Tuesday 5th of May 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: African Beauty

Africa Fashion Designers: Designers From Africa Are Making Waves Around The World.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Designers from Africa are making waves all over the world. Africa has a wealth of talent, and the fashion business is one of them. Many designers have achieved fame both at home and abroad, and this decade has been no exception.

These designers make Africa proud with every stitch, from inventing new ways to bring the runway to the people during a worldwide pandemic to winning important accolades.

Here are some designers from Africa and the diaspora who are forging their own paths in the worldwide fashion world.

1. Hanifa 

Anifa Mvuemba launched her contemporary ready-to-wear label ‘Hanifa’ ten years ago, but her first presentation was only in 2021. Last year, during the height of the pandemic, the Congolese designer stunned the fashion world when she showed her range on Instagram Live using 3D models of her designs, establishing herself as one of the industry’s newest innovators.
Mvuemba’s designs use vibrant, bold colors to highlight the feminine form, with silhouettes and materials that look rich even in print. Many female celebrities have been photographed wearing Hanifa’s designs on a regular basis.

2. Maxhosa 

Since its inception in 2011, Laduma Ngxokolo’s ‘Laduma by Maxhosa’ has become not only a household name in South Africa, but also one of the continent’s most recognizable knitwear companies.

While studying Textile Design and Technology at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Ngxokolo won the international Society of Dyers & Colourists Design Award in London in 2010 for his recognizable men’s knitwear design inspired by Xhosa beadwork.

He’s also been published in publications like as Fader US, Wallpaper UK, and Vogue Italia, as well as exhibiting his work in Paris and London Fashion Weeks.
He is one of Africa’s most innovative exports because to his distinctive utilization of South African mohair and wool in strikingly contrasting colors. In Switzerland, Paris, Japan, Nigeria, the United States, and the Netherlands, ‘Maxhosa by Laduma’ is accessible.

3. Kenneth Ize

Kenneth Ize is a designer from Lagos. He was born and raised in Austria, where he studied fashion and design at the University of Applied Arts Vienna before starting ‘Kenneth Ize’ in 2013. Two pieces with daring prints and colors, certain statement outfits that convey a story, and reinterpret West African textiles are his distinctive creations.

In 2019, Ize was a finalist for the LVMH prize. This designer is one to keep an eye on in 2022, and his work continues to improve.

4. Thebe Magugu

Thebe Magugu is without a doubt one of South Africa’s most successful emerging designers in the last decade. In 2016, the Kimberly native launched ‘Thebe Magugu,’ which has since grown to tremendous heights both locally and globally.

Magugu, who was born a year before apartheid in South Africa was abolished, uses his clothing to represent his connection to South African politics and the after-effects of such an oppressive government, while also advocating for the decolonisation of African design.

Magugu’s global awareness has been obvious since receiving the renowned LVMH prize in 2019. It’s difficult to ignore this designer’s talent, which has been recognized by British Vogue and celebrities such as Rihanna.

5. Imane Ayissi

Imane Ayissi has devoted his entire life to the arts and fashion. He is a world-renowned designer, but he is also a dancer, performer, and model who has collaborated with fashion houses like Dior and Givenchy.

In his creations, the Cameroonian haute couture designer combines the dualities of African and French culture. This is reflected in his clothing, which features an unusual brilliant color and texture combination.

Ayissi has had an 18-year career in the fashion industry and was the first black African designer to walk the Paris haute couture runway. A-list actors like as Angela Bassett and Zendaya have worn his creations.

6. Ahluwalia

Priya Ahluwalia, an Indian-Nigerian designer from London, created the ‘Ahluwalia’ collection. ‘Ahluwalia’ is one of the newest menswear labels on the scene, but it has already made a big impression.

Priya was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and was a co-winner of the LVMH Prize in 2020. Her mix of African designs and Indian weaves gives streetwear a fresh look. Furthermore, this firm is environmentally friendly because it prides itself on reducing waste by employing used and deadstock goods.

African fashion is, without a doubt, in capable and talented hands.

7. Evelyn Akinyi Odongo

MEFA Creation is co-founded by Akinyi, who is also the creative director. Her career began in 2002, and her designs have grown in popularity both locally and globally since then. She was also one of the fortunate designers to have her collection on display during President Barack Obama’s 2015 visit to Kenya.
Margret Kenyatta, Kenya’s first lady, was also dressed by her.
She also asked Martha Karua, a previous presidential candidate, to wear one of her designs during her most recent presidential debate. For Ms Karua, she created a black dress with a green jacket with an African print.

Ms Odongo’s mother was a home-based tailor, thus fashion was a huge part of her childhood.
The future designer would see her mother sewing and then learn how to do it herself. But she had no idea that fashion would be her career at the time. She enlisted in the military after high school, only to learn midway through that it was not going to lead her to her dream.

Before enrolling at the Evelyn College of Design, she took a gap to focus on her family. Ms Odongo, who is a member of the Association of Fashion Designers of Kenya (AFAD), has participated in the annual Safari Fashion Week and recently represented the organization at the Source Africa Trade Show in Cape Town.

