FashionAFRICANA is one of the leading African-inspired Fashion and Art events in Pittsburgh. Established in 2001, FashionAFRICANA celebrates the beauty and diversity of the African Diaspora through Design, Dance, Music and curated exhibitions. Utilizing Africa’s diverse cultural heritage, the show reflects the vitality of the creative human spirit and has showcased the diverse talents of fashion designers and artists from all over the world including Africa, Europe and the United States. The intent of FashionAFRICANA has always been to share the breadth and richness of African textures, ethos and history through the language of fashion.

In collaboration with the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, FashionAFRICANA presents GLAMAZONIA, a photography exhibition – by renowned Paris-based photographer Mario Epanya. GLAMAZONIA is a tribute to African beauty and hairstyles inspired by GLAMOUR and the AMAZON woman. Born in Cameroon, Epanya celebrates his African ancestry and customs through his interpretation of the aesthetics and shapes used by African ancestors for ceremonial and special occasion dress. This glorious showcase of Beauty features over 30 images of Black women from contemporary full-color photography to vintage black-and-white images, celebrating the beauty and diversity of the Diaspora.  Showcasing African-inspired images, accessories and garments, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see beauty and fashion as the practice of some of the most extreme strategies to conform to shifting concepts of the physical ideal.  The exhibition will also feature African-inspired sculptural work by Pittsburgh’s 2012 Emerging Artist of the Year, Vanessa German and garments by FashionAFRICANA.

Saturday, December 8, 2012 was held the FashionAFRICANA show and celebration of GLAMAZONIA at the August Wilson Center  and the exhibit opens to the public (free) on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 and runs through March 30, 2013.

http://fashionafricana.com/FA3/projects/

2011 FashionAFRICANA Photograph Jordan Kay models Ike and Robin

shells – 2012 FashionAFRICANA: Photograph © Mario Epanya, GLAMAZONIA