Item of the Day

The Leather Bow Clutch by Aimas is the perfect accessory for Summer.

Leather Bow Clutch by Aimas

Get 20% off this clutch and other items by Aimas using promo code AIMAS11 during checkout. Offer ends 31st May 2011.

Just out- Taé

The Efe dress from the new EMOTAN collection by Taé

Get the Look for Less

The Lola Top by Coccolily (£139/$225) vs the Ruby Mesh Top by Marc Jacobs (£1740/$2816).

Lola Top by Coccolily

Ruby Mesh Top by Marc Jacobs

Wear with high-waisted shorts or denim jeans. Alternatively, for the perfect summer look, team the Lola top with the Seraphina Skirt by Tiffany Amber.

  

My Asho Giveaway!

Taking cue from our friends at Urbanknit, My Asho is having a giveaway!

Our giveaway item is the beautiful Mkono necklace from Lalesso. This necklace was designed by Jennifer Kinnear and handmade by SOKO Kenya - the production house initially set up by Lalesso and which currently produce the ASOS Africa collections.

Mkono Necklace

The Mkono necklace is made using recycled brass and has a gorgeous cockle shell pendant. It makes an ideal summer accessory and we think it is best worn with statement summer dresses from Lalesso, which you can view and purchase here.

HOW TO WIN:

Browse around the My Asho website and let us know your favourite items by leaving a comment here. That's it!

For additional entries:

• Blog about the giveaway and link to this post or the My Asho website. Please leave a comment here to let us know.
• Submit to any social network (StumbleUpon, Facebook, etc) - Click on the "Share This" at the bottom right of this post. Leave a comment here to let us know.
• Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. And then leave a comment here to let us know.
• Follow us on Twitter. And then leave a comment here to let us know.
• Become a My Asho Facebook fan. And then leave a comment here to let us know.

It is important to leave a separate comment for each of the entries, as this increases your chances of winning.

WHO CAN WIN:

Anyone can enter and you can do so as many times as you like.

The giveaway will run for 14 days so will end at midnight GMT on the 1st June 2011 (which happens to be our 2nd Birthday!). A winner will be picked at random and announced. We will need to contact you for your address so we can ship out your gift, so please do visit this blog on the 1st June when the winner is announced. And yes! We will ship to most destinations around the world - FREE OF CHARGE!!!

Good luck and please spread the word!

This giveaway is now closed. The winner is lin3arossa. Congratulations!!!!

Celebrating Fashion Today

Founded in 1957 by African women dedicated to uplifting the plight of disadvantaged women and children, the International Womens Society (IWS) proudly presents "Celebrating Fashion Today" - a coffee table book showcasing the very best of West African fashion with all proceeds of sale donated to the IWS Home for Abandoned Children.

Nigeria is a thriving and pulsating hotbed of creative fashion and its contemporary designers - both home-grown and Diaspora, are beginning to force Africa’s style and voice onto the global scene. The book contains stylish imagery and photography from fashion shoots, catwalk shows and exhibitions. "Celebrating Fashion Today" also uncovers the vibrant and fascinating fashion industry of the continents largest nation from an insiders point of view. It profiles fashion pioneers such as Duro Olowu and features My Asho designers including Jewel by Lisa, Tiffany Amber and Ituen Basi.

The book also contains a comprehensive fashion glossary, compiled by StyleHouseFiles explaining the styles and techniques involved in the production of African materials such as Aso Oke and Ankara

Each book is beautifully presented in an African print book cover produced by Colours in Africa. If you are genuinely interested in African fashion and its growing influence on the global stage, this is a must read book for you. Get your copy today exclusively at myasho.com

For more about the International Womens Society, please click here

For more about the launch of this book, please click here and here.

My Asho's Take on the 70's

Fashion's funkiest (and arguably) most decadent decade- the 70's- took a firm hold of the catwalks this S/S '11 season. Let's not forget that this is the season that spawned iconic glamorous designers like Halston, YSL, Gucci and Fiorucci. This was a time when no one batted an eyelid when ladies danced on the infamous dance floors of Sudio 54 drenched in Opium, glossy red lipstick and lacquered nails intact, wearing their racy finest.

SHOP THE LOOK: Pink Jumpsuit by Christie Brown Ghana

This season, designers have offered us two different ways to interpret this trend- we can go the hippie free, fringed and flowing route (à la Roberto Cavalli) or we can incorporate all that was glamorous and elegant about the 70's (à la Marc Jacobs). My Asho chooses to opt for the latter and go down the elegant route of bright bold colours and iridescent fabrics.

To wear the 70's trend today, look no further than this Fuschia pink jumpsuit offering by Christie brown Ghana. The pièce de résistance of this ensemble is the unique fabric covered bead detailing on the ankle cuff. With such a rich outfit, you need only accessorise it with a lot of D.I.S.C.O attitude.

These are a few of My Asho's favourite things...

'Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...'

These are the opening lines to the iconic song 'My Favourite Things' from 'The Sound of Music'. These are just a few of the things that Maria (played by the incomparable Julie Andrews) thinks about when she is feeling sad, so as not to feel so bad.

A good amount of decades on, My Asho - by way of its fabulous collection of Electric Statement Accessories - gives us a healthy dosage of necklaces, bags, belts and so much more, to add to our list of favourite things. So now you can shop yourself happy!

Here are just a few of My Asho's favourite accessories:

1. Yellow Ankara Clutch, 'Urban Knit'

This vibrantly coloured super-snap clutch will take you effortlessly from your day to evening wear. And whilst its doing that, you will be killing two key S/S '11 trends with one stone- Print and Colour. International labels like Versus, Etro, and Michael Van Der Ham all sent their models sashaying down the catwalks with clutches grasped firmly in their palms. Take note.

Yellow Ankara Clutch by Urbanknit

2. Feather Necklace, 'Christie Brown, Ghana'
Modern Craft was a popular theme that ran seamlessly through the international catwalks this S/S'11. Feathers, raffia, tassels were applied to pieces to give them rich, cultural texture and age-old artisan techniques like plaiting and weaving were implemented to create pieces that looked beautifully handmade. Create your own memorable historical moment by adorning your neck with this unique statement bib necklace.

Feather Necklace by Christie Brown Ghana

3. Ankara Head Piece, 'Aimas' 

What is not to love about this cute Ankara print head piece, with its adorable bow fixings? Designers like Marc Jacobs, Alberta Ferretti, Lanvin and Prada all used head accessories to drive their point fashionably home. And now you can be head girl without the designer price-tag.

Ankara Head Piece by Aimas

4. Bijou Obi Belt, 'Ituen Basi', £22

Several collections this season showed heavy inspiration and influence from the East. Most especially, Frida Giannini at Gucci reigned in her bold colour-blocked looks with shiny metallic Obi belts. To replicate this waist-cinching trend, look no further than Ituen Basi's Bijou Obi belt.

Bijou Obi Belt by Ituen Basi

Shop at myasho.com today and get 10% off all accessories with promo code BIKI FAVE 2011. Offer ends 20th May 2011.

Are you Sitting Comfortably?

The versatility of Batiks and prints is almost limitless and we've brought to you a selection of African inspired homeware that we have come across. What better way to add that extra flash of fun and colour to your living room or bedroom. These would work so well in a contemporary, modern, minimal interior and will make your living space pop with colour and pattern.




Comfort and Samuel
Go gorgoeous Adire (tie and dye) with Comfort and Samuel with a lovely scalloped edge detail.




SisterBatik
A different take on patchwork from Sisterbatik. Very interesting!




Amani At home
Bold print with Amani at Home
Ituen Basi
Go patchwork with Ituen Basi