8. Deepa Dosaja

Deepa Dosaja is a well-known Kenyan fashion designer. Nature does, in fact, inspire her fashion creations, as evidenced by the patterns, colors, and materials she uses. Deepa uses natural textiles such as cotton, silk, and wool to produce her works.

In fact, she was named Kenya’s Most Influential Woman in the Fashion Industry in 2013. Furthermore, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o wore her designs in 2015, achieving international notoriety.

Deepa strives to honor and empower women via her creations and company. Deepa has built a business that honors her soul by producing attractive, clean, and ethically manufactured clothing.

Deepa has spoken at a number of events regarding the impact of fashion on both the environment and the people who make it. Her strong love for the environment and the people who live in it is shown in the fact that she has never used synthetic textiles in any of her collections or during her fashion career, and she values her crew as the lifeblood of her firm.

9. Sika’a

John Tchoudi, the founder of Sika, is a promising fashion designer. The Sika’a ambition to create stylish and imaginative handmade clothes is blossoming just two years into an African fashion adventure.
The focus is on manufacturing excellent high-end clothing from sustainable textiles, and the company is based in West Cameroon. Sika’a is ahead of the curve in an industry that needs to change to more environmentally friendly practices.
The passion and variety at the heart of the Sika’a ethos are a winning combination. And a perusal of the impressive portfolio is absolutely enthralling.

10. Ann McCreath

Ann McCreath is a Kenyan fashion designer and the originator of the KikoRomeo brand. McCreath has worked in the fashion industry since 1996.
Ann is also the founder of the Festival of African Fashion & Arts (FAFA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace through fashion. She is the Kenyan Coordinator for Fashion Revolution Day right now.

Award-winning fashion designer with more than two decades of experience in fashion and development in Africa, as well as in Europe.
Expert in the East African fashion sector who is widely regarded as a pioneer. Multilingual connection, motivator, teacher, and creative thinker.

Ann McCreath is passionate about design (see out the KikoRomeo brand), as well as passing on her skills of design, production, marketing, and brand growth to future generations. Everything in my life is connected to the arts in some way.

11. Duro Oluwo

Duro Oluwo is equally well-known in the art and fashion worlds. His discriminating clientele stimulates the same stylistic muse as he does. He’s a master of the mixed-media look. He creates one-of-a-kind ensembles using a variety of materials and patterns that delight and astonish.
In general, evening silhouettes are his go-to, but his works also stray into more unusual assemblages. Oluwo, who primarily designs for women’s clothing, has drawn inspiration from people and places in his varied life.

His 2021 collections are expected to be as groundbreaking as we’ve come to anticipate from him. Here you may see the most recent African fashion collection.

Content Courtesy of NFH

 

Fenty Africa: Kenyans Are Dissatisfied With The List Of Influencers Invited To The Fenty Beauty Launch.

Posted on by Fashion Police

Kenyans were disappointed that the list lacked big makeup artists and skincare content creators and was flocked by our everyday influencers.

It was only after the event that many noticed the absence of a significant cog in the wheel of the industry, and that was the makeup artists and beauty gurus, whose proficiency in the field is greatly relied on by the majority of prospective consumers of the products, giving off a tone of favoritism that went into the organization.

The artists took to social media to ask the event’s organizers why they weren’t invited or why they didn’t get the PR packages that were given to influencers from various fields such as culinary arts, comedy, and lifestyle, among others, all of whom appealed to an audience that was vastly different from the brand’s target market.

https://twitter.com/misskamau_/status/1530232167359467520?s=20&t=LpqrzlAJu8bfnlsZuWHBtg

Miss Universe Kenya 2019 and Miss Universe Kenya 2021 Miss Stacy Michuki expressed her dissatisfaction on Instagram stories.

She penned,

“Wait, so this was a beauty launch and we did not have beauty gurus like Muthoni Njoba, Eman Sallal, and Steve Koby just to mention a few. And so many other amazing upcoming MUA (Make-up artists) in attendance?? Hmmm!”

Rosina Sharon, a YouTuber with over 600,000 subscribers, was among the disgruntled makeup artists. She complained of being ignored by the organizers and the mistaken belief that the influencers at the event would persuade Kenyan consumers to buy the brand’s products because they, too, were beneficiaries of their artists’ services.

“You didn’t invite the only people who know what beauty product should work best to fit the needs of the consumer,” she wrote on her Instagram account.

Gaylyne Ayugi, a veteran Kenyan model and beauty pageant titleholder who was elected Miss Universe Kenya 2014 and represented Kenya at the Miss Universe 2014 contest, expressed her disappointment on social media.

She stated that she was not surprised because she had anticipated the event to be a social gathering of our everyday influencers

“But didn’t we already say this event was gonna be a meetup for the kawaida influencers who go for everything but do not deliver. We expected looks to be served… so far I’ve seen some an wueh, just laughing. I don’t tire for this your influencers.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CbkonZutnWa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ayugi said she lacked words because that was clownery at its finest because in her own words,

“Who wrote that PR list, because who have to explain to us like little children how a food blogger, a man to be precise who does not do anything skin/beauty related received a PR package.”

Stephanie Cherono, a professional makeup artist, echoed her comments, expressing disappointment with the invitation list for failing to convey the inclusivity that the brand has long promoted in its marketing efforts.

