Farouque Abdela Design, Zanzibar: We had the good fortune to meet Farouque Abdela (above center) and his creative associates at the Zanzibar Beach Resort during the Africa Travel Association Cultural-Ecotourism Symposium last December. We were impressed on sight and are preparing a profile on his designs for one or more of our magazine issues underway. Here's a brief item from the Abdela Design website http://www.farouque.8k.com/*1factfile.html
Born in Zanzibar, Farouque continued the family tradition as fourth generation tailor, going on to train at the London College of Fashion. Working with natural fibers and traditional African textiles, Farouque creates couture and avant garde fashions. His exquisite fashion sensibility has been seen in films and theaters as well as on international catwalks. Masai and Egyptian traditions strongly influence Farouque's work. Encouraged by the late Princess Diana to maintain the African influence in his work, Farouque hopes to help African fashion gain recognition as a vital influence in global style. To this end, Farouque has held individual fashion shows in varied locales including: the 1999 Zanzibar International Film Festival and the Save the Children Benefit in London.

Above: Karen of ATA and Masai staff at Seacliff Hotel Dar es Salaam model traditional armbands.
Below: Karen Hoffman gets finishing touch on her new outfit from fashion designer in Dar es Salaam. Our feature on Zanzibar and Tanzania- Swahili Cost Fashions at the ATA 7th Cultural and Ecotourism Symposium and Peace Through Tourism Conference will appear on this page soon.

Left: Zanzibari lady models one of the attractive gowns from Zanzibar designers (story and profile to come).

Karen Hoffman of ATA and her host wearing fashion arm bands, popular in the Masai culture. Seacliff Hotel, Dar  

Photos by Jerry W. Bird and Muguette Goufrani