Siki de Somalie
If bold, chunky statement jewellery is your preference look no further than the fabulous creations of Parisian-based jeweller and accessories designer Siki de Somalie who is described by CoutureLab as ‘A woman as regal and fantastic as the pieces she creates’ . A Parisienne socialite who is the daughter of an Ethiopian princess, a direct descendant of the Menelik dynasty of Abyssinia and a Somalian diplomat, Siki de Somalie’s upbringing is reflected in her creations, whereby luxurious baroque style and cultural accents are seen combined with textured metal detailing and colourful gems, giving an air regal elegance and bound to get a conversation started.

With an eye for rare and collectable pieces, Siki de Somalie is also a noted interior decorator whose Saint Germain des Prés shop is a reflection of the owner - original, elegant and chic; with a deep love for Africa. 

Wax Print Inspired Dinnerware
Bring some colour to your place settings with these Wax fabric inspired tableware offerings. Firstly from American-based French Bull, whose kitchen and lifestyle products are wonderfully bright and funky. With products sold globally, the Isis range of dinnerware and platters caught my eye whilst browsing their website. Described as being inspired by Africa, the Isis range has an air of vibrant wax print fabric design about it. Made from melamine making the products durable and resistant to high heat, these plates are perfect for adults and children alike making them ideal for picnics. 

Additional Details:
Prices for French Bull’s Isis products range from: USD$25-USD$150
For further information on French Bull visit: www.frenchbull.com

Prices for Sentou's wax print inspired products range from: 20, 00 €-29, 00 €
For further information on Sentou visit: www.sentou.fr

Out of Africa
I suffer from sensitive skin due to eczema, brought about by additives and nasty chemicals in products and as a result I am always on the look out for organic and natural skincare products to make life bearable, and from the ever-increasing rise in awareness of what goes into products I do realise that I am not the only one. As my family can attest, my scrutinising of labels on food and skincare products to weed out the unsavory ingredients is legendary. This is because in my case it is usually not enough to simply state words like ‘organic’ or ‘paraben free’ on the label as I have unfortunately, reacted to leading products that are well known in the natural and organics skincare industry, much to my despair and frustration. Shea butter is a product that I have used and like very much, even having a go at mixing a batch myself, with so so results. However for me shea butter needs to be as close to its natural properties to be of any benefit, and whilst surfing the web I came across Out of Africa, a producer and retailer of shea butter skincare products based in Benin, West Africa and California, USA .   

Out of Africa’s beginnings stem from being at the right place at the right time. The company’s founders, Victor Lulla, a native New Yorker and Gilles Adamon, from Benin happened to met at a Natural Products Expo where Victor, a manufacturer and distributor of organic skincare products was looking for an opportunity to expand his range whilst Gilles was seeking a distributor for his shea butter cosmetic products. Suffice to say upon discovering their shared interest in natural products and social responsibility a friendship was born followed soon after by the establishment of a business partnership bringing organic unrefined shea butter products to market. However, there is another side to the Out of Africa story, not only does the company work hand-in-hand with several women’s cooperatives based in Benin to produce the shea butter and help provide job creation and support, Out of Africa is also a sponsor of a project in Benin called 'School Children Unite', donating a portion of all its sales to the initiative which serves to help students in Benin to complete high school by providing scholarships and other forms of support. 

The Out of Africa skincare range includes organic shea butter soaps, hand and body washes, lotions, lip butters and organic unrefined shea butter tins. Through the website I have learnt that there are different types of shea butter quality given issues such as the refinement processes and whether or not the butter is mixed with other ingredients. I admit I did not know all of this and this could explain some of my experiences in searching for what works for me. Shea butter is known for its healing properties which can be lost during the refining process, as too much refining can render the butter less effective and I noticed that Out of Africa products use ‘unrefined shea butter’, committing themselves to using the very best quality of shea butter, which is made by hand in order to maintain the beneficial properties, in their skincare products. I have not as yet had the opportunity to try out Out of Africa products, but will have to remember to keep an eye out for them when I am next in the US.