“People who don’t even wear makeup, let alone Fenty,” she bemoaned.

https://twitter.com/cherono_s/status/1530296426818830338?s=20&t=5WihQPFuF86F_bNJRNf2ww

Dennis Karuri, Creative Phil, Michelle Ngoje, Wachuka Thimba, and Mwaju Chaks, among others who have rattled the industry with their talent in the profession, were among those who missed their invitation.

Patience P, a fashion and lifestyle content producer, compared our debut to that of other nations, and here’s what she had to say:
“Having gone through Nigerian and South African Fenty launches, one thing is for sure, they have a proper distribution on how they invite their influencers. Not the same damn faces at every event. Let us have a proper filter on who goes and attends what.”

Mitchele Adhiambo, a burgeoning lifestyle digital content creator, also offered her thoughts on the lack of diversity and the same faces that were seen at Fenty’s premiere.

“I needed to look up other countries Fenty launch because I felt there was something wrong with this event on our side…. we need to pull all industries houses in order in our country.”  She stated.

We’ll probably spend the rest of our lives comparing ourselves to South Africa and Nigeria, as they continue to rise while we struggle and make such moves all the time.

Content Courtesy Capital FM Lifstyle, Mpasho of & NFH

Fenty Africa: Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Exclusive Launch in Nairobi, Kenya

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line debuted in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday, May 26, 2022, with a grand reveal and launch at The Social House, 154 James Gichuru Road, Lavington.

Nairobi’s finest influencers and celebrities attended the dazzling evening invite-only event, dressed to the nines. The room was buzzing with excitement as Kenya joined the exclusive club of the brand’s other eight African countries where it now officially retails.

Kenya’s top influencers, media personalities, celebrities, makeup artists, screen sirens, and Instagram heavyweights descended on the Social House to celebrate famed Bajan singer Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty soft launch, which was studded with all things beautiful, exquisite, lush, and posh.

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At 7 p.m., the celebs began to arrive, and the red carpet was a whirl of activity, with cameras flashing, bodies popping, and champagne flowing.

Janet Mbugua, Makena Njeri, Kendi Christine, Noni Muchiri, and Annette Gitau were among the many celebrities who attended the celebration, which continued until far past midnight.

Eugene Mbugua, a reality and documentary TV producer, as well as Crazy Kennar and Esther Kazungu, makers of internet entertainment, were among the other famous personalities.

Suzie Wokabi, a Kenyan beauty legend, and a slew of Instagram stars including Stephu Mulinge, Maureen Bandari, Yasmeen Saiedi, Joy Kendi, Shiksha Arora, and Lornzie Gatabaki were among the flashy audience.

The event, which included beautiful Fenty Beauty packages for all attendees, was also graced by seductive singer Nikita Kering, who put on a sizzling show as the guests fawned over her.

Nikita laid down a strong performance, topping it off with her huge single ‘Ex,’ dressed in a short newspaper-themed outfit and black designer thigh-high boots.

Fena Gitu and Kagwe Mungai, both musicians, attended the star-studded beauty pageant.

The gathering, known as the “Fenty Club,” was held to “celebrate the introduction of Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin in Kenya.”

The Social House meeting was also a totally private affair that would not be published on social media and would only be open to those who had been invited.

On Friday night, Fenty Beauty will formally launch in Kenya and Africa as a whole  with yet another glittering, all-star event at the Junction Mall.

Dr. Joyce Gikunda, founder of Lintons Beauty, also made an appearance and gave a lecture, dressed in an opulent Gele (Nigerian-style headwrap) and a flowing dark blue dress.
Lintons Beauty is Kenya’s official  and only  Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin retailer.

Content Courtesy of Capital Lifestyle Production & NFH 

 

8 South African Tribes Are Honored In Thebe Magugu’s New Dresses.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Designer Thebe Magugu was exposed to a number of African tribes and traditions as a child growing up in the South African cities of Kimberley and Johannesburg. His design work has always been influenced by the unique beauty of his homeland. Magugu adds, “I’m always focusing on topics that are relatively specific but run the risk of being forgotten.”

Magugu sought to keep this attitude alive in his latest effort by designing a clothing for each of South Africa’s eight major tribes: Zulu, Tswana, Swati, Vhavenda, Pedi, Xhosa, Tsonga, and Sotho. “I wanted to commemorate the primary eight cultures that we have here in South Africa because I value my own so much,” says Magugu, a Tswana tribe member.

“While we’re recognized for our storytelling and handiwork, all of the other countries have their own customs and peculiarities that I wanted to capture in a dress.”

Each tribe was designed in collaboration with South African cartoonist Phathu Nembilwi. “I urged her to paint her own abstract depiction of the eight tribes,” Magugu recalls. The illustrations by Nembilwi were then printed on crepe fabric and sewn into “bohemian-style garments with exposed necklines,” according to Magugu. “It’s a proportion that flatters everyone.” I wanted everyone who saw the outfit to recognize themselves in it.”

Despite the fact that each outfit in the collection is graphic and summery, Magugu wanted each one to have its own distinct personality. For example, the Tswana-inspired outfit displays two individuals drumming on a drum that they made themselves, a tribute to the tribe’s beadwork and craftsmanship history.

