and learning the elements of design, the line Naana B was conceived! A woman designing for women, Naana B takes the uniqueness and artistry of handbags and clothing seriously. The line reflects the free nature of the designer’s life and adventures. Handmade and produced by women artisans in Ghana (http://rcempowerment.org/), proceeds from all sales go to the Rural Communities Empowerment Centre in Ghana.
The designer has also been featured in fashion magazines such as Essence and Honey Magazines just to mention a few. If you wanna learn more about her work or for purchasing her pieces please visit her site Naanab.com. What do you think of her designs?
The outpouring of love for African Print/the "tribal" trend has been overwhelming...and spring 2010 isn't even underway yet! Love that the print pieces are incorporated with other contemporary pieces - don't they work with just about anything? Also love that they're the default focal point by reason of their brightness :-) We're happy that a Ghanaian designer's [Naana B] work was featured and we hope future spreads will include a wide range of designers of African descent. What say you?
Teen Vogue shows some love for the African print and the first dress was actually designed by Naana B which was featured on ciaafrique at least twice already! Do you like what you see?
What’s a plush fall coat without a coordinating handbag? That’s right nothing. So if you haven’t heard Naana B. has launched their collection’s line of handbags, evening wear and day wear for Fall 2009! The Naana B Collection is available for viewings/inquiries at the blink PR Showroom in Soho New York. "A woman designing for women, Naana B. takes the uniqueness and artistry of handbags and clothing to a new level. The line reflects the free nature of the designer’s life and adventures. A self-confessed dream chaser and globetrotter, the designer Naana B. began her artistic journey creating steel sculpture and paintings at Columbia University, later inspiring a long lasting love affair with clothing and accessories. After crafting and learning the elements of design, the line Naana B. was conceived! Handmade and produced by women artisans in Ghana (www.rcempowerment.org) proceeds from all sales go to the Rural Communities Empowerment Centre in Ghana" (Courtesy of blinkpr). And please visit www.naanab.com.
October 2009, SpoiledinLA.com
Naana B. Evening Wear
To my biggest surprise 2 days ago while browsing on the net, I decided to revisit some of my old posts to see if the links are still valid. That is when a visited the site of Naana B which was featured on Ciaafrique several times before as an accessory Designer. I really love the fact that each piece is hand-stitched by a group of women in Ghana and that proceeds from all sales go to the Rural Communities Empowerment Centre in Ghana. Check out these pictures and let me know what you think. I was thinking that these could be used for bridesmaids or even a red carpet event. Enjoy!!! 
Thursday, October 15, 2009
During Fashion Week, we got a chance to talk to Naana B. who designs beautiful handbags and clutches and now has a clothing line.
Naana B. – Bride and Bridesmaid Dresses and PURSES! 
"A woman designing for women, Naana B takes the uniqueness and artistry of handbags and clothing seriously. The line reflects the free nature of the designer’s life and adventures. Handmade and produced by women artisans in Ghana (http://rcempowerment.org/), proceeds from all sales go to the Rural Communities Empowerment Centre in Ghana." 
Gowns by Naana B - July 2009 To continue my theme of a traditional wedding, this week’s bridal collection is by Ghanaian Designer Naana B. the style of her gowns are very simplistic yet elegant and modern. If not for your wedding, consider similar styles for your engagement!
August 2009, World Bride Magazine Online 
Here at World Bride we celebrate the diversity in brides across the world and we know every bride-to-be and her maids are NOT wearing the same dresses. We were intrigued by this culturally influenced line by a young lady with origins in Ghana who wanted to celebrate the beauty in great fabric and even greater prints. Here are a few of our favorite pieces from the latest collection: 
We absolutely loved the fact that each piece is hand-stitched by a group of six women in Ghana and that proceeds from all sales go to the Rural Communities Empowerment Centre in Ghana. We’ll be doing an in-depth interview on the designer herself, until then you can find our favorite picks and more at www.naanab.com.
