ANKARA GENERATION FASHION REBORN

What is Ankara?

Destiny of the 'once before' cheap Ankara fabrics, have undergone a magical transformation. Elegant creativity of the designers has made it a preferred choice of the rich and famous, fashion couture designers and celebrities the likes of christian dior, louis vuitton, beyonce knowles, Rhianna, Nicki Minaj and the first lady herself Mrs. Michelle Obama, just to mention a few.

Ankara is a fabric that was normally reserved for cultural festivities. People felt that this fabric was too flowery, and too colorful. Formerly referred as Dutch was from Holland; this fabric acquired its current name Ankara when the Turks made a cheaper version of the fabric. Without a glamorous look, the fabric was regarded indigenous.

There was a time, when Ankara textiles were regarded as the fabric of the poor. But today, the fabric has undergone a magic transformation to become a choice of rich and famous. Fabrics which were once considered as out of fashion has changed to become a sizzling fad. Nowadays, Ankara fabric has become an inevitable part of any social functions. Fashion designers have sensed this trend, and are coming up with appealing designs to capture the apparel market.

Ankara fabric is believed to have its origin from a girl named Ankara. This fabric is usually made of 100% cotton and posses good strength when woven tightly. Good apparels tailored from these fabrics are expensive.

Ankara in the Fashion World:

This traditional African fabric has infiltrated the fashion world as well. Blended with other matching fabrics and with a good design, ankara fabrics are the fancy of many people. The appeal of the finished product depends on the creativity, and skills of the designer. Fashion gurus like Lunar, Aimas, Tiffany Amber, Memo, Gloss, and Cranberry have breathed new life into the fabric through their experience and creativity. Available in alluring designs, Ankara graces catwalks and has won laurels. Since it is a cotton fabric with different motifs, this fabric can be used for both office and formal occasions. A printed outfit with small motifs will make a perfect clothing.
This fabric has infinite creative applications like shirts, bags, clothes, dresses etc. Styles, and designs available for this cloth are endless which makes all people; men and women, young, and the aged become glued to it. Ankara has made a come back in a big way with modern patterns, and vibrant colors.

Ankara posses the capabilities of being able to dye faster and did not get stained much. Due to its virtues, this fabric was considered as a competitor of the Western adire cloth. As Nigeria is a fashion savvy part of Africa has taken the fabric, improved them, and has represented it to the world. Nigeria being a big market, offers vast potential for the manufacture and sales of Ankara. But, smuggling, and unfair trade practices in the nation has affected the local production.

Ankara fabrics have been the desired choice of African women. Due to its affordability, this garment was once considered suitable for under privileged. But with the lapse of time, the fabric found favor with contemporary fashion, and modern styles. Ankara has its own virtues, and looks more graceful when tailored in the right way.

Uses for Ankara (African Wax)

Africans are very creative and use these bold, festive fabrics to tell stories, poems and traditional African tales. Depending on the pattern of the design a specific name is given for example you will often hear people refer to the different design names like star, concord, shell, etc.

The cotton fabric used for Ankara is cool and durable and can be worn in various styles. African waxes are commonly worn in parties, weddings and other similar African occasions as aso-ebi. This is a Yoruba phrase for family cloth. The custom in Nigeria was for people from the same family to wear the same cloth to show you belong to a certain family. Now it can be worn as a uniform for the same group of friends in a party or more commonly in African Weddings. The blend of colors in these events makes it vibrant, fun and celebratory.

To wash this fabric it is advisable to hand wash or dry clean.

African Contemporary Dress (Ankara fabric)

We offer special rates for clients who wish to purchase African material (Ankara) as aso-ebi. So please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Woodin is another type of wax material which has become quite popular over the last few years.
Holland wax (Hollandis) is very similar to Ankara but is commonly made in Holland and is a copy of Ankara.  Ankara is gernearly better quality than Holland wax and is more authentic.  African Clothes Store stock both Hollandis and Ankara contact us to find out more.

WOMEN AND THEIR HAIR

HAIR OBSESSION

Celebrities like Beyonce Knowles, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Victoria Beckham and countless others regularly surprise the world with new and different hairstyles -- changing color, style and even the length of their hair -- over the course of just a couple days. Extensions don't only add length. You can choose to add volume instead (or in addition to length), which is perfect for fine, limp or thinning hair. Turn that bob into a mane! If your existing hair is at little as 3 inches long, you can get extensions, although the extent of your transformation may be limited if your hair is very short.

Extensions can be braided in, glued in, woven in, or -- if you only need a follicular boost for a special event -- clipped in.You can also add highlights or color -- with shades ranging from mild to wild -- to your hair with the use of extensions.The process isn't painful, so it shouldn't hurt a bit.
 How do they do it?

 This magic is made possible with the help of hair extensions and a talented stylist.

THE LOOK YOU ALWAYS WANTED

A lot of us have realized that our inner hottie has longer, thicker hair than we were actually graced with. (Consider it the follicle version of penis-envy.) My own muse has wavy hip-length locks... yet the universe taunts with me hair that, while cute, barely brushes my shoulders. And that's why hair extensions are so popular -- and not just in Hollywood! Girls the world 'round just love to realize that it is possible to take your current look and give it a lift and have any style you desire... well, for a few months, anyhow.

HAIR EXTENSIONS: VERSATILITY

When you consider the versatility, then you might just be excused for forgetting all the other pros and cons. Hair extensions are available in a wide range of colors. There are a lot of options available in terms of length and textures as well. They give you the opportunity to change your look, those with plain hair can opt for curls and those with curly hair can opt for straight hair. Moreover, you can try new hairstyles, which were impossible to have with your original hair. Also those who are not sure whether a hair color will suit them or not, they can always try it with hair extensions. Hair extensions thus provide a wide range of pros, to sum it up;
Clip-in and sew-in hair extensions are the cheapest, ranging from $60 to $100 if you do it at home, by yourself. They can also be easily removed without any damage.
Instant  change of style. Stay on for a long time. You can even go for a swim or shower without removing them. Fusion Hair extensions give volume to hair. Works well for someone having short hair. With their flexibility, these extensions provide a variety of hairstyle possibilities. Fusion Hair extensions last longer compared to the other types (up to 3 months)

CONS OF HAIR EXTENTIONs

Hair and Scalp Damage
Hair damage is a drawback which should not be ignored. Your hair can be damaged due to hair extensions. The gluing can lead to weakening of hair. Though our scalp easily carries the weight of our hair, it might take time to adjust to the added weight. Tight braiding done while attaching hair extensions can cause hair to be pulled at the scalp causing breakage of natural hair. The glue used can also lead to scalp burning.

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You can have hair extensions at a price range of $150 to $2500. The cost varies depending upon the quality of extension and the length. The cost factor also depends on the salon you choose. While you go through the various pros and cons, you will understand that the cost element is of utmost importance. This is because you will be investing a lot if you don't want to damage your natural hair. Quality hair extensions and a good beauty professional are very important for perfect attachment. Now, both these things will surely lead to spending a fortune. Moreover, this will not be a permanent thing. So why not try some fashionable haircut and styling on your natural hair, as this will lend a natural look with zero damage. It will also last for a longer duration and the hair care required will be considerably less.

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