DIESEL x EDUN CELEBRATE AFRICA

YANNICK ILLUNGA AKA 'PETIT NOIR'

Diesel and Bono's label EDUN have collaborated on a 25-piece 'ethically conscious' capsule collection that celebrates African creativity. It is called Studio Africa and launched at Paris Fashion Week this past Sunday. "We married the competencies of EDUN in African trade, with our know-how and outreach, to create something that was never done before: denim which is completely sourced and manufactured in Africa and distributed all over the world," Diesel founder Renzo Rosso tells ELLE UK. "But even more, with this project we want to show to consumers and to industry alike, that it is indeed possible to source, produce, and generate sustainable trade in Africa."
According to the Studio Africa tumblr, the collection "was built around a reinterpretation of the four pocket jean of the 1970s popular on the streets of South Africa. Malian textile prints are echoed in the denim lining and across the jersey pieces in the collection. Embroidery details reference traditional Zulu weaving patterns, while the dresses feature Kenyan metalwork. Running through the collection are four original symbols designed to reflect the heart of the DIESEL+EDUN collection." 
The associated campaign has been described as a virtual 'loudspeaker' for African creativity featuring talent from across the creative arts including the South African blogging trio from 'I See A Different You', copywriter and photographer Uviwe Mangweni and Yannick Illunga who is the singer you probably know as Petit Noir. From other parts of the continent are Zimbabwean stylist and blogger Tanya Mushayi, Senegalese actor and model Sy Alassane, Ivorian menswear designer Laurence Chauvin-Buthaud, Tanzanian model Flaviana Matata, Congolese rapper Baloji and Abdellah Taia, the first openly gay writer to come out of Morocco.
Solange Knowles has been named ambassador for this Diesel + EDUN collaboration.

I SEE A DIFFERENT YOU

FLAVIANA MATATA

LAURENCE CHAUVIN-BUTHAUD

BALOJI

ABDELLAH TAIA

TANYA MUSHAYI

SY ALASSANE

UVIWE MANGWENI

Pics: DIESEL.COM