Finger Tutting Video Graphics!!

2011 super cool Samsung advert! 

Having a 19 year old in the house, certainly opens my eyes into the 'NOW' world, if you catch my drift,.... and this is one of them.  

The technique in this video is called Finger Tutting.  Tutting is popular amongst younger dance groups mostly poppers and is growing in popularity.  My son is also good at tutting.  All in all I just love this video he introduced to me and here it is from me to you.  Enjoy!

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-popping.htm

Behind The Scenes Photo shoot with Contrasts Art Show

A Sneak Preview

Location: Thames Tunnel Mills in Rotherhithe

A building with a lot of history, built by Marc Isambard Brunel father of the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.  I had the privilege to read and visit a few of the Kingdom's work and on my foundation course at college years ago.

The main feature for me was the hallway that had huge red metal columns and wooden beams dividing the floors. 

 Looking up from the hallway,  your eye travels through the fantastic view of floors all the way to the glazed roof.   The feeling is great, a good sky view while indoors is fantastic.  

Enough said, enjoy the images.

Banks of River Thames view from the changing room

Roof Garden - Photo: Erwin Michalec

View to the Garden

Hallway / Glazed Roof

A shot from 2nd Floor

 Ground Floor Hallway - Photo: Erwin Michalec

 Pavilto vel Pablo (Photographer), Anna & Erwin Michalec (Contrast Art Show)

Anna Prajs (Photograpy) & Model Jestina George

Crotchet top and Headpiece

Silk dress with a Crotchet bodice

Location Organiser: Erwin Michalec (Contrasts Art Show)

Designer/Stylist: Anna Lukindo

MUA: Angela Forbes

Models:  Jestina George,  Susan Denis, Andrea Obasnikova

Photography: Pavilto vel Pablo, Anna Prays

MORE ON KHANGA

INTRODUCING THE BABY SLING

Me & my son in Khanga wear

If you will recall my earlier post regarding my native cloth called Khanga. This was an unfinished topic as I have more to talk about the many uses of this cloth which brings me to my second topic:  "The Baby Sling".

For a baby sling, one can use any rectangular piece of cloth; mainly cotton which also depends on the climate of the native location, geographically. In East Africa, khanga or kitenge ( a much heavier cotton cloth) is used to carry babies/toddlers on the back.

The following site refers to several types of clothing used for baby slings around the world
http://awareparenting.blogspot.com/2006/12/baby-carriers-cultural-history.html

Historically, for an African woman to leave their young in someone else's care was unheard of especially if it involved the mother being away from home for too long.  Naturally,  a baby is brought into this world as no one else's responsibility, but, the mothers. However, if the mother is at home and has relatives around her, i.e. grandmothers, sisters, aunties, and any other siblings, then yes; help is always at hand.

It is natural for a mother to bond with her child. Yet in Africa and other parts of the world, it is a matter of convenience to have a baby on your back. It is assuring for both mother and child and therefore,  peaceful. For those around you, this means the baby feels extremely secure and has the comfort of the mother, especially during feeding time.

Happy and Content!

Feeding time is a  big deal in any mother's mind; it is like a second heartbeat. So then the mother has much to consider i.e. whether it is okay to leave her little one with another person, whether she would be back in time to feed, let alone trusting the person who would take care of the baby. The answer will be 'what if' and that's where the khanga sling comes to action. Mind you, babies love this so much. The only time you will hear their voices is during feeding time. This intimacy between mother and child, ( I so definitely believe) has its physiological benefits for both individuals.

Not a care in the world!

We all know how hard it is to get attention from any child during combing, in this case braiding hair. The image below proves that the mother has succeeded by having the baby secured around her body and feeding at the same time....... easy whizzy!!!

Manipulated!

Tribal woman in Central Tanzania

Beautiful Himba Mother and Child from northern Namibia 

(child not happy of an intruder ...go away, stop following us.....)

Ashanika girl from central Peruvian Amazon carrying her sibling

Korean Mothers doing laundry

Modern Sling -The Inspirational Story

This Is How We Do It!

Source;

http://www.parentree
http://slowloveblog.blogspot.com

http://www.cringel.com/node/623

http://www.ecotribal.com/content/46.php
http://calinbleu.com/pages/Back-carrying-information.html
http://blog.babesinarms.com.au/category/babywearing-around-the-world/

Anna Luks
Web:annaluks.com
Twitter:@AnnaLukindo

Animated Illustrations with Attitude

Flashback on Christian Lacroix

 Where do I start???   A Quotation perhaps from the man himself.  "For me, elegance is not to pass unnoticed but to get to the very soul of what one is."

Briefly, Christian Lacroix no longer trades by his name after his fashion house went into bankruptcy in 2009.  Lacroix is one of designers who really inspire me and I think his work is amazing.

find out more .........

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG8274279/Christian-Lacroix-designs-for-Desigual.html

For those who are familiar with Lacroix, know exactly what they are in for.  If you are a "Bling" lover, you will agree with me.   His work is all about crazy embellishments, ornate beads, stones, sumptuous fabrics, laces, brocades, textures, vibrant colours and not forgetting chunky chains.  This is what sets him apart I suppose.  I would describe most of his designs as timeless and wearable although some of them are a bit dramatic and costumey influenced by his background.  His interest in sketching started at a very young age.  His mother took him to opera shows, theatres and ballet, where he was greatly inspired and motivated to start sketching historical costumes and fashion.

I have chosen a few of my favourite images to illustrate the point I am making.

Illustrations

From my point of view, Christian Lacroix's illustrations are not far from the the real images.  I can just see the animation of it already, from the images.  I think this is quite cool and genius.  What I like about his illustrations is, they just not charming, colourful but they also tell you a story or give you a feel of attitude of the wearer.

I love the way he splashes those colours all over the place. Fantastic.  

These illustrations also gives you a feeling that he just enjoys every bit of it.  The child like lines, the roughness,  imagination, and expressions, brings the illustrations to life.  I like that!

more article on Christian Lacroix here.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/business/global/29lacroix.html?_r=1&ref=global

http://desmitten.wordpress.com/2008/12/page/2/

Future Fabrics Expo 2011

African Fashion Guide News Report

The Future Fabric Expo was an exhibition of specially selected woven fabrics of higher quality that are trend relevant and suitable from mid to high nd fashion brands.  

This exhibition was held on for 2 days in the London College of Fashion's Oxford street campus last month.

read more...........

http://africafashionguide.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/future-fabrics-expo-2011-event-review/

Fashion Flashback

Anna Luks on the Road

I stumbled across this video clip that I never knew existed. What a coincidence!

Exactly a year and 2 days ago,  I was invited to showcase my work at the Face of Fashion4Africa model contest which was held at the Africa Center in London's Convent Garden on the 11th December 2010.

This was the first Anna Luks show to the public. 

It was such an honor just to be there with other fantastic African designers.  The highlight was when model Samira Hashi won the contest wearing Anna Luks.

Samira Hashi being interviewed by Sola Oyebade of Mahogany Models

Photos: Rob Sheppard

http://fashion4africa.org/