Celebrating African Fashion & Black Beauty.
The Origins
Launched in 2010, Nothing But The Wax was initially a blog by Chayet Chiénin, a young journalist. This blog aimed to shine a light on African designers and debunk misconceptions about the African fabrics and fashion she was passionate about. Displaying far more than just trends, but styles steeped in history and proclaiming a cultural heritage.
France’s first specialised blog to address African fashion, Nothing But The Wax has managed to gather an audience that is able to relate to its tone, its authenticity and its vision of the black world. Listed by trends forecasting agencies, featured in several articles (Forbes Afrique, Courrier International, Madame Figaro), involved in the most important events and talks, NBW has become a point of reference, is now internationally recognised and provides a sought-after expertise in the African fashion industry.
And now, a media platform to reach a wider audience
These days, a mere handful of media deal with African fashion and black beauty. So it was only natural to turn this personal blog into a proper public medium.There is a creative, aesthetic andintellectual effervescence happening: an undeniable global-appetite for African and black cultures that needs to be highlighted, promoted and celebrated. And that is what this new media intends to do!
This project caught unanimously the attention of a jury of French prominent media professionals (RFI, Arte, Brief Me, Contexte, Mind, etc) and won the 2015-2016 edition of the Media Maker, an incubator for innovative proposals. This three-month phase of incubation allowed us to further refine our editorial vision and define precisely our business model from January to March 2016.
This project intends to explore topics in depth, through investigative journalism, both in France and abroad.
A media that brings a generation together
We want to take a whole new perspective, broach new paradigms with an eye to making room for that generation that expresses itself, asserts itself and is proud of the multiplicity of its culture.
A refined media with an afro pop vibe
NBW is a discovery platform, a space to analyse the creative industries in Africa and its diaspora. From Accra to Dakar, from Paris to NYC through Lagos, our media will decipher all of the new fashion and black beauty trends. NBW is the relay mast that amplifies the new of afro pop(ular) culture.
An innovative and interactive media
Through reports, interviews, original video content, we want to tell untold stories and be the voice of groundbreakers, doers and entrepreneurs.
Our reports are ready, some of our articles are too and others are more than likely being written while you are reading this. All we need now is a website worthy of the content we have cooked up for you! Backing this crowdfunding is not just about contributing to a project you believe in, it is joining a team. This medium will come about thanks to you!
Budget
The funds will mainly help us to cover the cost of developing our website and translating our content into English over a three-month period. We will be able to purchase essential equipment such as a Zoom handy recorder, a lavalier microphone, several portable hard drives and an office computer.
Timeline
If your support goes beyond expectations and we reach 20K, we will pay for our first field reports abroad.
It was essential that our rewards made sense and reflected our mindset and the core values of our medium, namely, the promotion of afropolitan fashion. But also, to endorse African arts and crafts, traditional savoir-faire and to draw attention to African-made goods.
More Details
Levels
www.babatunde.co.za / www.babatree.com / www.popcaven.com / www.mediamaker.fr /
www.delasebure.com / www.arteesan.fr / www.ladyhood.com / www.panafrica.com
I am Chayet Chiénin, founder and editor-in-chief of Nothing But The Wax, an online media celebrating African fashion and black beauty. After a 3 year career as an financial auditor in the skyscrappers of La Défense, the business district of Paris, I ended up giving up everything to become a freelance journalist. Telling stories, stories about the African diaspora or youth that moves forward, asks questions, expresses their drive and creates, has always been my motivation. Today, it’s my turn to get into it and launch my own media.
This project derives from very specific ambitions. We are a team of young and keen go-getters and we share a strong connection to Africa thanks to our own convictions, lifestyles and personal commitments.
Special thanks to Fanny Kara-Mohamed, Manon Louard, Nicolas Tilly, Margaux Deslandes, Thomas Smaïl, Marty Amunga and Edilson Boz for their help.
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Nothing-But-the-Wax-255989727747895/
Instagram : @nothingbutthewax
Twitter : @nothingbuthewax