Magugu incorporated the Soto tribe’s traditional attire into the outfit. “They wear a really particular triangular hat, and they’re often clad with these incredibly enormous wool blankets surrounding them,” Magugu explains.

Magugu was able to transmit the collection’s message clearly and with care with the support of South African photographer Aart Verrips, writer Vuyolwethu Reoagile, and stylist Chloe Andrea Welgemoed. The models, all of whom are Magugu’s friends and South African creatives, were photographed wearing the gowns and coupled with unique South African things.
The conch shells, baskets, and other items would be found in a normal South African home, according to Magugu.
Reoagile also penned tribe descriptions that will be posted on Magugu’s website.
“I truly wanted it to be some form of education,” Magugu adds. “Vuyolwethu offered a quick review of the cultures, including where they’re found in South Africa and what they’re most known for.”

Magugu learned a lot while putting together the compilation. “I knew a lot about South African culture from friends and family, but seeing each culture in detail gave me an even greater appreciation.”
That, according to the designer, is why he enjoys fashion: he wants to continue to share the beauty of his homeland with others.

That, according to the designer, is why he enjoys fashion: he wants to continue to share the beauty of his homeland with others. “I might want to look at another field if I was only doing clothes for the sake of doing clothes,” he says. “I’m not a particularly outspoken person, but I feel heard when I make garments and engage with fashion’s cerebral side.”

Content courtesy of Vogue Magazine, Thebe Magugu & NFH

Nikita Kering, A Singer, Will Be The Face Of The Fenty Beauty Campaign In Kenya.

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

Nikita Kering, a 20-year-old award-winning musician, has signed a deal with Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty cosmetics line. The ‘Ex’ hitmaker will be the face of Fenty’s ads, which will kick off on May 27th, 2022.
The model announced that she will be wearing Fenty products like ‘Killawat,’ a fluid, non-greasy solution that is lightweight and non-sticky, in a social media post.

Nikita will also promote the gloss bomb universal lip luminizer in eight hues, as well as the lightweight full frontal volume mascara.

She wrote in a Twitter post,

“It’s going to happen! This Friday, the 27th, @fentybeauty and @fentyskin will be here. I’m very excited to be kicking off our campaign in Kenya while wearing my Fenty favorites #glossbomb #killawat…”

The collaboration comes only days after Fenty Beauty announced that their products would be available in Africa. They wrote on their social media platform,

“Finally, the wait is over. We’re pulling up in AFRICA! Who’s up for it?! We’ve been putting in a lot of effort to make this happen. Starting May 27, we’ll be accessible at local stores in Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.”

Elsa Majimbo, a Kenyan comedienne, joined Fenty Beauty as a brand ambassador in 2020. Majimbo filmed videos of people wearing the brand’s eyewear.

Content Courtesy of Nikita Kering & NFH 

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Kigali Highlights

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Rwanda’s fashion sector is constantly rising, as the country positions itself to become Africa’s next fashion powerhouse, as evidenced by the recently concluded Mercedes-Benz fashion week.
Over 100 international guests, including 27 fashion designers, arrived in Kigali ahead of the six-day event.

A fashion school has been advocated for in Rwanda. Chris Vitj, a Belgian fashion designer who was in Rwanda for the second edition of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, urged Rwandan designers and business leaders to establish at least one fashion school in the country.

She was speaking at the Fashion Forum, which took place last week in Norrsken, Kigali, and brought together Africa’s top designers and others to discuss the industry’s evolution from a commercial standpoint.

“I hope that eventually, starting with a few people here, a school like that will exist. That is my desire,” stated the designer, who lectured on fashion for ten years till 2021.

 

Young Rwandan designers are given a forum to display their work.
Young up-and-coming designers were given a platform to display their collections to 27 prominent designers from around the world at the just finished Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

Fashion houses such as Jarah by Linda Muhoza, Inkingi Designs, Fashion Forward, A&M Kigali Urban, Ntare Gitare, Koni Clothing, and others showed their collections on the catwalk on May 19 at M-Hotel.
A total of ten young designers were given the opportunity to showcase their talent.

Music meets fashion
Renowned Rwandan artists and top Rwandan music bands delighted attendees at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Kigali last week.
Mike Kayihura and Christopher performed live music with the Target band on the second day of the fashion week at M-hotel Kigali, while several collections were displayed on the runway.
Selecta Copain, a well-known disc jockey, also performed a live set of afro music at the fashion week’s grand finale.

Top designers participate
This year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was bigger and better than the debut edition held in 2019, with over 15 local and international designers on the runway.

During the fashion week’s grand finale, renowned designers like as Malawi’s Lilly Alphonso, who showed Dessert pieces, Uganda’s Kais Divo, Somalia’s Qaal designs, Ghana’s Arshia Wilson, and South Africa’s Thando Piliso, among many others, showed their collections.
Georges Malelu, the South African designer who dressed Beyonce in 2018, also attended the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Show.

On the runway, top models such as Grace Akeza, Honorine Uwase, Kentha Kirezi, Aisha Uwase, and others showcased various designers.