July 2009, Behind-The-Scenes Naana B. Photo Shoot A new season and a new collection! Naana B. celebrated the completion of her Summer/Fall 2009 womenswear collection with a photo shoot in NYC. Assembled that day was an incredible style and photography team who assisted in producing the shoot. The collection has expanded into evening and daywear. For more details see Clothing
July 2009, Obaasema
This tale of collaborative effort between mother and daughter, Philomena Amoako and Naana – the only name the latter prefers to be known as, – hinges on the underpinning of a charity organization established to provide services to improve the well-being of rural communities in Ghana. Through effectual initiatives, the Rural Communities Empowerment Center (RCEC), located in the eastern part of Ghana, at Apirede and Jumapo, has enhanced the lives of a segment of the abandoned population; all made possible by the mother in the duo. “I think what my mother has done which is really an inspiration is that she’s taken one village and she’s moved it to another one,” expresses Naana. “Really the theme of the whole center is to take one village at a time, so that one center is a testament of the whole community.” So where do the handbags fit in? Here is where the daughter steps in. As one with extensive academic background in the arts – undergraduate degree in Sculpture and Painting at Columbia University – Naana appears to possess a sharp eye for design. But what inspired the idea of crafting handbags and acting upon it was more than art. She passionately admits: “Everyday when I think of my mother and I think of where she came from, her father, what he did for her, that’s what makes me talk about [the handbags] and makes me excited about it because it’s about her.” The urbane handbag line is created by eight women associated with the RCEC center at Apirede; they are among a community of people in need of much help. To elaborate, Naana adds: “A lot of these women are people she’s giving a second education. That’s really who is behind this; a lot of them haven’t finished school, have no other alternatives and she’s given them a chance. Of course she can only help eight of them, but it would be great if she could help 30 or 40 at the same center.” Services provided by the RCEC include libraries, ICT programs, empowerment programs for women and activities for children between ages three and five. Eighty percent of the proceeds from the collection are donated to the center and the remainder is allotted to maintaining the line. It will be fair to deduce that the eight women have become the silent yet honored faces of the Naana B. line, carefully creating products – with direction and assistance of design liaisons – that appeal to the modern woman anywhere in the world. A fascinating feature of the collection, one must note, is its authenticity. Its creative use of the infamous Sika Print fabric, to produce handbags instead of clothing, stations the fashion line in a class of its own. The prices range from $50 to $250, with the higher end items produced from snake and python skins transported from Nigeria. “I think handbags are kind of like candy,” Naana states with a tinge of glee in her tone. “I love color; I love graphics and textiles so this is a great project because every season we’ve been able to do something different and because African fabric is so diverse.” The line’s fine collection of clutches made from Nigerian head scarves comes in a form seldom found today. The elaborate colorful designs and clean details add to its elegance, one created for the “sensible woman” as Naana terms it. It is safe yet exciting. The colors are far from overwhelming. It is one that facilitates the lifestyle of a woman who appreciates the simplicity of picking up a purse that holds everything she needs and still manage to look beautiful with minimal effort. Who is this sensible woman? Naana answers: “[She] is someone who travels a lot, someone who goes to a lot of functions, a performer, or someone who’s in the spotlight a lot but who also wants something that’s easy to use. So there’s utility. Sensible, meaning it’s easy to use, the zippers are strong, everything is contained.” But as alluring as the line is, it still must compete with a flood of talented designers for publicity. What distinguishes this collection from others, however, is the story behind its inception: it began as a project to raise money and awareness to profit activities of the RCEC and the women who create the chic handbags. More revenue from the venture could potentially result in the construction of more centers for more villages, like Apirede. But with every success comes challenges. “From a business standpoint when you’re building a brand, you’re building a team, and it’s very difficult,” Naana confesses. “You struggle with finding the right people and the biggest challenge behind this brand is finding people who actually believe in it.” She concedes, though, that African-content products are beginning to receive a wide embrace. “Now it’s like chic and fun.” The Naana B. line is now venturing into clothing, an evening wear collection launched this spring, all of which were produced through the center. Once again, the focus is diverted to the RCEC, a conscious effort made by Naana to keep alive the vision of the line and its connection to the center. “It’s a very personal story. The bags again, people see handbags and they think, ‘Oh I love it!’ but there’s more story to what it’s about,” Naana reiterates.
