Newsletter No. 4                                                                                                 14 February 2020

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Trend alert: Fashion focus on ‘90s nostalgia

By Sacha van Niekerk

From velvety brown lipstick to bold lip liner and portions of hair twisted and secured with butterfly clips, we’re seeing 90s references all over, from high-fashion runways to retro devices.

If you grew up during the 90s you’ll fondly look back on it as a carefree time in your life. When The Spice Girls ruled the radio and the slang from Clueless was all the rage.

According to the Pinterest Hot 100 list, as Millennial’s are getting older, they’re becoming more nostalgic about their childhood through reliving fond memories and bonding over shared experiences. Meanwhile, Gen Z, the next group to take over, is delving head first into 90s culture for the first time. Whether it’s through ruffling through old magazines, watching 90s sitcoms or being inspired by that iconic era of pop culture, they’re putting their own twist on the trends to make it their own. So put on your orange tinted shades, grab your Walkman and start living like it’s 1990.

The biggest 90s trends for 2020:

Get ready for reboots: Classic 90s toons are filling up TV lineups or being given a reboot with a fresh new plot to keep you enticed.

90s-themed parties are big for 2020, so get your getup ready. From the music to the decor – hanging garlands of CDs, boy band posters and bean bags – to the food – all your favourite childhood snacks – we’re livin’ la vida 90s.

This low-key style is riding high. Think combat boots, flannels and oversized outerwear. Or pair them with an animal print dress for a more dressed up look.

Let your lips do the talking when it comes to 90s makeup. Go for a natural 90s inspired makeup look with shiny lip gloss, nude lip liner and maybe even a touch of glitter for a shimmering finish.

Butterfly, basic or pearl studded, hair clips add easy flair to your hair. From red carpets to formal dances, these clips are the fashion accessory you didn’t know were missing from your wardrobe.

Braids of every kind are back in a big way, from red carpet events to the silver screen, we’ve been seeing them everywhere!

Rock track pants, sneakers, baby tees, cropped hoodies and beanies from city streets to suburban sidewalks.

Scrunchies are getting a makeover with lux materials (silk, velvet, leather, pearl beading) and fresh designs to keep flyaway hairs at bay in the most stylish of ways.  IOL

Entrepreneurs thrive at pop-up shops at OR Tambo International

Airports are one of the busiest places worldwide with people arriving, or departing to various destinations.

At at OR Tambo International Airport, there’s a always a person who is looking for a gift for friends and family, which is why Goodbye  Malaria branded merchandise saw an opportunity and seized it by selling  brightly coloured shweshwe soft toys, toiletry bags, clothing, and other gifts.

The brand (Goodbye Malaria) has  pop-up shops which are part of an innovative partnership with Airports Company South Africa and  Goodbye Malaria. The initiative not only employs young people living near the airport, but also raises  funds to fight malaria on the ground in Mozambique.

Lebo Mokoena (32) is one of the young entrepreneurs who was awarded 50% equity in the  stores by Goodbye Malaria and Airports Company South Africa after her plans of studying journalism failed.

“Initially, I started off managing two carts at O.R. Tambo International Airport. I was trained on how  to recruit a good team and I was even allowed to recruit my own team. I was trained on basic business  administration, operations, stock management, merchandising, customer service, banking, staff  scheduling, payroll and everything from the opening procedure to the closing procedure. This really  enabled me to understand how to run a retail business,” said Mokoena.

She also plans on taking up even bigger space at the airport.

“In the next two to three years my plan is to have my own beauty spa franchise operating at the airports, most airports currently don’t have a nail bar and this a gap I plan to fill,” she added.

Ex-Nigerian President Obasanjo sets up garment factory

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo recently forayed into the garment business by setting up a company, Heritage Apparel, with its factory in Abeokuta in Ogun state. The factory is located in the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. Obasanjo is known for his interest in the agricultural sector and owns the Ota Farm in the state.

He has started the garment enterprise in collaboration with young Nigerian woman entrepreneur Abisade Adenubi based in the United Kingdom who had been producing apparel in Europe and Asia, according to Nigerian media reports.

She added that the company looks to raise awareness regarding local fabric (Adire) in Abeokuta. She added that plans are under way to begin mass production of garments and apparels, including uniforms for security operatives, public sector officials and schools.

National Cotton Association of Nigeria partners with CBN

The National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NATCOTAN) will partner with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to accelerate government efforts in resuscitating the cotton, textile and garment (CTG) sector, according to its national president Anibe Achimugu, who recently said the association will ensure farmers are trained about climate change and adoption of new varieties.

The association’s plan is also to ensure that its extension service system is effective enough to support the farmers at any point in time, Nigerian media reports quoted Achimugiu as saying.

He said the association would encourage women and the youth to opt for cotton farming to raise their capacity base from the current 151,000 cotton farmers to 300,000 without compromising on quality.

The association will also introduce the cotton harvest bag, which will reduce polypropylene contamination, he said.

He commended the recently-introduced BG 2567 and BG 25271 cotton varieties by the government.  F2F

Did you know……..

In 1604 William Dircxz van Sonnevelt invented a ribbon frame that allowed one person to weave twelve ribbons at a time, and in the 1600s, Italians invented a machine for throwing silk that revolutionized silk manufacturing. At considerable risk, the plans for these machines were smuggled into England in 1717. Not all machines were immediately successful. John Kay’s flying shuttle (1733) was slow to catch on because it speeded up weaving, which already consumed yarn faster than women could spin it.

John Wyatt’s and Lewis Paul’s spinning frame (1738) was equally unsuccessful, but by mid-century the cultural climate was ready for innovation.

The carding machines invented by Paul and others in the 1750s, James Hargreave’s jenny (1765), Richard Arkwright’s spinning frame (1769) (also known as the water frame), and Samuel Crompton’s mule (1779) made it possible to produce stronger and finer cotton thread than ever before.