The fashion scene in Africa is thriving.
African collections dominated the runway at the just concluded Mercedes-Benz Fashion Show, which ran from May 16 to 21.

Ten of the 15 designers who took part in the fashion presentation wore Kitenge couture garments.

Content courtesy of News Times Rwanda & NFH

Glenmorangie Hosts A Cocktail Experience To Commemorate World Whisky Day.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Whisky enthusiasts all across the world celebrate World Whiskey Day with tastings, events, and gatherings. On the day of the event, participants are urged to raise one glass to commemorate the occasion.

Every year on the third Saturday in May, World Whisky Day was observed on Saturday, May 21, 2022.

At the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, Moet Hennessy Eastern Africa Marketing Manager Alexandre Helaine took advantage of the chance to give whiskey fans to a ‘full course’ Single Malt Scotch Whiskey tasting experience.

To commemorate World Whisky Day, Glenmorangie presented a cocktail experience at the Bar Next Door for top influencers and Single Malt Whisky enthusiasts.
The event featured the creation of unique Glenmorangie drinks in a unique location, creating an unforgettable celebrating experience.

Glenmorangie is always welcoming visitors to sample and enjoy the whisky in sensory playgrounds inspired by the brand’s delectable beverages.
Glenmorangie welcomes you to enjoy Scotland’s smoothest and most beautiful single malt whisky on World Whisky Day.

Whiskey connoisseurs will concur that if you are unfamiliar with the aroma and flavor of a particular whiskey brand, you will be sipping backstreet whiskeys accessible in the market, believing you are drinking that brand.

Perhaps this is why Glenmorangie’s Alexandre Helaine decided to provide special instruction to guests on how to identify the whiskey they are tasting.

This is a simple way to taste your whisky. Examine the appearance – is it what you’re used to?

Swirl the glass and look for streaks of liquid running down the inside.
Watch as the glass shakes. How long do the bubbles last? The stronger the alcoholic strength, the longer it takes.

Sniffing – Place your nose close to the glass, but not so close that the alcohol burns your nose. Short, sharp sniffs are recommended.
Take a deep swig of your whisky. The tongue produces taste, but the nose produces flavor.

About Glenmorangie

Since 1843, Glenmorangie has been lovingly distilled. William Matheson, our company’s founder, was a visionary and perfectionist. He developed a single malt whisky that is unparalleled in terms of delicacy, smoothness, and flavor complexity.
The dish is deceptively easy, but the level of attention to detail is incredible. We make an excellent mash by combining the pure mineral-rich waters of the Tarlogie Springs with local golden Scottish barley, which we then distill in Scotland’s tallest malt whiskey stills to create a purer, smoother whisky.

The necks alone are taller than a fully grown adult male giraffe, standing at 5.24 meters (nearly 16 feet). What is the advantage of this height obsession?

Only the lightest and cleanest vapors condense into our spirit, which is then aged in Missouri White Oak barrels. (It will take at least ten years.) These carefully selected casks, made from 100-year-old trees and seasoned for another two years after felling, provide a hue and a creamy smoothness of flavor that is complete perfection.

There are, of course, simpler and faster ways to produce whisky. There are many other single malts. But after tasting Glenmorangie, you’ll never want to try anything else since we are unwavering in our belief in the way our whisky is made, regardless of the effort or cost.

Content courtesy of African Elite Group Ltd & NFH

10 African Fashion Designers Changing the World That the World Should Know

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

African fashion, like African music and art, is experiencing a global renaissance, and we’re here to witness it. International superstars such as Naomi Campbell, Zendaya, Tracee Ellis Ross, Angela Bassett, and Beyoncé, who was seen wearing African designers in the visual cinema for her award-winning album, Black Is King, have helped to bring some of the continent’s designers to the forefront.

These designers are change makers in their own right, helping to improve Africa’s developing economy, advocating for fairness and climate action, and creating a new bar for African talent, ensuring that the rest of the world understands what Africa is truly made of.

 

Africa’s fashion is adventurous and revolutionary, just like its people. Nigerian designers Adebayo Oke-Lawal and Fola Francis, for example, are pushing boundaries and challenging gender stereotypes on the continent through their work. Anifa Mvuemba, a Congolese designer, is credited with being the first to create a 3D virtual fashion show for her Hanifa line, which went viral in 2021.
Ann McCreath, the founder of the acclaimed Festival of Africa Fashion & Arts, is the organizer of Fashion Revolution Day in Kenya (FAFA) and one of the pioneer fashion designers in Kenya.

According to Statista, the garment business generated $1.5 trillion in global revenue in 2021.

This means that the fashion industry’s success in Africa can have a significant impact on the continent’s economy. With Africa having the world’s highest poverty rate, investing in the fashion industry and other areas can assist to alter the lives of those who are poor.
A growing fashion business in Africa implies greater job possibilities, development investments, and global recognition for fashion designers as well as the local tailors, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs who work with them. Many African fashion firms are currently developing programs to provide resources, contribute to social development, and empower people interested in working in the sector.

This is an excellent time to learn more about, support, and invest in the African fashion sector, given its global success and the potential for economic growth. So here are eight internationally famous African fashion firms that are also helping to address some of the world’s most pressing issues that you should be aware of, follow, and support.

