There’s nothing like walking down the street secure in the knowledge that if a gunfight breaks out you’ll be wearing bulletproof fashion. I’m not speaking of bulletproof clothing, but bulletproof fashion. The difference is merely a fashionable one. You’re looking at the new age of fashion in South Africa where designer Miguel Caballero has created a fashion line that services folks that need a little extra protection while looking glamorous at the same time. Ari Ben David, a showroom owner in South Africa wants to bring the idea to the masses by putting it on display and for sale from his showroom.

Keep in mind that bulletproof clothing has always been more expensive that its regular brethren mainly because of the fabric used to put it together. But in South Africa where a wave of crime has hit some cities, being safe comes with a spare no expense way of thinking. Caballero’s fashions are able to withstand Ak-47 rounds and 9mm rounds as well. For an extra fee you can also get protection from knife stabs. Mr. Ben David is well aware that the clothes are still on the expensive side and out of reach for most South Africans, but it is a start and it’s available for those who are willing to spend the money.

Reading the online edition of Vanguard Newspaper, Nigeria’s daily, one starts to think that the fashion worlds on different continents are are not so dissimilar. Reading through YEMISI ABAH’s article is like looking through a mirror albeit with some obvious differences. Abah, writes and an article in Sunday’s Vanguard that highlights some of the upcoming Nigerian Fashion trends including references to tailored pants and voluminous skirts which made me look at a recent posting on Papierdoll’s US edition and lo and behold, the Maxi skirt is looking to be a staple in the states as well.

It’s not exactly the same you say? Ok. Here in Hong Kong cocktail shorts are all the rage, bling accessories are not high on the radar in some places, but in general, once again, they rate high on the Hong Kong radar. So does this say that we share more in common that what separates us? Probably not. You’d be hard pressed to find the colorful Nigerian garb on someone in Hong Kong and saris are a novelty in Amsterdam I’m sure. But Abah’s article illustrates that the world is getting smaller and trends are becoming less a regional thing and more global.

Read the entire article here.

It’s interesting how insulated we can be. Here in Hong Kong I watch Big Brother, not realizing that Nigeria has it’s own version of the Big Brother show. The Vanguard Online Edition has an interview with a star from Big Brother Nigeria. Helen Eremiokhale was interviewed by the Nigerian paper on her stint at the show, her views on fashion and many other things. I’m sure this is what we meant by international fashion, but I didn’t realize that it would come in the form of Big Brother. Read the interview here.

Marc Bouwer is one of the more prolific designers of our day. Creating a variety of pieces for the high street, for QVC (M for Marc Bouwer) and for Hollywood. Now South Africa’s native son returns home for completely altruistic reasons. Bouwer has come out in full support of Sun International’s POSI+IVE an event that melds fashion, art, music and cuisine all to benefit Sun International’s HIV-Aids initiatives the Tapologo Aids Hospice, Noah, St Michael’s and the Missionvale Care Centre in South Africa.

How a woman can forgive a man responsible for the death of her family in the Rwandan Genocide is beyond most people. But survival through the country’s most difficult time brings stories of hope like this one out in many different ways. On CNN today is just one story of a woman who went from holding something worse than contempt in her heart for a man who had a direct hand in the death of her family, to forgiveness and now hope. She is helping in the creation of Rwandan Peace baskets that actually end up helping her country.

Instead of sending aid, Macy’s is providing trade. Helping to set up this business in Africa as a result of the hard work and creativity of the Rwandan people. Visit the story behind this site here and visit the Rwandan shop here. We’d the whole online store if we could.

After much turmoil and violence not normal to relatively stable Kenya, it looks like things are returning to normal. What better way to assuage the savagery and fires that burn in man than a fashion show with models. The Kenyan tourism board feels that that is the way and as a result they are hosting a celebrity fashion show. Some of the designers involved have dressed leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Laurent Gbagbo, President of Côte d’Ivoire. While African fashion has not been on everyone’s radar, Ports 1961 recent showing illustrates that the big feline prints and multi-colored pieces are all welcome to the trendsetters and taste makers. Alphadi is of particular interest specifically because of the Arabic designer haute couture line. The designer will be showing a collection at the upcoming fashion show.

online: allAfrica.com