Osengwa, Neo-African Online Marketplace, Now Open

    LOS ANGELES, CA, October 18, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Osengwa, a Neo-African retail encounter, launched in May as a virtual marketplace. The site brings clothes, art, new music and more from Africa's leading designers, artists, musicians, and creatives to a US consumer who has a global world view and is looking to connect with the continent's culture.

"Neo-African", is a term founder Seju Mike, adopted to reflect her own style and that of the artists she represents. It references artists who honor and reflect African culture and art in their creative work, while infusing their designs with a new and eclectic twist.

Originally trained as a Financial Analyst, with degrees that include a masters in International Business from Georgetown University, Mike learned bits of code and found her passion helping creatives monetize their work. The daughter of renowned Nigerian and American artists, she merged her creative heritage, artist relationships and corporate finance background to launch Osengwa. Osengwa means "it is beautiful" in her mother's native Itsekiri. She builds relationships with each of the artists individually as she carefully curates everything on the site to ensure the products live up to the site's name.

Osengwa already gives consumers access to over 1000 of these artists' products, many of which are not available anywhere else stateside. Some of the brands featured include:

LVMH finalist Orange Culture, a contemporary western styled brand with African sensibilities, that has presented a collection at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy and has been featured in Vogue, Elle, GQ, Marie Claire and more.

I.AM.ISIGO a womenswear brand on a creative path depicting how African culture can be fused with an audacious yet minimalist design aesthetic. Showcased at the Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2011- 2015, International Fashion Showcase (London Fashion Week) 2015 and South Africa Fashion Week 2015.

Data Oh, a self-taught artist and illustrator whose work draws inspiration from the modern day African goddess. She uses mostly a micropen and pencil to draw patterns, lines and dots creating masterpieces that can best be described as monochrome and intricate

Sisiano, a Lagos based atelier whose Creative Director was a finalist for the 2013 LFDW Young Designer of the Year Award, and a representative at the International Fashion Showcase, London Fashion Week 2016.

Kamokini, a swimwear line inspired by everything from art and music, African culture, Western fashion trends and an understanding of a woman's sensuality.

Udegbunam T.B.J. a graphic artist and illustrator, whose contemporary African style fuses mixed-media realism and Afro-futurism/symbolism.

In addition to fashion, Osengwa features rising musicians and artists such as Ro Akin, Sute, Tay, Sojay, and Kaline. Through a content partnership with Urbane Coven, Osengwa also features artist stories, poetry, spoken word and more. This October, Osengwa will be one of the featured presenters during the LA Fashion Week show, Africa Fashion Week Los Angeles from Oct 20-22 in Downtown Los Angeles.

Explore more at: www.osengwa.com or on social media @osengwa

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