Actress Rosario Dawson has collaborated with her longtime friend Abrima Erwiah to advocate African culture by encouraging African-inspired content through creative projects.

By launching Studio One Eighty Nine, the former "Josie and the Pussycats" actress and her business partner are drawing attention to social issues such as cultural diversity and violence against women.

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Their website has been divided into several sections, including the online magazine for exhibiting African-inspired creative content as well as a fashion collection known as the Fashion Rising Collection to actively encourage the One Billion Rising campaign to stop the abuse against women.

Dawson explained that the fashion line has been named Fashion Rising to provide long-term employment for women.

Addressed to women, she says, "We're going to rise together. We're going to collaborate and you're going to be able to put your own kids through school."

Dawson and Erwiah have been to and are continuing their travels in many African countries, such as Ghana. They have also directly collaborated with designers, artists, photographers and bloggers in local African communities.

Erwiah had worked at Bottega Veneta for 10 years and have commented on the ideal opportunities that can be made available in Ghana and other African countries with their fashion collection.

"We're trying to tell long-term sustainable stories that are coming out of Africa to the outside market, as well as the inside market. It's hard to find brands that are really working through the whole value chain," she explained.

While the first Fashion Rising Collection was bought by an Urban Outfitters pop-up shop in New York and L.A. last May, the second one is currently available and can be viewed on on their website.

It features exceptional pieces, such as an Aggie-print hand-Batik cotton military jacket for $300 and a lime green ODLR-print hand-Batik terry cloth kimono for $275.

They are also selling vegan leather carry-alls and coin purses from $75 to $128 as well as recycled pull can leather tassle purses for $345.

An autographed poster of her 2014 film "Sin City: A Dame to Kill For" will also be a plus with Jessica Alba signing the one-sheet as well.

Dawson and Erwiah will launch their third collection at the Milan Fashion Week on September with Vogue and the United Nation's ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, as well as on October for Ghana Fashion Week.

TagsRosario Dawson, Milan Fashion Week, Urban Outfitters, Ghana Fashion Week