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Actual Frame Of Mind

@actualframeofmind

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Documenting, amplifying and connecting forward-thinking fashion from Africa and the diaspora to a global community.

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Family in Focus est un projet photographique qui explore la famille et les identités diasporiques à travers le portrait. Inspiré de la tradition de la photographie de studio africaine, Family in Focus fait venir le studio photographique africain à Paris le temps d’un week-end.

Nous vous invitons à venir seul·e, entre ami·e·s ou en famille pour vous faire photographier par Ayan Abdi.

📍 Samedi 27 juin
À partir de 13h
Allée des Flandres, Paris 19e

📍 Dimanche 28 juin
À partir de 13h
Aire de jeux Jules Verne
Rue des Roches, Montreuil

Inscription par DM ou par e-mail :
familyinfocusparis@gmail.com

GD by: @350jam taken in Paris by @actualframeofmind

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4 months ago

I was honored to be invited on @bbcafrique
radio earlier this month to share my perspective on African women in fashion and reflect on their presence, contribution and challenges faced in the industry.

African women have always existed across the entire fashion value chain, from craftsmanship on the continent to leadership roles in global luxury and media. What’s new is not our presence, but the visibility and the growing ability to define our own narratives.

Over the past decade, many have reclaimed autonomy through self-led initiatives and digital platforms. But visibility alone is not emancipation. Tokenism, fragile leadership roles, and structural barriers still shape who gets seen, supported, and sustained.

Actual Frame of Mind aims to shift the gaze, center context, and tell stories beyond a narrow, Western definition of African fashion.
Because representation without ownership is not progress.

Thank you to the BBC Afrique for the space ❤️

Swipe through to read more & continue the conversation ! Check out the link in the bio to listen to the full episode.

#africanfashion #bbcafrique #bbcafrica #blackwomeninfashion #lagosfashionweek by @actualframeofmind

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10 months ago

One of our favorite things to do in Paris is being able to catch-up with friends once in a blue moon in a crowded brasserie for a quick lunch. So we’re taking you along with us in this second episode of #PARISFACES.

We caugh up with Gaston, the fashion designer behind @natoka.live.
His approach to upcycling channels elements of vintage sourcing, streetwear and craftsmanship to tell stories of belonging, reminiscing, and celebrating.

Through unique silhouettes, prints and patchworked fabrics, NATOKA celebrates the energy of the iconic 19th district in Paris and its multicultural influences.

Get ready to be inspired by Gaston’s personal journey and his commitment to conscious fashion as we dive deep into his universe !

Special thanks to @lebeauzaire for the archive images

Music : Basa Basa - African Soul Power taken in Paris, France by @actualframeofmind

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3 years ago

@fabienzou‘s eponymous label tells stories from the Caribbean. From traditional ceremonies and his mother’s beauty rituals to women encountered during his travels, the Guadeloupean designer draws inspiration from everyday experiences, translating them into clothing that can be as simple as it is extravagant.

In our conversation, Fabien brings these influences together under a notion he describes as “Caribbean poetry.”For him, it reflects the richness of Caribbean culture, shaped by a complex history and a unique blend of African, Indian and European influences.

While his creations establish a sartorial dialogue between European tailoring and traditional Caribbean costumes, they also reflect his vision of how his community should be represented, particularly Black women, whom he believes deserve greater visibility and recognition within the fashion industry.

When we last spoke, Fabien shared his ambition to dress major artists. **Spoiler alert:** he went on to do just that, working with none other than the Queen of France herself, Aya Nakamura, designing stage outfits for her dancers on the DNK tour and looks for her Lancôme campaign.

Swipe through to read the interview.

Design, creative direction & styling : @fabienzou
Models : @melodiemonrose, @ingrid_onissah, @kiingmara, @ruthikondo
Photography: @richarcassius
Video: @cassiusguillaume

@ayanakamura_officiel for @lancomeofficial styled by @thesecretlifeofayoub

#blackdesigners #caribbeanfashion #blackfashiondesigner #emergingdesigners by @actualframeofmind

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2 days ago

Before John Galliano at Zara or H&M’s collab with Balmain under Olivier Rousteing in 2015, we got the @maisonalaia x TATI collection in 1991.