1. KikoRomeo

KikoRomeo, which means “Adam’s Apple” in Kiswahili, was founded by Ann McCreath in 1996 and will be celebrating its 26th anniversary in May 2022. Over the previous two decades, it has established itself as a heritage brand, largely regarded with influencing Kenyan fashion and training designers and artists.

Wearing KikoRomeo is like being a part of an exclusive club, with recognizable distinctive items that signify a shared interest and initiate a dialogue.

KikoRomeo is committed to sustainability, employing hand-dyed and hand-carved textiles as well as hand-carved trims from the African continent to ensure that each item lasts. Cottons, linens, and silk are among the natural fibers used in our materials.

The silhouettes are effortlessly graceful and meticulously designed. Our clients consider them to be pieces of art.
KikoRomeo keeps asking us what we can wear to appear good. The unexpected blending of colors and mixed media creates individuality and richness in the textiles when viewed in paintings.

2. Thebe Magugu

Thebe Magugu is a luxury self-titled label created in 2016 by Thebe Magugu, a South African fashion designer.

Magugu uses clothes to tell stories about his heritage and culture while also bringing crucial topics to light. In previous collections, he has addressed sexism in South Africa, the country’s apartheid heritage, and femicide, with President Cyril Ramaphosa calling gender-based violence as “the second epidemic we are battling” in November 2020.

Magugu won the LVMH Award in 2018 and has since been featured in Paper, Another Mag, Vogue, and other international media. Magugu specializes on women’s ready-to-wear clothing.

3. Imane Ayissi

Imane Ayissi is a Cameroonian model, dancer, and fashion designer who was born in 1969 to Cameroonian parents. Ayissi was a sought-after model who walked for prominent luxury labels such as Dior, Givenchy, Valentino, YSL, and Lanvin before launching his fashion business.

Ayissi makes haute couture luxury ready-to-wear items that are inspired by civilizations from all around Africa. Ayissi is also a proponent of environmentally responsible fashion, frequently employing natural and organic materials with minimal environmental impact.

4. Anyango Mpinga

Anyango Mpinga is a cultural pioneer who promotes intersectionality as a circular fashion guiding philosophy. In 2015, she launched her own Contemporary Sustainable label, which is known for reinterpreted white shirts, colorful designs that pay homage to her multi-cultural ancestry, and size inclusive styles that are balanced between androgyny and a bohemian aesthetic.

Her ethereal designs have been shown in cities such as Tokyo, Paris, New York, London, Milan, Bangkok, and Porto, and she has garnered countless awards. Anyango is a forward-thinking designer who is experimenting with new technologies to develop biodegradable textiles.
Her campaign Free As A Human, which she founded as a social venture, addresses the humanitarian and environmental crisis caused by the fashion industry’s exploitative labor practices.

5. Hanifa

Anifa Mvuemba is a Congolese fashion designer best known for a viral 3D fashion presentation in which she blended two of her interests, fashion and technology, in an epic showcase of her brand Hanifa during the pandemic’s peak in 2021.

Anifa, founded by Mvuemba ten years ago, is noted for its appealing ready-to-wear designs for ladies of all sizes. On November 16, 2021, she had her first presentation at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., with nearly 20,000 people watching it on YouTube.

She’s also the founder of The Hanifa Dream, a program that helps women-led businesses “elevate fashion through passion, purpose, and social impact.”

6. Orange Culture

Adebayo Oke-Lawal, a Nigerian fashion designer, launched Orange Culture in 2011. Oke-beginnings Lawal’s are those of a real millennial, as he has been designing since he was 11 and self-taught via YouTube, and is now one of Africa’s most prominent designers.

Orange Culture is well recognized for their menswear, which has been worn by African superstars such as Global Citizen champion Davido, Rita Dominic, and Ice Prince, and was the first Nigerian company to have a store at Selfridges in the United Kingdom.

They provide mentorship and tools to budding fashion entrepreneurs all throughout Africa through their program, The Orange Mentorship, to help them develop their own fashion empire.

7. Christie Brown

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdA13Gsutxp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Aisha Ayensu, a Ghanaian fashion designer and creative director, created Christie Brown in March 2008.

The luxury label, named after Ayensu’s grandmother, creates inventive and unusual ready-to-wear clothes and accessories for women. Ayensu reimagines traditional clothes and modernizes it for today’s audience when creating for Christie Brown.

8. Tongoro

Tongoro is a ready-to-wear womenswear brand that offers playful and unusual garments. It was founded in 2016 by Sarah Diof, a lady of Senegalese, Central African, and Congolese descent.
Tongoro, based in Dakar, Senegal, sources fabrics from artisans all across Africa, and Diof makes it a point to collaborate with local tailors in order to support the economic development of African craftspeople.

9. Ahluwalia

Priye Ahluwalia, the company’s founder, was born in London to Nigerian parents and an Indian mother. She creates award-winning ready-to-wear menswear, drawing inspiration from both her Nigerian and Indian roots.

Ahluwalia won the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design the next year after being one of the beneficiaries of the renowned LMVH competition in 2020. For a majority of her designs, Ahluwalia employs old and dead-stock apparel (discontinued and vintage products that are no longer in stock).