Additional Details:
Prices on the website range from: USD$3 -USD$9
To purchase Out of Africa products visit: www.outofafricashea.com
To read more about shea butter visit: www.outoofafricashea.com
For further information about ‘School Children Unite’ click here 

Tiffany Amber
Launched in 1998, Tiffany Amber is a womenswear fashion label dedicated to creating feminine and effortlessly stylish pieces that reflect designer and founder, Folake Folarin-Coker’s Nigerian heritage. Luxurious fabrics and intricate embellishments are key elements Folake describes as defining the style of her label. 

With two stores located in Lagos, Tiffany Amber is all about offering its clientele timeless elegance and I for one especially like the bold jewel tones of the fabrics, colour combinations and the way the clothes float down the runway. Folake is a self-taught fashion designer whose label has been growing stronger with each collection and as recognition of this, Folake was named Designer of the Year 2009/2010 at the Arise Africa fashion week in South Africa. 

A great way to mark just over a decade in the fashion industry, me thinks! 

Additional Details:
To find out more about Tiffany Amber and for stockists visits: www.tiffanyamberng.com

Aswan
The Pyramids of Giza on the outskirts of Cairo and Luxor, often referred to as the ‘world’s greatest museum’ with its well preserved monuments from great civilisations past, are two well-trodden routes attracting visitors to Egypt drawn by the culture of Ancient Egypt and magnificence and mystery surrounding the pyramids, however taking the time to deviate from the norm uncovers the hidden gems along the way.

For those looking to indulge, a leisurely cruise down the Nile is one of the best ways to go. Set sail from Luxor to Aswan aboard The Oberoi Zahra Luxury Nile Cruiser, where spacious accommodation awaits you in a choice of 25 luxury cabins that have large windows to take in the panoramic views the Nile has to offer or if privacy is your thing two luxury suites come complete with separate living rooms, private terraces and jacuzzi’s. 

Take advantage of specially created itineraries to help you make the most of your visit and later ease away the aches and pains of a day spent catching up on history by making full use of the onboard spa of which The Oberoi Zahra is currently the only cruiser on the Nile with one. With menus that change on a daily basis gourmet dining is offered should you desire spending your evenings onboard. 

Additional details:
To learn more about visiting Egypt visit: www.touregypt.net/aswan
An 11-day private tour with coxandkings starts from £3,195 per person, including 7-nights aboard The Oberoi Zahra and flights from London.
For further information on The Oberoi Zahra, prices and bookings visit: www.oberoihotels.com

Boer & Brit
I am a sucker for great looking packaging so I guess that makes me a marketeers dream, and whilst doing some research on packaging for a project I stumbled upon LovelyPackage a site that appreciates the very best in packaging design from all over the world – I could spend all day on there! Any hoo, getting to the point, I came across some rather beautiful packaging for a champagne bottle by a South African wine company called Boer & Brit.
It wasn’t so much the label that got me daydreaming but a really sweet story behind it involving a marriage proposal and a man called Rohan, who ready to propose to his long time sweeheart, Lurina searched high and low for the perfect ring and eventually found it with the following Afrikaans words etched into the silver - “Suikerbossie ek wil jou hê”, which when translated means “Sugarbush, I want you so” (the Sugarbush is another name for a Protea). To accompany his proposal Rohan designed a wine label to be placed on a sparkling wine bottle. His winemaker friends at Boer & Brit saw the label and were captivated enough to create a entire range of wines, including a Cap Classique Brut, just so they could use the pretty label. 

The result, a yes to the proposal and a range born out of love. 
For the full story click here.

Long live romance!
...and; please remember to drink responsibly    

Additional Details:
To learn more about Boer and Brit visit: www.boerandbrit.com
Price for the Cap Classique Brut is around: R91

I must confess to not really being one for wearing hats and can understand when Albertus Swanepoel refers to them as the ‘orphan accessory’ coming in way after jewellery, shoes, bags, belts and even scarves. Millinery is such a niche field but one where Albertus has made his mark with his often whimsical creations including feathered fedoras, bursts of plumage, intricate embellishments, finely detailed patterns, lashing of ribbon and patchwork all exceptionally handcrafted by himself. Albertus Swanepoel has been recognised for bringing a breath of fresh air to the industry States-side, with comparisons to the likes of Philip Treacy in terms of innovation, creativity and vision. 

