Supermodel and cosmetics guru Iman has announced IMAN Cosmetics’ partnership with Mataano, the chic fashion design label with a global flavor. Mataano, founded by Somali twin sisters Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim, will debut its new partnership during their Fall 2012 runway show with IMAN as the lead sponsor.

The young inspirational fashion designers got their break into the fashion world at only 20-years-old. They launched Mataano in 2008 hoping to show the world a new diversity of style. Their designs in the women’s ready-to-wear category are a break from traditional African style. Mataano uniquely represents a mix of Somali and American heritage to create a blend of culture and has found its place among the fashion elite.

“I saw in the twins the drive and inspiration I had at that point in my life.  Our shared Somali background and creative visions are a natural fit,” Iman, CEO and Founder of IMAN Cosmetics said in a press statement.

As part of the new partnership, the Mataano founders will become brand ambassadors for IMAN. They will also work with the brand to assist with future global events, Fashion Week shows, a limited editorial color collection and IMAN’s Fall 2012 campaign.

“It’s an honor to represent and have the support of a makeup giant like IMAN Cosmetics,” Idyl Mohallim said in a statement. “IMAN Cosmetics is about providing options for all different shades of skin and acknowledging and addressing variety in beauty and cosmetics.”

Her sister, Ayaan, also stressed the importance of ensuring that their runway models represent the diversity of Mataano’s brands and that the support of IMAN would assist in completing that look.

We’re confident this is just the beginning of a successful and thriving partnership,” Iman added. “I’m grateful to have reached a certain point in my life and career where I can inspire young, motivated women to follow their dreams, take a risk, and never accept defeat.”

By Keli Goff of TheLoop21

I’ve written before about the myriad of hopes and expectations many of us placed on President Obama’s shoulders following his election. Our wish list ran the gamut from the policy arena—will he save the economy—to the arena of race. This perhaps, more than any other is the domain in which our expectations were the most unrealistic and unfair both to him, and to ourselves. After all he’s not a genie in a bottle granting wishes and you can’t solve three centuries of tragedy and conflict in one presidential administration. But that didn’t stop many of us from wishing nonetheless. Would we begin to see more black elected officials? Would we begin to see more black CEOs of Fortune 500 companies? Would we see more black boys embrace education as a more viable path to success than the NBA? The answer to all of the above, so far, unfortunately appears to be no.* But one area in which “The Obama Effect” just might be having an affect is the world of fashion.

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