10. Loza Maléombho

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Loza Maléombho, an Ivorian fashion designer, was born in Brazil and has been designing since the age of 13.

She chose to start her own line in 2009 after interning at world-famous fashion houses in New York City.

Maléombho presently makes garments and accessories that blend traditional African designs with contemporary fashion, she also collaborates with Ivory Coast artisans, such as shoemakers and weavers, to incorporate their skills into her creations.

Content courtesy of Global Citizen & NFH

Rihanna Wears A Thebe Magugu Crocheted Outfit To Make A Grand Announcement About Fenty Beauty Africa.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Rihanna looked stunning in Thebe Magugu’s Merino Wool Fringe Knitted Dress while announcing the launch of Fenty Beauty in Africa.
Rihanna, a Grammy Award-winning singer and entrepreneur, debuted her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line in September 2017.

Rihanna stated that Fenty Beauty will be available in a few African nations, including Kenya, over five years later, and what better way to promote it than by wearing pieces by a South African designer?
The Work singer made her statement while dressed in a Merino Wool Fringe Knitted Dress by Thebe Magugu.

“Welcome to Africa Riri,” tweeted the South African designer on Twitter, adding that the collection was about “exploring the shifting face of African Spirituality.”

“The silhouettes in the collection combine traditional local wardrobe solutions like draping and wrapping with intricate and crisp tailoring. The collection honors the work of renowned textile and printmakers from throughout the world “Thebe explained the motivation behind the 2021 collection.

Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Hits Africa 
Fenty Beauty will soon be available in Kenya, Botswana, Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, Rihanna said on Twitter on Tuesday, May 10th.

Fenty Beauty will be available on May 27th, according to the 34-year-old billionaire.

Rihanna Showcases Her Thebe Magugu Knit Dress.
Thebe Magugu welcomed Rihanna to Africa on Instagram on Wednesday, May 11th, following her Fenty Beauty announcement.

She wore his Merino Woll Fringe Knitted Dress with a detachable bralette from his Autumn/Winter Alchemy 21 collection, which addresses the “shifting face of African Spirituality,” according to the award-winning designer.

In March 2021, Magugu debuted the collection during Paris Fashion Week. The skilled designer told British Vogue that the collection was “such a niche sensation.”

 

Which Other Celebs Have Worn Thebe Magugu?

Thebe Magugu has been worn by a number of American celebrities in recent years. In an episode of her hit comedy Insecure, American actress and producer Issa Rae wore a Thebe Magugu gown.

Miley Cyrus flaunted her Thebe Magugu men’s suit while soaring through the sky in a private plane, while Kylie Jenner flaunted her wool suit.

Issa Rae

Miley Cyrus

Kylie Jenner

Adut Akech

Dionne Warwick

Content courtesy of The South African, Thebe Magugu & NFH

Lintons Beauty Will Exclusively Offer Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Products In Five Kenyan Outlets.

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

The luxurious Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin products created by global pop artist Rihanna will be sold in Kenya under an exclusive franchise agreement.

The Barbadian diva, who co-owns the company with LVMH, has selected Lintons Beauty to distribute its cosmetics collection.

The products will be accessible starting May 27, 2022, according to Lintons, which distributes additional high-end skincare, color cosmetics, and designer perfumes to the upper and middle classes.
The business has 28 locations in Kenya, Mombasa, and Kampala, Uganda, but only five of them will store Fenty items.
The retail prices for the new product lines, which will be available in seven other African nations, have yet to be announced by Lintons Beauty.

According to the Fenty Kenya website, goods like the Fenty symbol, and semi-matte refillable lipstick would cost Sh4,650, not including shipping and taxes.

Sun stalk’r eye bronzer and highlighter palette cost Sh7,000, while liquid killawatt fluid freestyle highlighter costs Sh4,100. KSh5,550 for a soft-matte powder foundation.
KSh3,350 for the longwear pencil eyeliner and KSh2,050 for the small mascara

Luxurious Labels
Rihanna’s premium cosmetics line will take the fight to other luxury brands vying for a slice of the country’s fast-growing multibillion-shilling cosmetics market pie.
Lintons already carries international skincare brands like Estée Lauder, Clinique, MAC, Clarins, Lancome, Chanel, and Dior.

Tom Ford, Issey Miyake, Bvlgari, Versace, Givenchy, Guerlain, Thierry Mugler, Yves Saint Laurent, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Burberry are among the scent names represented.

In a previous interview with Business Daily, Winnie Mutegi, the Lintons’ marketing manager, said, “We have worked with worldwide companies and authorized distributors to provide unique items for our clients.”

The corporation had previously expressed confidence in the cosmetics industry’s ability to weather the epidemic this year.
Lintons’ Beauty is also looking forward to new product lines from Lancome and Dolce and Gabbana.

On the website, the Fenty perfume costs KSh20,300.
Rihanna’s cosmetics line is a market leader in inclusion, offering a wide range of products for 50 different skin tones, including dark hues, which were uncommon when it first launched in 2017.

