A MAG is a Modern African Girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things which may interest a MAG.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Doré Fasolati, this week's subjects: Celebrating one year, Oldie but Goldie, Make-up ingredients, African cuisine, Espadrilles, one or two, Unkept promises.

Celebrating one year. On the 24th of June, 2022 it is one year ago that I launched this blog, and I want to thank all of you who have supported me and given me positive criticisms. A year goes by fast, but writing 52 blogs took more of my time than I had anticipated, but so it be it, and I continue. Amen. A few things stand out in this past year. The old fashion guard who so strongly influenced the 60's and 70's, causing a real revolution then, are going home one by one and their efforts have mainly been taken over by huge multi-billion conglomerates. The internet continues to change the fashion landscape, and internet sales are up a steady 10 % per annum for a few years now, and Covid gave that one a big push as well, and the first big brick-and-mortar casualties are showing. As Darwin said, the one who can adapt most will survive, not the strongest or the most intelligent. The Internet also influences what we buy, either because it has become fashionable on social media, or because of price, and some have made huge inroads into this fast and cheap fashion market, with some Chinese leading the pack. Which goes straight against the latest trend word, sustainability. The world is slowly waking up to fashion being the number 4 biggest polluter and it is becoming trendy again to wear second-hand clothes and to repair. Which has it's own problems again, Ghana is a big importer of the Obroni Waawu, for economic rather than for environmental reasons, but has to throw a big apart away because it is unusable, even for the poorest, and this ends up in our gutters. The supply countries have picked this up and are looking at bans on exports, seemingly not aware that many Africans simply cannot afford new. And, another side of sustainability is quality, and also this side is growing, with sales up for the big and exclusive brands, even our own Woodin and GTP still continue kicking. But the big brands seem to be running out of creativity, leaving space for the younger and more enthusiastic ones. Ghana is missing out there, our fashion schools are overflowing but we have 3 fashion weeks competing, rather than coordinating and pooling resources and getting the world to come and watch. And place orders. And like our music industry which is almost completely corrupted (payola), our model industry seems corrupted on a different level, the organizers insist on taking unfair advantage of the girls, and that for almost no pay or no pay at all. I am often thinking on how to put Ghana better onto the world fashion map. Think with me. A last one from last year: warnings about cancer-causing and hormone-changing chemicals in our cosmetics and foods (or clothing) are popping up more and more frequently. Take heed.

Oldie but Goldie

Puff sleeves are back in vogue and are here to stay.

I remember somewhere in the 90’s when our mothers will rock their kaba and slit with puff sleeves; my brother and I used to make fun of my mom and her outrageous sleeves. It was a huge fashion amongst our mother’s era. After 30 years it’s become mainstream fashion of which other styles have been recreated.

A little history here; Puff sleeves date back to the Renaissance period of Europe, from the 14th to the 17th century. This form of the puff sleeve was called the Juliet sleeve, named after Shakespeare's heroine in “Romeo and Juliet.” It features a large puff near the shoulder that narrows for the rest of the arm's length. A response to a decade prior's focus on shapeless silhouettes and more masculine styles.

Puff sleeves are a trans-seasonal style staple that you can wear throughout the year; from dainty dresses and summery crop tops to dressy shirts perfect for layering and party-ready velvet bodysuits. As they say, the perfect trends are the ones that stick around for years to come.

Make-up ingredients. I bought an eye shadow pallet for my niece, supposedly “safe”, and decided to have a good look at the ingredients. Mentioned were Talc, Mica, Paraffinum Liquidum, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Petrolatum, Silica, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Zinc Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Tin Oxide, Ethylhexylglycerin [+/–] CI 77491, CI 77891, CI 77289, CI 15985, CI 77510, CI 42090, CI 15850, CI 77492, CI 77007, CI 45410, CI 73360, CI 19140, CI 77499 and CI 16035. And that is for a “safe “ product…..

Earlier I talked of African cuisine reinventing itself and this trend is now becoming mainstream. Kigala cook Dieuveil Malonga is combining food from 48 African countries in his restaurant Meza Malonga. And he has opened a platform called Chefs in Africa for aspiring Chefs. And a school in his restaurant. Spread the word, there is better in Africa than KFC. CNN already took note.

Espadrilles, one or two? In previous issues I said a lot about espadrilles, originally a French/ Spanish product. Because of it’s rising popularity the Chinese are now producing them as well, and the quality I got obviously was what we call Chinese quality. So a strip came loose, and here I was, fighting for my visa, on one espadrille. So check them before you go out.

Unkept promises. I promised to let you know potential hunting places for good husbands, but that will have to be next week, been very busy. Sorry.

Lydia...

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