27 11 / 2014
ted:
The highest summit of Mount Kilimanjaro was once completely covered in ice. But since 1912, more than 80% of the mountain’s ice cover has melted, disappearing at an even faster rate in recent decades. Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s aerial photographs show how climate change has impacted the environment. He says, “It’s too late to be pessimistic — really too late. We have to be a part of the solution.”
27 11 / 2014
"If you have a past with which you feel dissatisfied, then forget it, now. Imagine a new story for your life and believe in it. Focus only on the moments when you achieved what you desired, and that strength will help you to get what you want."
(via purplebuddhaproject)
25 11 / 2014
25 11 / 2014
"The simple fact is that people who achieve excellence in their fields didn’t just have a dream. They got up at 4:00 am to practice on parallel bars or had to forgo other desirable activities and paths in order to get in six hours of violin practice a day, or stayed off several million absurd writing advice blogs with their overheated little cliques that dispense useless regurgitated maxims and empty praise and decide to actually confront their own thoughts on a page. Or they read Beowulf and Dante carefully and deeply when they didn’t see any point, since all they were interested in was Sylvia Plath, because someone of more experience and wisdom told them to do so. I don’t know whether we’re overly lazy, stupid, or childish these days. But the idea of preparing oneself for excellence has somehow disappeared. So – my advice to dreamers: Don’t just follow your dreams. Earn them. Do what it takes to achieve it. Work for it. Don’t just sit there and dream because if you do, it will never, ever be yours."
25 11 / 2014
Scientists Studied What Psychedelics Do to the Brain, And It’s Not What You’ve Been Told
It turns out that psychedelics aren’t just good for turning into an elf and jousting a car. Psychiatrists, psychologists and specialists…
20 11 / 2014
"We think that the world is limited and explained by its past. We tend to think that what happened in the past determines what is going to happen next, and we do not see that it is exactly the other way around! What is always the source of the world is the present; the past doesn’t explain a thing. The past trails behind the present like the wake of a ship and eventually disappears."
20 11 / 2014
The Mystical World Of Mushrooms Captured In Photos
Most people consider mushrooms to be the small, ugly cousins of the plant kingdom, but theirs is surprisingly beautiful and wonderful world waiting to be explored. These beautiful mushrooms, captured by enthusiastic nature photographers, are a far cry from the ones you find in the woods or your local grocery store.
Most mushrooms, as we know them, are actually just the reproductive structure of the fungus they belong to – their fungal networks expand far further underground, and some fungi don’t even sprout the sort of mushrooms that we’re used to seeing. In fact, depending on your definition of “organism,” the largest living organism in the world is a fungus – there’s a honey mushroom colony in Oregon that occupies about 2,000 acres of land! ( Bored Panda )
(via sixpenceee)
20 11 / 2014
"The mind gradually molds itself into the form which it constantly thinks upon in itself ; and it derives from within itself the power to be what it wishes to become."
19 11 / 2014
6 Sierra Leonean doctors have paid the ultimate price in their efforts to combat the ebola virus. They died trying to save lives. These are their names. Let’s remember them.
Dr. Sheik Humarr Khan
Dr. Martin Salia
Dr. Modupeh Cole
Dr. Olivet Buck
Dr. Sahr Rogers
Dr. Godfrey George
(via dynamicafrica)
19 11 / 2014
Salute to the Mothers of our conscious struggle who sacrificed much, so that we could have a tomorrow and to all the courageous Sisters who just weren’t having any of it…
1. Angela Davis
2. Assata Shakur
3. Kathleen Cleaver
4. Sojourner Truth
5. Harriet Tubman
6. Rosa Parks
7. Fannie Lou Hamer
8. Shirley Chisolm
9. Sis. Minister Ava Muhammad
10. Two Sisters who weren’t having it!MUCH RESPECT
MUCH…..
(via blackpeopledoshittoo)
19 11 / 2014
You would be surprised with how many people in your life could be going through depression at this very moment. People hide it like a paper bag over their heads out of fear of being judged, made fun of, seen as weak, or just not taken seriously. Depression should not be taken lightly, it holds us down from our purpose and potential in life. Those who tell you that it doesn’t exist have never experienced depression in their life, therefore not understanding the symptoms and how it’s something that cannot be fixed in a day! So if you think you are depressed or if you think you know someone else who is, please talk to a friend, a family member, or anyone else in your life that you trust - never overlook the possibility of seeing a doctor for more professional help!! Your feelings are real, your feelings are shared upon millions. Don’t hide it, talk to someone about it. With the right help, you can rediscover your confidence and begin life anew with our undying love and support!
We are right here!!
(via dappermarc)
19 11 / 2014
DYNAMIC AFRICANS: Akosua Afriyie-Kumi of A A K S.
