The Fall 2012 Rue 114 ‘Afua Bempomaa’ Collection

October 5, 2012

I mentioned earlier this summer about a great new plus-size label named Rue 114 that had hit the fashion scene. Rue 114 is created by designer Serwah Asante, and she infuses her African roots into every piece that she designs. She actually isn’t just a plus-size designer, her items run from a size 0-26 (S-3X). Her motto is,“Great style should be available in all sizes because fabulous, fierce, kick-ass women come in all sizes!”. I had the pleasure of wearing one of her dresses during a recent photoshoot and it was instantly a favorite of mine. I had been looking for a long-sleeved fitted dress for a while and she served it up to perfection. The material was exquisite so as I look at this new line, I know that she has put that same craftsmanship into this collection as well.

The new collection is entitled ‘Afua Bempomaa’ and is named after the designer’s phenomenally stylish and eternally youthful mother, Mrs. Regina Afua Bempomaa Ohemeng-Asante. This collection presents a Rue twist on African fashion that relies less so on traditional prints and more so on intricate embroidery and bead work found throughout much of the African design aesthetic. In the Akan tradition of Ghana, West Africa; each child is given a specific name based on gender and the day of their birth. “As we seek to tell the story of every woman, we thought it appropriate to name each piece after a female “day of the week” , says Serwah. I got the press release for this new collection back in August but wanted to wait to blog on it until the items were available this month. Well ladies, it’s time to place those orders. The items are now available on the site for purchase. I really appreciate the fact that Serwah shows the items on both a straight-size and plus-size model on her site. But whatever day of the week that you were born, make sure to grab an item or two for variety. Below are my faves from the new collection: