Fashion Show By IJO

Ijo Fashions by Joelle Allen outfits modern, stylish and powerful women with ready-to-wear  collections.

Based in New-York Each Ijo shirt features a tailored fit that flatters a woman's silhouette.

Using prestigious fabric selections with the highest quality of cottons, a signature collars and details such as inlayed waist belts, Joelle uses her African touch with embroidery detail and unusual mixtures of prints and texture to creature exquisite unique pieces spontaneously chic and obsessive.

Ijo has received high global praise and is continuing to expand in retail boutiques. Ijo Fashions is currently available at BHF Mall in Washington DC and Endulge Boutique in Chicago.

Fashion show by MF Couture

                                         
MF Couture, designed by congolese designer Marie-France Mumba and  based in Johannesburg, South Africa MF couture is a fresh, young brand reflective of the modern Africa woman. Mumba focuses on African prints blended with silk, satin, taffeta and chiffon to give the line a couture edge. MF couture appeals to the effortless beauty of African woman and is well fitted for all occasions.

Fashion show by Sandra VanKeer Paris (girls/fillette)

                                girls dresses by Sandra Van Keer Paris


Sandra Van-Keer creates dresses for girls ranging from two to eights years old inspired by childhood memories of Congolese fashions using African materials and capturing cherished from generation to generation    

Keeping the authenticity and yet,  always in line with the modern aspect of market trends. 

Born in Kinshasa, Van-Keer studied fashion and design in the Democratic Republic of Congo and currently resides in Paris. 

The sources of Van-Keer's inspiration are her Congolese upbringing and her two beautiful girls, Anais and Alisa

TOA Event venue 2012

TOA venue building at Indianapolis Museum of Art 

The Lobby

The Rooms

Toa tour of African Exhibit at Indianapolis Museum of Art

To find out more about the African Art at IMA visit: http://www.imamuseum.org/art/collections/african-art

Our Sponsors

Benefiting Organization: George Malaika Foundation by model Noella Coursaris Masters

Objective

The Georges Maaika Foundation (GMF) seeks funding to complete construction of a school for 338 girls on 3.3 acres (1.3 hectares) of land in Kalebuka, Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Construction will be phased to allow fo attendance of the first selection of students in fall 2011.

Meet the TOA team

Amoura K Zynga in London (TOA creative director)

Meet the TOA team

Xori McClover wife of NFL veteran (Chicago bears) Darrell McClover.

Meet the TOA team

Heather Scherher  TOA Media director (contact)

Meet the TOA team

Solange Kabamba Hepburn (TOA event producer)

Founder Joelle Kabena Allen

Born and raised in the Congo, going to fashion design school in  the U.K and settling in the U.S., Allen was struck by how most Congolese women have less opportunity than American women because of inadequate access to education and trade skills:"It is a different reality for women in Africa than in the U.S." explains Allen. "A lot of women marry young and are fully dependent on their husbands. If a husband is injured, dies or no longer wants to be with his wife, women are left to fend to themselves with very little education. The good thing about a technical education is that it can be learned fairly quickly and at a young age."

By Heather Schechter, Public Relations Director for TOA

Photo by: www.erinfreelandphoto.com