Content courtesy Business Daily & NFH

 

Fenty Africa: Rihanna Confirm Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin is Finally Coming to Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

It’s finally arrived! Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin by Rihanna will soon be available in African countries!

On Tuesday, May 11th, 2022, the singer-turned-beauty mogul and soon-to-be mother revealed on Twitter that her beauty and skincare line would be launched in Africa that month.
Fenty Beauty debuted in the fall of 2017 and has been steadily expanding since then.

Millions of people around the world supported the line’s objective of creating cosmetics and skincare items for all skin tones.
With a follow-up post labeled “The wait is finally OVA!!,” the cosmetics line’s official Instagram account reaffirmed her post.

Rihanna took to social media to announce that her breakthrough cosmetic brand will finally be available in select African countries, much to the delight of make-up fans.

Beauty admirers have been pleading with the billionaire beauty and fashion tycoon to bring her popular Fenty Beauty to the African continent for years.
Fans of Rihanna’s beauty brands, Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin, will soon be able to purchase the items from the comfort of their own homes.

Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are among the African countries that will be able to purchase Fenty products starting May 27.

Luxury cosmetics shop ARC and Edgars Beauty will sell the collection, Fans ecstatically flocked to Twitter to express their delight at finally being able to go in and buy the things instead of relying on friends who were traveling abroad to do so.
Fenty Beauty, which Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty, launched in 2017, was a game-changer since it featured 40 foundation colors that catered to all skin tones.

Rihanna claimed at the launch that she wanted the make-up line to be inclusive to all women and that they had worked on a wide range of traditionally difficult-to-match complexion tones, producing formulations that work for all skin types, and finding universal hues. The renowned foundation from the company is now available in 50 hues.

Fenty Beauty also sells lip products, eyeshadow, blush, and a variety of other cosmetics.
Fenty Skin, a skincare line, debuted in 2020 and proudly declared itself to be oil-free, vegan, and cruelty-free.

However, there was initially a controversy owing to the usage of fragrance, with one beauty care influencer claiming that using fragrance in the products caused her skin to break out in little red bumps all over her face.

Fenty Skin has since emerged as a favorite among many users, including guys. A$AP Rocky, Lil Nas X, and her fiance are all admirers.
Rocky, Halima Aden, and Paloma Elsesser starred in the campaign’s launch. Because she insisted that her new product be gender-neutral, she included men in the advertising.
“Taking care of your skin is taking care of yourself.” I’m attempting to instill a ritual in them. “It’s a three-step process,” she explained.

“We begin there since skincare can be quite complex. Because it might be perplexing, I wanted to start with something simple so that folks could get right to work.”
Fenty Beauty was named the most popular beauty brand in Africa earlier this year, Fenty Beauty was the most-searched-for brand on the continent, according to data by cosmetics education site Tajmeeli.com

Content courtesy of Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, IOL & NFH

The First AMVCA Runway Show Will Be Hosted By Nigerian Fashion Designer Mai Atafo.

Posted on by Fashion Police

The first-ever Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards runway show will be hosted by fashion designer Mai Atafo on Sunday evening.
He’ll be joined by Miz Vick, the show’s host, to anchor the second day of this year’s AMVCA, which will run for eight days.

Africa Magic’s official Instagram page announced the hosts on Sunday.
The awards ceremony this year will last eight days instead of the previous one-day affair.

Africa Magic has planned an eight-day series of events in conjunction with MultiChoice to celebrate the 8th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs), which will take place on May 14, 2022.

Dr. Busola Tejumola, Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, MultiChoice Nigeria, made the announcement at a press conference, saying that the eight-day series of events will reinvent and bring exciting innovations to the awards, which were first held in 2013.
“We’re focusing on bringing the various qualities that make the African film and television industry genuinely magical to the millions of Africans who tune in every year to watch the awards.”

Fashion, technology, gastronomy, and African culture will all be celebrated at these carefully chosen events. There will be panel discussions and film screenings from our MultiChoice Talent Factory, as well as industry sessions and competitions for digital content creators and aspiring fashion designers,” she stated.
The eight-day festival will kick off on Saturday, May 7 with an Opening Night.

MultiChoice Talent Factory Day will take place on Monday, May 9th, with movie screenings and panel discussions led by MTF Academy students. On Tuesday, May 10th, Africa Magic will conduct a special Content Market Day for industry participants.

On Wednesday, May 11th, there will be a pan-African cuisine and cultural event.
On Thursday, May 12th, a Digital Content Creators’ Day will be held to raise awareness of the growing popularity of online content creators.
On Friday, May 13th, a special gala for nominees will be held, followed by the awards ceremony on Saturday, May 14th.

The awards event, now in its eighth year, last took place in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was canceled in 2021.

The event kicked off on Saturday night with an inaugural gala that kicked off a series of activities leading up to the award ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
The runway event, which will take place tonight in collaboration with BellaNaija Style, is titled ‘Design for the Stars.’
The show will include a competition for nine aspiring fashion designers who have been taught by established designers such as Mai Atafo, Lanre Da-Silva Ajayi, and Adebayo Oke-Lawal.
For this edition, Africa Magic and its partners honor true African fashion and its significance in the development of the African film and television industries.

Content courtesy of Africa Magic & NFH

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