June 28th 2009, Ghana Rising Never mind diamonds; -globetrotting fashionista, Naana B's yummy 'on trend' bags are every 'girl-about-towns' best friend. Fabulous and chic, -and designed by Naana B, -these must have bags and are lovingly handmade made by a group of empowered artisans in Ghana - [with proceeds from all [bag] sales going to the Rural Communities Empowerment Centre in Ghana -http://rcempowerment.org/]. You'll be spoilt for choice [as there are too many yummy pieces to choose from] -just feast your eyes on the red, 'Kit Carry All' ($35.00) and the green, Clementine ($80.00) -both are big and stylish enough to carry all your essentials. Naana B has just launched a new couture collection of evening gowns and day wear - and viewings are by appointment only. For more information visit: http://www.naanab.com
March 16th 2009, Ciaafrique When I started this blog on the first people I have posted about was actually the Brand Naana B a NYC based handbag company. Voila quelques photos de sa nouvelle collection! 
February 2009 http://stylechile.blogspot.com
  Left: Blame it on Rio, $120.00, Right: The Python, $150.00 One of my favorite young designers is bringing us more of her fab designs. Remember Naana B.? Naana's been a busy bee since our last feature. In addition revamping her website and creating the Vixen collection, from which the snakeskin purses above are from, she designed two coutoure gowns for attendees of the inaugural balls and is set to launch a line of evening gowns and day wear in Spring '09. Log on to www.naanab.com for the latest. Tell her I sent ya! February 2009, Obaasema Winter Issue Great Perks For Your Fall Winter Wardrobe: Naana B. Bag It Up http://www.obaasema.com/Great_perks_for_fall_wardrobe.html  As summer comes to an end and the leaves begin to fall, let your wardrobe be inspired by the new season. Choose garments and accessories in rich hues such as forest green, plum, russet, cobalt blue, burgundy, ochre, bronze and gold. Choose decadent and sumptuous fabrics with details to remember. 
January 23rd 2009, Love Is Near [Fashion Music Design Poetry Life]. Lovely Bags From Naana B! http://loveisnear.blogspot.com 
January 20th, 2009, Inaugural Balls, Washington D.C. Naana B. makes a splash at the Inaugural Balls, dressing two attendees in couture gowns! Available beginning Spring 09' the Naana B. collection now includes a line of evening gowns and day wear! 
