I love discovering emergent designers that are daring, innovative and inspired. For their Fall 2010 runway show, the Arise Magazine African Collective presented three such artisans.

Surrounded by a crowd of the industry’s elite, including celebrity stylist, June Ambrose and models, Coco Rocha and Liya Kibede, three African designers/brands prepared to make their mark on Fashion’s most important week: Black Coffee, Loin Cloth & Ashes and Deola Sagoe.

Taking inspiration from Pablo Picasso’s reinterpretation of African masks, designers Jacques van der Watt and Danica Lepen of Black Coffee presented a line of flesh tone cocoon-shaped coats, structured shoulders in architectural shapes and fluid dresses in soft, mint green colors. Models, including Chanel Iman, wore clean yet dramatic chignons that presented an elegant contrast to the sharp, geometric silhouettes. The light eye make-up and a nude lip complemented the look, courtesy of Iman Cosmetics.

The second collection was presented by Tanzanian designer, Anisa Mpungwe, of the brand, Loin Cloth and Ashes. Inspired by her father’s hometown of Ifakara, Mpungwe’s collection was a melange of body-skimming dresses, billowy pants and flowing skirts with an origami bird motif that runs throughout. Urban blacks and grays comprise a monochromatic color palette, energized with touches of metallic gold, electric blue and sharp stripes.

Hailing from Nigeria, designer Deola Sagoe, showed her collection of bodycon dresses, slim pants and military-inspired jackets with metallic, embroidered and lace flourishes. Inspired by East African Maasai warriors and 18th century European military uniforms, the looks were sharp, valiant, sassy and strong. The models were directed to walk with strength and confidence as the embodiments of Sagoe’s design philosophy. Leading the army of models, Lopez stormed the catwalk with a fierce stride (Rae Holiday of Stuff Fly People Like remarked, “Sessilee walked off the runway and took the show with her!”) and each model followed her lead. At the close of the show, designer Deola Sagoe walked out to a standing ovation.