Spotlight on an African Designer: Bespoke Binny

Binny is a Cognitive Behavior Therapist (CBT) by day, but has still managed to find time to create Bespoke Binny, a line of amazing home furnishings and accessories. Your house will definitely stand out from the rest, with Bespoke Binny specialising in cushions, lampshades and dining cloths that are beautifully and intricately covered with traditional Ghanian materials, Ankara and Kente. The Nyansa 'Wisdom' Cushions have carefully selected motivational African Proverbs, my favourite being 'If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together', aiming to uplift and inspire its customers. Even more inspiring- a percentage of each cushion purchased supports the charity Fair For All, which supports women who have been victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and forced marriage. What is not to love?! I'm grateful to have just discovered this brand on Instagram and I cant wait to support and see what they launch next!

Some of the collection...

www.bespokebinny.com

www.facebook.com/bespokebinny

www.twitter.com/bespokebinny

Instagram: Bespoke Binny

-Posted by Vanessa 

48 hours in Atlanta

I've lived in Atlanta for just over a year and am about to embark on a new journey, in a new city- Washington, DC. Even though I've lived in Atlanta for a while, I still feel like I haven't even seen 10% of the city. The only quintessential "touristy" activity I've done is visit Georgia Aquarium. The only thing I feel somewhat confident in suggesting when visiting Atlanta is where to eat and where to stroll. The food scene in Atlanta is INCREDIBLE, with many restaurants giving Southern food a unique twist. I thought I'd share my absolute favorite places in Atlanta and suggest what I'd do if I could only spend 48 hours in this great city. I hope some of you will find this handy when visiting! I'm sure there's plenty more to be discovered but these places are where I will have lasting, positive memories.

Day 1

Firstly, when staying in Atlanta I'd STRONGLY suggest finding a hotel that isn't Downtown or in Buckhead. The Midtown area is the most walk-able and is more distinct. I'd also suggest using Uber as your mode of transportation if you don't have a car- an easy app to download and much cheaper than regular taxis.

I'd wake up and grab a coffee and some pastries from Octane in Grant Park and the Little Tart Bakeshop inside. If you're a little hungrier, just opposite is Ria's Bluebird for a more hearty breakfast. Octane has the best coffee and just has a great vibe about it. The pastries are delicious and there's a good selection of sweet and savory- my favorites being the savory bread pudding and the brown sugar almond cake.

Following that deliciousness, you can walk through the historic cemetery nearby and make your way to Sweet Auburn Curb Market in Edgewood. This market is a great place to stroll through- with different vendors serving meals, groceries, even a book store. If you've had the light breakfast option, you can grab a snack from my personal favorite, Arepa Mia (Venezuelan food).

Now this would be the time to get any "touristy" activities out of the way since you're practically Downtown. Whether it's the Martin Luther King Jr. historical site or museum, the Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola or SkyView Atlanta, there are plenty of choices. Following this, I'd head to the Park Tavern in Piedmont Park for a relaxing drink and to watch the sunset.

Day 2

For this day, I'd suggest checking out the Decatur, Virginia Highlands, Little Five Points and East Atlanta Village neighborhoods. They are all fairly close to each other and are collectively my favorite parts of the city. Decatur has some cute boutiques and great restaurants- such as Cakes & Ale (where you can grab coffee). If it's on the weekend, I'd suggest going to the farmer's market and picking up a light snack there. But save room for the real highlight- an Urban Cannibals sandwich in East Atlanta Village. If I could eat here every single day, I would! The owner is lovely as well.

Strolling through Little Five Points, you will find a bunch of random and interesting boutiques. You will find the same in the Virginia Highlands neighborhood but they are more upscale. Another suggestion if you aren't too tired from walking, would be to walk the Atlanta Belt Line. It has great views of the city and often good street art too.

Finally, check out Miso Izakaya for dinner. Everything on their menu is delicious. 

Now I'm hungry...

- Posted by Olympia

HIJABISTAS

Contrary to popular Western belief, females that rock modest clothing (aka Hijabistas) are some of the most fashionable people ever. Think about it- having to be completely covered while still managing to look straight dope is a skill. Hijabistas are a living testimony that showing skin can be sexy, but not showing skin can be equally so. We particularly enjoy the pride that these women carry for their cultural customs and the way something that is consistently criticized in Western media is celebrated here. It shows that this fashion- the hijab- is not necessarily oppressive at all, but rather varied, creative and beautiful.

These are SOME of our favourite looks:

-Posted by Olympia and Vanessa 

LIFE...?

