With summer around the corner and things opening up in South Florida, I’m happy to pick back up my “Emerging Designers I Love” series. Not only to spotlight some designers I’ve been eyeing and supporting, but ones I want to invest in more…and of course, pieces I’m wearing (and plan to wear) out. Get ready for a mix of relaxed dresses and beautiful silhouettes I believe will lift and inspire some light. SIKA Designs Founded by creative director Phyllis Taylor in 2005, SIKA garments are designed in London and handmade in Ghana with a vision that connects fashion with the power to make a positive contribution to society. In Ghana, Taylor became familiar with dressmaking because she grew up watching her mother sew her own clothing, “There’s an attention to detail that you won’t find in a big factory.” The brand is committed to paying fair wages, creating employment and making a meaningful difference within the Ghanian community. Small Needs This Miami-based store curates the most beautiful collection of vintage blouses, bustiers and hair barrettes I’ve seen on Instagram. They also have an Etsy account for more of their collection. Follow @smallneeds and DM the account to inquire about the pieces posted. Diarrablu Founded by Diarra Bousso, the brand’s mission statement is to iterate the importance of sustainability while highlighting Africa’s rich heritage through pieces designed using math. Bousso has a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from Stanford University and spends her free time teaching and researching Creative Mathematics in Silicon Valley. The brand has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, CNN and The New York Times among others and has showcased her collections during NYFW, PFW and World Fashion Week Paris. Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese Hope for Flowers is a responsibly designed clothing collection by Tracy Reese, a designer you may recognize. Reese plays with color and pattern while employing a slow fashion model, delivering clothing that is easy to wear and gentle to the earth. Maki Oh Imagine traditional African technique blended with detailed contemporary construction. Founded in 2010 by Maki Osakwe (Amaka Osakwe), her design challenges society’s notion of beauty and cultural norms through a feministic lens. Visually stunning in texture and layer, her collection embodies the ethos of sustainability, strength and simplicity. I discovered Osakwe was a finalist in the first LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers; she’s one of Michelle Obama’s favorite designers…and I can certainly see why. I’m enamored by the detail, texture and “complex simplicity.” Indego Africa A brand I hold (literally, see here) near and dear to me is Indego Africa. Started by a father and son duo, Matt and Tom Mitro, Indego Africa is inspired by the spirit and resourcefulness of African women. The brand’s mission is to help women in Rwanda break cycles of poverty through economic empowerment and education. From home decor to beautifully handcrafted bags and accessories, Indego Africa partners with female artisans in Rwanda; the brand “pool profits from sales with grant support and donations to fund job skills training programs for our artisan partners in business management, design, technology, and English literacy, providing them with the knowledge and skills to engage independently with global markets.” This type of vision and commitment is deeply inspiring. Sindiso Khumalo Based in Cape Town, Sindiso Khumalo is a sustainable textile designer with a strong emphasis on African storytelling. I’m so happy to have discovered this brand and loved learning that her textile designs in her collections are done by hand through watercolors and collage, which I find to be incredibly stunning! “Sustainability, craft and empowerment” continues to remain at the heart of her label. Read more here. Lemlem Founded by supermodel, Liya Kebede (named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010), this ethical fashion label consists of an artisan-driven collection of women’s, men’s, children’s and home goods made entirely from Africa. The main collection is handwoven from natural cotton in Ethiopia and is continuously expanding partnership throughout Africa. Lemlem is committed to elevating artisanship, “By employing traditional weavers, we’re trying to break their cycle of poverty, at the same time preserving the art of weaving while creating modern, casual, comfortable stuff that we really want to wear.” Fanm Mon Fanm Mon is a luxury womenswear brand launched by husband and wife, Sophia and Kerem Demirtas, in 2013 with headquarters in the US, Turkey and Ukraine currently. Their collection takes an exceptional approach to embroidery, while offering complementing color combinations and feminine styles. Fanm Mon continues to invest in their in-house artisans, who have mastered transforming traditional styles into wearable, art forms that speak to women embracing their own individual style and authenticity (love this!). Xo, Stephanie