September 2008, Mimi Magazine Online Naana B. Re-Launches Its Website! http://mimimagazine.blogspot.com/2008/09/naana-b-re-launches-its-website.html 
August 2008, Mimi Magazine Online Mimi’s Life & Style List: Naana B. Bags http://www.mimimagazine.com/2008/may/04-05-lifeandstylelist01.html  July 2008 Boutique Spotlight: The Fashion Bomb Arm Candy Casa & Naana B http://www.the-fashion-bomb.com/2008/07/boutique-spotlight-arm-candy-casa.html  May 2007 Essence Magazine Cheap & Chic - Flirty Fashion For Under $60    April 2007 Fabulously Broke In The City: Naana B. Handbags http://fabulouslybrokeinthecity.blogspot.com  April 2007 Budget Diva: Naana B: Fab Finds & Site Watch! http://www.budgetdiva.net  April 2007 Spring Fashion 101 Style On Demand's Website of the Month www.styleondemand.com/StyleTipApr07.pdf http://www.styleondemand.com April 2007 Indie Lust: Fierce and Fair Trade! Fashion For Girls Who Want Original - Not off the Rack http://www.indielust.com/15/fierce-and-fair-trade FIERCE AND FAIR TRADE Posted on 17 April 2007 by Alexis Fierce… I like that word when it’s applied to fashion. It makes me think of Miss Jay Alexander. I want to put on some 4-inch heels and work my kitchen counter catwalk. And now I can attach it to a new symbol - Naana B. bags. Not only are these African inspired pieces fierce, they are also made by women artisans in rural Ghana. And as icing on the cake, the biggest tote will only set you back $60. This is something I would carry for Sunday morning brunch. Very sophisticated, without being over zealous.     April 2007 Naana B: Honey Magazine Online Interview Honeymag.Com: The True Voice Of The Urban Female Fabulous designer Naana B. shares her inspiration for Honey readers! www.honeymag.com  When did you become interested in designing? concentration was steel sculpture. I would spend hours in my art studio creating my pieces using a combination of fabric and steel. Working so closely with fabrics I started creating clothes of my own. I created my first collection while in college. I graduated from college and started taking various design classes at F.I.T. and Parsons and loved it. Who were your fashion influences? My mother stands out as my fashion icon. Growing up she collected some of the most beautiful shawls from her travels. Growing up, I loved to watch her throw them on so effortlessly. Her shawls are refined and chic – they tell a story about her life. New York's energy also inspires me – it's exciting, free-spirited and bold. I personally love to travel and discover new places. I love textiles and ceramics from India and Morocco. Having traveled all over Africa, I also incorporate the colorful prints and fabrics into my designs. How do you manage to stay fashionable? I follow the international fashion scene. It's modern and uninhibited – the trends are never predictable. They are always fresh and bold. The summer is definitely my favorite fashion season, and I tend to wear and carry my own pieces because they are so colorful. My twin sister definitely keeps me on my toes when it comes to how I dress. She's great at mixing and matching and her look is very chic and feminine. We swap clothes a lot, and it makes for a really fun wardrobe! Do you have any tips or words of advice for today's fun, fashionable, females? Wear what makes you feel beautiful and above all, what feels right! Women tend to believe that if they push the fashion envelope they will get it right, but they fail to realize that not all women look good in the same looks. Be adventurous, have fun and be you! How do you stay inspired? My clients inspire me. I meet and work with so many beautiful and amazing women in this business. I love designing for friends, because of their unique style and personality. March 2007 StyleChile: Style Star: Naana B. http://stylechile.blogspot.com STYLECHILE SATISFY YOUR PASSION FOR FASHION! SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 2007 STYLESTAR: NAANA B! Check out this fabulous line!  I went to lunch with a certain jet setting basketball playing friend who may or may not be forgiven for NOT telling me about the NBA's 2007 Court-ture fashion show--which he attended-- and spoke to me about only after he left! Anyway, he might be forgiven because he introduced me to the brother of designer the next day!  Naana B. is a sister comrade in arms who was trained in Visual Arts and Art History at Columbia University. Her work is inspired by famed artists Pablo Picasso, Paul Gaugain, Gustav Klimt and Mati Klarwein. Her line fuses a love of bold, bright color and the aesthetics of fabric and light installation.  As a citizen of the world, she is influenced by her adventures and travels to such places as Brazil, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.  Stay tuned for more on this fabulous designer...I will feature her on Honey Magazine online soon! Naana B. will also be featured in Essence Magazines summer issue--hitting stands the first week of April.I am in LOVE with these bags! Visit www.naanab.com to get your own! As if you didn't have reason enough to buy these bags and skirts, the Naana B. line is produced by women artisans in rural Ghana who are trained by CBLit (www.cblit.org), a non-profit organization that empowers women through small business development.Save the world and your wardrobe by purchasing one of these beautiful bags and skirts! Tell Naana B. I sent 'ya! |
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