In 1991, minimalism was at an all time high (compared to the 80s), with the rise in popularity of Japanese and Belgium designers and the likes of Helmut Lang or Jil Sander.

In opposition to this minimalist renaissance and monochromatic landscape, Alaia continued to expand his world with various cultural influences. He talked about how the TATI signature Gingham (Vichy print) became a postcard of Paris to him when he saw people traveling back to Tunisia with the signature pink and white printed shopping bag.

For Azzedine, a print would become a stronger timestamp on a garment than a solid color. So borrowing this print for his collection created a dialogue between couture and high street, in a way that also integrated a signifier of the diasporic experience.

The Barbes retail landmark known for selling textile goods at the lowest price was also founded by a Tunisian immigrant, Jules Ouaki, and expanded beyond France from 1994, with the opening of a store on Fifth Avenue in New-York in 1998.

This spontaneous collaboration that paid homage to a Parisian cultural landmark later became a go-to marketing model in the industry.

Postcard illustration by Thierry Perez.

#azzedinealaia #90sfashion #diasporafashion #africanfashiondesigner by @actualframeofmind

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6 days ago

@aschniyonzima in @isaboulder and @squillace1923

Photography @raffomarone
Styling @damianoriccio
Beauty @databeauty.jpg by @actualframeofmind

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2 years ago

Mixing football, nightlife, and workwear codes into her designs, British-Jamaican designer @martine_rose offers challenging silhouettes that have become her trademark.

Over the years, each of Martine Rose’s collaborations has carried cultural weight and signaled broader shifts in fashion.

With The Martine Rose x #Nike Shox collab she took one of Nike’s most ‘uncool’ dad sneakers and exaggerated its proportions, challenging ideas of desirability. Awkward yet futuristic, the silhouette referenced London’s working-class style and club culture.

#Clarks Wallabees and loafers are already deeply embedded in British and Caribbean street culture—worn by everyone from UK garage legends to Jamaican rude boys. Martine Rose’s version distorts the shape, playing with exaggeration while still respecting the shoe’s cultural legacy.

Being tapped by #Supreme to design a collection in 2024 signaled less hype, more intentional design on Supreme's part. Her work for Supreme leans into her signature oversized tailoring, nodding to how streetwear has evolved from baggy skate gear to high fashion.

Every collaboration has a cultural reference point and give us insights into the future of menswear.

1. @supremenewyork @roxy_lee @tamararothstein1 @tomwrighthair @marinabelfonrose @isabelbush_

2. Richard in Nike x Martine Rose by Rosie Marks @marksrosie @mrsilkyskills @nike

3. Martine Rose for Clarks by Roxy Lee⁠
@roxy_lee

4. Martine Rose for Clarks by Roxy Lee⁠
@roxy_lee⁠
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Creative Director: Martine Rose @martine_rose
Stylist & Art Director: Tamara Rothstein @tamararothstein1
Hair Stylist: Gary Gill @garygillhair
Makeup: Artist Marina Belfon Rose @marinabelfonrose
Manicurist: Lauren Michelle Pires @laurenmichellepires
Set Design: Polly Philp @polly_setdesign
Casting Director: Isabel Bush @isabelbush_
Production: CEBE Studio @cebestudio

#menswear #britishdesigner #martinerose by @actualframeofmind

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

@secretlovaz "SURVIVOR" taken in Lagos, Nigeria by @actualframeofmind

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2 years ago

@youngwavyfox wearing @tiaadeola by @actualframeofmind

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2 years ago

@nellaroz for @ninamounah

Photography @woodybos
Hair @latoyavelberg
Makeup @davidkoppelaar
@discrepancy_official
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#editorialmakeup #fashioncurator #alternativefashion #fashioneditorials by @actualframeofmind

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2 years ago

@bricestagram captured by @friendsonfilmduh

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#fashioneditorial #fashioncurator #emergingfashion #fashionphotographer by @actualframeofmind

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2 years ago