In addition to handcrafting more than 800 hats a year for his own line, Albertus Swanepoel’s hats have also made him sought after for designer collaborations that have included Carolina Herrera Fall 2008, Steston 2010, and Gap. As I was writing this I was trying to work out what the Carolina Herrera hats reminded me of then it came to me - Robin Hood… I know, I know, but I guess its the shape of the hats and the way they are perched jauntily atop the models head with the rather magnificent roosters plume following behind. 

Additional Details:
To find out more about Albertus Swanepoel and stockists visit: www.albertusswanepoel.com

Ozwald Boateng
A well-dressed man in a sharply tailored suit is usually a sight to behold and this area is the forte of Savile Row tailor Ozwald Boateng, who knows all to well the power of sharp tailoring and attention to detail and is widely credited with introducing Savile Row tailoring to a new generation. 

With Boateng’s designs exuding confidence and individualism, defined by his signature use of colour which brings a contemporary feel to classic tailoring, 2010 sees Ozwald Boateng celebrate 25 years in the fashion business and for a glimpse into the man behind the label October 2010 also sees the world premiere of ‘A Man’s Story’ an autobiographical film documenting Ozwald Boateng’s journey through over the past 12 years, with a wider release in 2011. Ozwald Boateng is no stranger to filmmaking having produced a number of films over the years serving as an introduction to the background and inspiration of his collections. 

As an advocate to changing the perceptions of Africa, Ozwald Boateng endeavours include launching his Made in Africa trust pioneering innovative and sustainable projects across Africa.


Additional Details:
Price: a handmade two-piece bespoke suit can come to around £2,200+ 
For more on Ozwald Boateng visit: www.ozwaldboateng.co.uk
Orders take approx our to six weeks   
 

Urbanknit
Starting out by making things for friends and family, Dolapo James of Urbanknit has gone on to create a much coveted collection of stylish vibrant clutch bags, with a love of bold colour and pattern evident in her creations.

With each bag handmade by Dolapo using vintage style snap clasp frames, her style is a combination of prim and proper Englishness brought bang up-to-date with a refreshing funky twist of bold African fabrics like Adire, Ankara and Aso-oke. The fabrics used are mainly from Nigeria, which Dolapo sources from local markets and also Ghana. These textures and vivid prints are then contrasted with denim, cotton, leather, silk and satin for added interest. 

What is a plus about these clutch bags is the fact that they are super size, meaning no having to leave those ‘crucial and oh so necessary’ things behind. 

And for those of us now facing winter, have a look at Dolapo’s range of chunky hand knitted scarves, cowls and neckwarmers - super cosy!  

Additional Details: 
To find out more Urbanknit visit: www.urbanknit.com
Prices range from: USD$59-USD$85 or £37-£59
To buy visit:
www.urbanknit.etsy.com
www.notonthehighstreet.com/urbanknit
www.theshopfloorproject.com

The Ngorongoro Crater
Drift lazily high above the Serengeti plains in a hot air balloon, getting a spectacular birds-eye view of natural breathtaking phenomenon like the must-see wildebeest migration. Then once you land, sit down to a full breakfast set-up under the shade of an Umbrella tree amid the peaceful surroundings of the Serengeti plains. Just one of the many memorable experiences to be enjoyed in the Serengeti National Park within whose eastern border you will find the Ngorongoro Crater, the remains of a massive volcano nearly three million years old and a World Heritage Site. 

Now why do I suddenly hear my bags calling…

Additional Details:
To find out more about Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and bookings visit: 
www.wildernesstravel.com - Check for rates 
www.andbeyondafrica.com  - Rates per night and season range from USD$685-USD$1500

To book Balloon Safaris visit: www.balloonsafaris.com