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Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 68 AKOUAVI SLATER: FASHION DESIGNER EXTRAORDINAIRE BY VICTORIA HEAD Weekend family trips to the tailor, in Togo, West Africa, were always a treat for young Akouavi Slater. While her siblings were being fitted for school clothes, she would spend her time watching the cutters and sew- ers intensely; examining how they wielded their tools and being amazed at the beautiful dresses they made. To this day, she can recall constantly getting in trouble with her parents for disappearing from the playground to sit and watch the tailors working at the dress shop and for prac- ticing what she had seen there on her mother's expensive material at home. Many times, her family would have to come looking for her, but knew just where she could be found. At the age of 12, Slater was making clothing for her dolls, herself and friends. After high school, she attended Esmod Design School in France to further develop her gift of fashion. Although, drawing wasn't her area of expertise and she created her designs from her head and not from the customary draw- ing tablet, this was never a problem for her in school. "My instructors recognized that I had a gift for fashion and allowed me to design my fashions in my own way," says Slater. "I have vivid visions of my designs in my head and create my pieces that way. I'm so glad that the instructors allowed us to express our gifts. Some were talented in cut- ting, others in drawing or sewing; by allowing creativity to flow and not being locked into one way of doing things really helps an artist to develop their own unique style." Slater moved to the United States in 1991. She got immediate attention from acquaintances and strangers, as she wore her original designs from day to day. People would literally stop her on the street and ask her where she purchased her lovely African garments, to which she would reply, "I'm a clothing designer." Orders began com- ing in and Akouavi Fashions was born. As the result of one day being in the right place at the right time, Slater met a man who fancied her creations and told her that he was affiliated with a Broadway show that may be able to use a few pieces. She subsequently got a phone call from world renowned choreographer, Debbie Allen, who asked her to design costumes for 20 members of the Lion King cast. Having her creations in a Broadway play has been one of the highlights of Slater's career and an accomplish- ment that she will always treasure. Slater currently resides in the Los Angeles area and to keep her designs in the eyes of the public, often does fash- ion shows, lends her pieces to be worn in the annual Miss African Pageant and does regular Trade Show exhibitions at The Pan African Film Festival, African Market Place and Black Business Expo. Her fashions range from casu- al to elegant, petite to plus-size; creations in linen, silk, chiffon and cotton, ranging in price from $80 - $400. She specializes in designs with detailed beading of pearls and crystals, perfect for extraordi- nary nights and red carpet wear. Slater also designs tra- ditional African and Euro- pean wedding gowns for her customers. With times being economi- cally challenging, Slater says, she has noticed a decrease in sales. People aren't spending as much on clothing as they once were. Her biggest sellers right now are her hand-craft- ed accessories. The intricate beading she does in creating her necklaces, earrings and other jewelry, and because they cost substantially less than her garments, makes her accessories a hot item these days. While her daughters assist her in beading and the photography of her clothing and accessories, Akouavi Fashions remains a one-woman business. She has an abundance of inventory and has started a website to aid in the sale of her merchandise. You can view Slater's online store at www.dslater.com. To purchase custom orders for your upcoming wedding or special event, or for daily comfortable casual wear in your size, Slater can be reached at (213) 487-7927. or emailed at akouavifashions@hotmail.com. She also does beautiful hair braiding. AKOUAVI SLATER