Adele unveils her Cloud 9 fashion accessories collection

Whether it’s a pair of earrings or a bag, Adèle Dejak’s fashion accessories are always provocative, bold and savagely beautiful.

The new collection, Cloud 9, maintains the brand’s style as each piece shouts it loud in design.

“I want my brand to capture what I feel fashion accessories should be, done with my vision."

"I love bold pieces but I also do very simple pieces. If you look at my hand I have 13 bangles and most people will wear one or two, I’m always looking to make a statement. That is how I like to express myself,” says Adèle Dejak, the owner and head designer.

African inspiration

Adèle started her business in 2005. Inspired by African shapes, textures and traditional techniques, this former art director in Italy has found a balance between and high statement designs.

The Cloud 9 collection is the first one of the year; she does two.

She unveiled the collection at the Tribe Hotel in collaboration with fashion designer Katungulu Mwendwa, whose simple elegant outfits worn by models complemented the horn and brass statement pieces from Adèle.

The accessories and jeweller laughs as she explains that there is no piece with a cryptic message to describe the name of the collection.

“Cloud 9 is about being euphoric, being happy, going through this vibe, this positive energy. This is what we have been going through for the past year when we got invited to the Milan Fashion Week and got selected for Vogue Talents."

"Everywhere I went this feeling of Cloud 9 followed me,” says Adèle.

The journey to Milan, Italy, began with a visit to Kenya from the Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani, last year. Later the editor invited Adele’s team to take part in Vogue Talents exhibition.

Cow horn

The designer also collaborated with one of leading fashion houses, Salvatore Ferragamo to create a special limited edition of its iconic Sofia bag. She embellished the six bags in beads, bone, brass and tiny cowrie shells.

The Cloud 9 collection comes in geometric shapes, patterns and designs inspired by the materials used and pays reverence to the designer’s ever growing love affair with cow horn from the Ugandan Ankole Cattle.

The shapes of the horn are inspired by East African kitenge cloth. Each horn has a unique pattern which adds to the appeal.

This collection also introduces teak and Mugavu wood from Uganda and 24 karat gold leaf application on horn and wood accessories from Berta Battiloro in Venice, Italy.

The brand is using less Western African beads for the jewellery as the designer is slightly changing the brand look and feel.

Milan

The bags from this collection are leather with kitenge, babuka cloth and beaded leather.

According to its website, www.adeledejak.com, accessories are handmade “for the modern, sophisticated and multidimensional women.”

African fashion is hot right now, not as a resource or a source of inspiration, but what its designers can bring to the global fashion scene.

When Adèle launched the Afri-Love clothing line made from African wax kitenge, it not only became popular with Kenyans but also Italian buyers she met at the Milan Fashion Week as well.

The dresses blend African and European influences. The capsule collection for Spring/Summer 2013 will be sold in the luxury department Italian store; La Rinascente Milan.

The Cloud 9 collection is available in the shops at Village Market, Westgate and Kiambu Showroom, Mushroom Road, off Kiambu Road, as well on its online shop on its website.

“The collection represents the boldest image for the Adèle Dejak brand so far as we are now working with beautiful sustainable materials which we have, over the years, mastered to understand their texture, depth, flex and beauty,” states the brand.

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