FAB Magazine: Fabulous, African and Black
Reshma Madhi
Catchavibe.co.uk caught up with Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo, the founder and editor-in-chief of FAB Magazine, which is due to launch in March. The high-end quarterly aims to be the first-of-its-kind fashion & lifestyle magazine for both men and women, with 80% African content. Sinem explains why we need a magazine truly made by Africans for Africans…
CAV: So tell us about FAB – who is it for and what does it aim to provide?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo: Nigeria and Nigerian readers in the UK deserve to have a fashion and lifestyle magazine, in the true sense of the word, made by Africans for Africans; a magazine showcasing the best of what Africa and Nigeria have to offer with top-notch photography, innovative graphic design and thought-provoking editorials. We really want our readers to have the international magazine experience; with high quality images, trend pages, interesting reads and most importantly adverts (promoting) local and international African designers page after page – something that has previously not been possible in any Nigerian publication, simply because fashion advertisers often cannot compete with big brands to vie for advertisement space.CAV: Why is there a need for a magazine such as FAB?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo: FAB has arisen due to the fast pace at which the African fashion industry is growing. I do not believe there are any publications that solely cater for the new generation of stylish, sophisticated African men and women. We aim to open a quarterly window to the worlds of high fashion and high street, as well as produce an end product created by Africans for Africans. At a time when people are increasingly speculating the need for an African Vogue; we want to show the world that we can produce a high quality magazine, with our own expertise and resources and do not need to wait for Conde Nast or any other international publishing house to do it for us.CAV: What subject matters will you explore?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo: Fabulous, African {and) Black with style, swagger and sophistication. We aim to set the trends – not follow them, celebrate our continent’s successes, highlight its problems, offer solutions, continue to bring hard-hitting editorials, cutting-edge imagery and inspirational design delivered with quality and consistence. Our content will be 80% African and 20% international.CAV: Why a unisex fashion magazine? Is there a significant market in glossy mags for African men?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo:In Nigeria, where we will initially start distributing, men’s magazines such as Made and Mode Men have been quite successful, (although) perhaps not as popular as women’s glossies. By providing content for both male and female audiences in a 150-page magazine, we are doing something that has not been done before, in terms of the unisex material and volume of pages.CAV: The internet is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional print formats. How will your magazine compete?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo: While (the) internet is changing the nature of publishing, I strongly believe that print magazines are not likely to go out of fashion anytime soon, especially high quality fashion publications which are handled as a bit of a collector’s item. However, utilising the power of the internet to access our world-wide audience following the launch of our first issue, we will of course have a live website, which will be updated regularly. This is especially important as a quarterly, as we would like to keep our readers with us in between issues.CAV: Any tips on up-and-coming names in African fashion?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo: Two of my favourite African designers are already quite established, both internationally and in their native Nigeria – Deola Sagoe and Jewel by Lisa. I’m also a huge fan of the Ghanaian designer Aisha Obuobi behind the couture label Christie Brown, who won the Emerging Designer of the Year Award at last year’s Arise South Africa Fashion Week. In the UK, the designers whose work I admire are Tina Atiemo of Ghana and Nkwo Onwuka’s Afro Bohemian Chic label. In terms of modelling, do watch out for Paula Okunzuwa, the 2010 winner of Top Model of Colour and a fantastic new model.
CAV: Are there any fashion designers outside of Africa that you admire?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo: Who doesn’t love Azeddin Alaia? Okay, admittedly, he’s from North Africa but has become an international name. Also, you can take a girl out of Turkey but you can’t take the Turk out of the girl [Sinem is of Turkish heritage]; I will always feel inspired by Turkish designers. First and foremost Cengiz Abazoglu and Rasit Bagzibagli.CAV: Can you define what is FAB about Africa and African fashion? Is this portrayed in non-African media?
Sinem Bilen-Onabanjo: The culture, the colours, the people and the raw energy. Africa has long been portrayed in the western media as synonymous with poverty, starvation and warfare and I am happy to see that this has recently been changing; (with) focus gradually shifting to music, entertainment, fashion and art. We want to be a part of the African Renaissance, to celebrate the achievements of the Continent and her diverse people, while also addressing problems in an unbiased way.The first issue of FAB Magazine – the ‘music meets fashion’ issue will launch on March 21st.
via catchavibe.co.uk