It’s hard not to be attracted to Akosua’s A A K S brand and products. Aesthetically, the intricately hand-woven made in Ghana bags are bright, bold and beautifully designed. Ethically, the objectives of A A K S are rooted in sustainability and preservation; with every purchase, the buyer is more than aware of the process each item has taken to become what it is. And of course, there’s Akosua herself. In just a few months, she’s taken her grassroots operation from a brilliant idea to a fast growing business with no signs of stopping.
Hello Akosua! We’re so pleased that we get to chat to you about your brand. But firstly, we’d like to get to know more about you, what you do and how A A K S was founded.
I am Akosua, a fashion designer currently living in Ghana. My business A A K S was established after seeing a gap in the market for beautifully handcrafted bags. Wanting to showcase this great technique and skill with a modern tasteful twist, I made the big move to Ghana after a time in London and embarked on a journey to change perceptions of hand crafted products around the world; and more importantly ignite sustainable jobs across Africa. The transition was gentle stemming from my fashion degree background and a great passion for design and colour, I decided to build a business that linked the maker directly to the consumer into a global brand.
The word “ethical” seems to pop-up a lot in descriptions of your brand. Can you elaborate on the meaning of “ethical fashion,” how you incorporate these objectives into your work, and how it translates towards the development of sustainability [within the fashion industry]?
The term ‘ethical’ to me means made by hand, handcrafted, hand woven; I grew up close to nature, beautiful coloured flowers, bright sunshine and warm rain. Natural, Nature and ‘Ethical’ has always been part of me, it’s a transparent and clear communication between a maker and a consumer to find answers to questions which are normally hidden or thought not of great importance - such as (who makes your clothes? who designs this bag ? what materials have this product been made off, where is it sourced) Generally putting these words under an umbrella of ethical fashion brings soul and energy into a beautiful product and tells a story which is translated extremely well in my work process. The days of specialised craftsmanship are not over and perceptions are being challenged in the fashion industry now through sustainability.
When designing your bags, where do you source your inspiration from? Can you talk us through your design process - where does your creativity stem from?
My inspiration is well and truly around me everyday. Through photography and drawing I am able to find a soft spot of inspiration which I normally base my research on. Other days I people watch or listen, I read design books, story books, I scout online for interesting blogs, I visit museums and galleries and when I am in Ghana I love staring at the women in my weaving community and their unconscious way of dressing which is a lot of bold colours and prints which clashes beautifully on the eye.
AAKS is a bi-coastal brand based in Ghana and England, with the manufacturing happening entirely in Ghana. What is it like running a business from two separate geographic locations? And in what ways do you hope to see your brand expand?
I live in Ghana most of the time in the year; London is my second home now. It’s lovely to see a different light and perspective to my work in two different locations in the world. It also allows me to challenge myself to think for 2 customers and to think globally to satisfy a broader market.
You launched A A K S in January, 2014, and since then, your brand seems to be growing from strength to strength. How would you advise young entrepreneurs struggling or attempting to develop their own businesses?
I would advise entrepreneurs to believe in themselves and their ability to start a business plus have a clear understanding of how you want your products made and perceived and not to worry about the background noise from people especially at the start.
What have been some of the highlights from this journey so far?
Number one has to be a lady running up to me in London telling me how much she loved my A A K S Manni Clutch bag I was wearing, it dawned on me it’s my design and someone loves it and wants to buy it. I felt so happy!
Another highlight has to be showcasing my work in London at the South Bank Centre under the Platform ‘Africa Utopia’ and an Exhibition at the Oxo Tower Wharf for London Design Festival. It was so great to meet introduce my work to London, it was a great second home coming.
Lastly, where or where can we purchase your amazing bags?
My bags can be purchased in London through the store Shake the Dust and soon to be on Styled by Africa online Website www.styledbyafrica.com which ships worldwide and the shop Bread and Bromwell in Woodstock, Cape Town.
www.aaksonline.com (soon to launch)
Thank you so much Akosua!
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Soundcloud | Mixcloud
P.S. She’ll be taking over our instagram this week so follow us here!
(via dynamicafrica)
18 11 / 2014
"Leave it to the cofounder of Live Aid to replicate what’s become an insanely damaging charity cliche during the past few decades. Geldof rounded up One Direction, Bono and more than a dozen other pop stars (Adele reportedly refused) to re-record the 1984 song “Do They Know It’s Christmas” and reinforce the idea that Africa really just needs some Western star power to make things right. The feel-good project is directed toward a good cause, but it’s so culturally tone deaf that it actively reduces the diverse experiences of African people to a basic racial trope: They live on a dark continent, waiting to be saved."
18 11 / 2014
"A thought is harmless unless we believe it. It’s not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering. Attaching to a thought means believing that it’s true, without inquiring. A belief is a thought that we’ve been attaching to, often for years."
(via thecalminside)
17 11 / 2014
Chimamamda Ngozi Adiche, We Should All Be Feminists
The most powerful thing anyone has ever said to me: “You deserve to take up space.”
(via black-culture)