The Fro Fashion Week Fabulousness

From what I’ve seen in my travels, there are three natural hair meccas. Chicago (represent!), New York (specifically, Brooklyn!) and Atlanta. The natural hair scene in Atlanta is passionate. At events I’ve attended, the women come out in their numbers, dressed to slay, ready to learn and admire and buy the hottest products. It’s a guaranteed good time. I had THE BEST time in Atlanta at the beginning of February. Let me tell y’all about Fro Fashion Week. This recap is so long overdue!

From the minute I was met at the airport, I could see the love and heart behind Fro Fashion Week.

Tarin Boone is the creator, and her whole family is involved in the production of the event. So as soon as I arrived, I could feel the presence of family, love, and passion.

The venue they chose, Melia Hotel, is a beautiful 25 floor high rise with a stunning view of the Atlanta skyline. This is the room where I delivered my keynote speech.

Bloggers Brands, and Brunch was all about the top natural hair care brands coming together with passionate bloggers and natural haired women. My keynote speech was sponsored by Design Essentials — click here to follow them on Facebook! Having this powerful table of 60 women come together to listen to my words was a truly magnificent moment in my life.

Basically I shared my journey as a blogger, and listed the reasons why I believe the top beauty brands around the world all want to work with me. That’s because my voice is sincere and unsullied, I don’t cut and paste and share information I don’t believe in or can’t speak to, and I do my best to be consistent. When you read Afrobella.com, you know exactly who you’re hearing from.

At the end of my speech there was rousing applause which really meant the world to me — I still get SO NERVOUS before public speaking, so the applause is like instant relief afterwards.

If I look teary-eyed in this video recap by Route TV, I totally was — because Tarin announced that they literally shifted the timing of Fro Fashion Week to meet my schedule, seeing as I’d be attending New York Fashion Week afterwards. I was so honored by her words.

Fro Fashion Week was a more intimate and thoughtful sort of natural hair event, laid out so that brands could have individual rooms and that attendees could directly interact with the creators and PRs. I loved meeting the creators of natural hair brands like CoCo Curls, Shea Radiance, Jessicurl, and Kynx — it makes such an impact to see the person who actually came up with the product idea and worked hard to make it come to life. So inspired by all of them, and more to come on their genius products! I met amazing designers of Reclaimed Fashions and want to wear their everything. I really wanted this one Etta James teeshirt but it was unavailable, alas!

The Beautiful Textures room was lovely, and that’s where me, Kim Coles, Luvvie, and Felicia Leatherwood got a little silly in the OMG Booth!

Saturday night ended with the penthouse party hosted by Kim Coles — that was packed, and FUN. The dancefloor was the place to be, apparently — I came in from doing interviews in the next room and everyone was breaking it down to the kind of old school jams I LOVE best!

If you’re not familiar with Thirsty Roots, get familiar! They do the best event coverage and video recaps in Atlanta.

We made SO many new friends at Fro Fashion Week. And right when I was leaving the hotel, who did Luvvie and I run into? The stunningly beautiful and super nice Mae of Natural Chica!! I absolutely love Mae. So genuine, such a gentle, sweet ray of sunshine. YAY!

Fro Fashion Week was an absolute blast. I met SO many amazing women, did some great interviews, and took photos with a whole lotta people. If you’re one of them, please tweet me, post on my Facebook wall, or leave a link below. You helped make the experience extra special!