Studio 189, run by Ghanaian/Ivorian-American, fashion business woman and OkayAfrica100 Women honoree, Abrima Erwiah, and activist, actress, artist, singer and producer, Rosario Dawson, champion the 2017-2018 CFDA x Lexus Eco fashion Initiative.

The Initiative was "to facilitate steps to measurable progress thereby furthering American fashion's journey to sustainability." It provided mentorship, and gave its participants the opportunity to grow as a fashion business as a leader, and inspire change and innovation. Erwiah and Dawson's Studio 189 proved it was able to be a platform to do just that and more.

Headquartered in Ghana, USA and throughout West Africa, the company showcases and sells fashionable items while spreading African pride and female empowerment.

According to the initiative, Studio 189 has managed to "target aspects of their design and business strategies to define actionable goals in areas such as consumer consciousness, bespoke product and service innovations, and ethical methods."

"What we're trying to do is make change," Erwiah says in an interview with OkayAfrica back in March regarding her collaborations and work with Studio 189. "What we're trying to do is put together and create a space where all the different players are doing something really interesting and we're creating larger connections."

We're proud of our indicted 100 Women honoree, Erwiah for such a great accomplishment. The announcement of Studio 189's award presented by CFDA x Lexus Eco not only speaks for the company, but also says that African fashion and cultural influence is in fact rising higher in America, within the fashion industry and beyond.