Just a short post, more so just me venting. Over the weekend, a beautiful and loved soul in the Sydney community passed away. His caring spirit was extremely infectious, never ceasing to have a smile on his face. I know it shouldn't take the loss of someone's life to be grateful, but it has not only left me heartbroken every time I think about it, but also raised so many questions. I would never question God's authority and will, but why do the good ones always go first? Why if someone lives a healthy and admirable lifestyle do they have to be taken away so soon? What about the extreme pain his loved ones are going through? Why is life sometimes not fair? I know I will never get answers to these questions, but will rather find comfort in knowing God needed him for a purpose more greater than one on earth. More importantly, the lesson in simply LIVING! Embracing all the beautiful moments and people that are surrounding us in this present moment, for life is too short and can be taken away just like that. Live and love more passionately. Cease the moment. I pray God gives strength to his family and friends, to get through this battle knowing they are not alone. I pray God reminds people of his presence and to trust in all that he does. I pray God lets him rest easy and peacefully. RIP Kodjo

-Posted by Vanessa

Our Top Looks from the 2014 Met Gala!

1. Blake Lively in Gucci- what an incredible figure!

2. Diane Kruger in Hugo Boss- pure elegance

3. Rihanna in Stella McCartney- so effortless

4. Alicia Quarles in Zac Posen- timeless 

5. Joan Smalls in Vera Wang- YES purple lips!

6. Zoe Kravitz in Topshop- super sexy and confident (really digging the blonde hair on her too)

- Posted by Olympia and Vanessa

Spotlight on an African Production: An African City

My latest obsession, the amazing web series, An African City! 

I know all of my fellow Africans strongly dislike the ignorance displayed in popular media's depiction of Africa. The many images you see on screens are most often limited to AIDS, poverty, or even safari/wildlife. Sadly, images of this sort skew the mentalities of many people. These images turn the masses away from the rich, complex culture and beauty that Africa manifests. This is where An African City comes in. Creator of the show, Nicole Amarteifio, challenges this lack of knowledge through the uniquely scripted show based around 5 young, beautiful and successful women living in Accra, Ghana. Although one could compare the show to 'Sex and the City', 'Single Ladies' and 'Girlfriends', An African City is definitely in a league of its own. 

The show perfectly displays the raw beauty that Ghana has to offer. From current hot spots, to the top Afrobeats, to the latest African designers (the style is so on point btw!), An African City has become a platform for creative people of African descent to showcase their talent. The show not only makes me miss the motherland like crazy, but also helps me appreciate the ties to my roots, my people and my culture. It reaffirms my purpose, where I'm from and where home is. However, there's one thing I would change about the series- the episodes need to be longer! Finishing one episode leaves me wanting more each time...

With the first season coming to an end, I recommend all those that have not yet jumped on the bandwagon to do so immediately, before the finale. I sincerely hope to see many more seasons of An African City. I am crossing my fingers that the hard work of the writers, cast, and production team pays off, with them being given an international opportunity to shine.

Here is the first episode (the whole series can easily be accessed on their channel):

The cast is not only super gorgeous, but also super talented. You can follow their individual journeys on Twitter:

Creator: @Allthingsafrica 

Nana Yaa: @MaameYaaBoafo 

Sade: @itsnanamensah 

Ngozi: @EsosaE 

Makena: @Marielaly on Instagram. Random fact: Marie actually went to school down-under (Australia), as she graduated from Deakin University in Melbourne. How cool! 

Zainab: @MsAdjei 

-Posted by Vanessa 

One of the Best Campaigns, One of the Worst

This Tuesday, the New York Police Department (@NYPDnews) encouraged its followers to tweet pictures of positive interactions between themselves and the public, using #myNYPD.

This was the kind of thing they were hoping for...

Instead, these are the kinds of images that were posted...

As someone who works in publicity, the thing that STUNNED me about this social media campaign was the lack of basic thought put into it. A couple of years ago, McDonalds did a similar campaign using #McDstories, asking customers to share their favorite McDonald's memories. Of course, thousands of horror stories about hairs and fingernails in food shortly came out and they had to shut it down. NYPD clearly didn't learn from McDonalds' mistake! 

One thing brands need to be aware of, is how you can't control the public's response to the campaigns you create so it's best to play it safe- especially if you are as controversial as, say, the police or a fast food company.

Now on to something more positive...

At the beginning of this year, Swiffer decided to release the commercial below featuring:

1) A multiracial family, including a white man, a black woman and their two children

2) The husband/father, an amputee after losing his arm to cancer

3) HIM doing the household cleaning (Yes, not the woman!)

Although this commercial could have come across as contrived or too sentimental, it presented a genuine story of a loving family who actually benefit from this boring product that would perhaps otherwise garner zero attention. 

One of the things I love about our current digital world is the creative, often awful, often fantastic ideas brands and companies come up with for their campaigns. Thought I'd share this as it's particularly relevant to my career and maybe some of yours out there!

- Posted by Olympia