Saturday 26th of September 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: fashion business

Lifestyle Cultural Brand Day MyLane Introduces African Fashion With A Purpose

Posted on by Fashion Police

Day MyLane is a lifestyle cultural brand that strives to instill confidence and unison through its unique African fashion pieces.

Day MyLane is a one-of-a-kind, lifestyle cultural brand that amplifies cultural awareness and appreciation. The brand is delighted to share African flavor with the world through fresh, forward-thinking fashion concepts. With a catalog of clothing that boasts individuality and expression, including unique Nigerian t-shirts, Day MyLane caters to a global audience.

The company is a firm believer in praising communication across cultural lines, which is why many of their clothing designs feature inspiring phrases written in Nigerian Pidgin English.

A spin on the English phrase “Stay in your lane,” the company’s name has roots in both English and Nigerian languages. In Nigerian Pidgin English, it is not uncommon for someone to say “Dey your lane,” hence the aesthetically soothing version was born, Day MyLane. Nigerian Pidgin English phrases are highlighted throughout the brand’s website and are creatively represented on a number of pieces.

Providing a massive online collection of gentlemen’s, ladies’, and unisex apparel celebrating African fashion with rich cultural heritage concepts, Day MyLane is an all-inclusive brand that strives to evoke confidence. The company also sells dynamic accessories, including stylish masks and vibrant buttons. Each unique Day MyLane product represents their profound approach toward a unified planet.

Bold yet elegant, Day MyLane’s African fashion designs draw attention while offering heartfelt quotes that will resonate with both the wearer and even strangers passing by. This notion has been developed to break down cultural barriers and connect the human race as one. By wearing fun, expressive pieces from Day MyLane, people can feel good about doing right by themselves and by humanity.

Day MyLane products empower the people who embody them. Each individual is encouraged by these African fashion pieces and unique Nigerian t-shirts to celebrate the joy of life, whether this means feeling validated or projecting those feelings of inspiration onto others. This lifestyle cultural brand is worn by adventurers and trendsetters who seek deeper meaning in each of their choices.

“Design is my passion, but even more so, my commitment is to forging a connection between people and cultures worldwide,” says Creative Director of Day MyLane, Chika. “My mission is to help others find self-confidence while being in tune with our greater purpose on this Earth which is to come together.”

Each of Day MyLane’s wearable art pieces have been created with swift attention to detail. Chika has a vast wealth of knowledge that contributes to her creative expertise while continually expanding Day MyLane. By blending powerful messages and standout subtext with trendy African fashion statements, this lifestyle cultural brand finally allows people to dress for purpose.

Content courtesy of EIN Press wire & Nairobi fashion hub 

Wauzine Cheza Kama Wewe One Project, Two Countries, Eleven Designers, Boundless Creativity

Posted on by Fashion Police

Creative DNA x Fashion Scout present WAUZINE – a digital showcase including three limited edition digital publications, featuring 11 emerging designers from Kenya, and bringing together cross-cultural collaborations between writers, illustrators and creative teams in both London and Nairobi.

The first of our three issues explores Nairobi’s myriad neighborhoods through a fashion story by photographer Maganga Mwagogo showcasing the bold and powerful work of our designers and an in-depth essay by Awuor Onyango revealing the cultural and social ley lines that underpin the Kenyan capital.

WAUZINE is designed and created by the team at Fashion Scout, with Helen Jennings, Co-founder and Editorial Director of Nataal Media as Features Editor and showcases exclusive photoshoots under the creative direction of Sunny Dolat, Fashion Curator and Co-founder of The Nest Collective.

As the UK partner of the British Council’s year-long Creative DNA programme, Fashion Scout is spearheading this online platform in order to give the designers visibility to a global audience whilst celebrating a diverse variety of voices and creativity.

Issue 002 will go live in January and Issue 003 will be live in February just before London Fashion Week when we will feature a Wauzine fashion film on the Fashion Scout’s digital schedule.

Wauzine Cheza Kama Wewe One Project, Two Countries, Eleven Designers, Boundless Creativity

Creative DNA programme supported by the British Council is focused on promoting alternative and innovative approaches to the global fashion system with the ambition of demonstrating that the fashion sector in Kenya is a professional choice for young people and a valuable contributor to the creative economy.

The programme conducted work in six major areas: Research and Insight, Policy and Advocacy, Business Support, NESTA Creative Enterprise Programme, Fashion Incubator as well as #FashionFridays

As part of the Fashion Incubator programme, British Council is working with local fashion designers in Kenya to boost the growth of a sustainable creative industry in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic through a programme aimed at developing their skills, knowledge and global networks.

Creative DNA project is delivered by the Kenyan partner, Metta Nairobi and the UK based partner Fashion Scout, 11 fashion businesses have been immersed in a 12- month incubator programme between February 2020 and February 2021 – including a business bootcamp, personalised mentoring, competitive seed funding and will be showcasing on Fashion Scout’s digital schedule during London Fashion Week.

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Creative Enterprise: the British Council offers individuals and organisations training in business and digital skills, networking events, access to new markets and connections to resources. You can read about the Creative Enterprise programme

Content courtesy of WAUZINE, British Council, HEVA Fund,  Fashion Scout, Mettā Nairobi & Nairobi fashion hub 

20 Fashion Designers Walk ARISE Fashion Week 2020 Runway Today

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

After being hosted to a glamorous dinner last night at Eko Hotels and Suites, 20 designers out of the 30 selected will walk the ARISE Fashion Week runway today. The designers will go in four batches, each set consisting of five designers.
Also lined up are music stars that will perform alongside the fashion catwalk.

The electro-fusion singer WurlD will open the show, performing for the first set of designers. For the second set, multi-talented artist and fashion designer Wavy the Creator will take the stage. Since his emergence on the creative scene three years ago, the artist has been on a meteoric rise.

Highlife crooners The Cavemen will accompany the third set, The Lagos-based musical group is made up of two brothers, Kingsley and Benjamin Okorie, who are bent on reintroducing Highlife to a new generation.

Saving the best for last, foremost musician Wizkid will perform to bring the show to an end, Usually held early in the year, the 2020 fashion , event is hosted virtually due to the ongoing pandemic that is still upending travels and social gatherings Also, this year marks the first time the award is solely focusing on young and emerging designers.

Themed ’30 Under 30:The New Stars,’ 30 young designers were selected from a pool of 150 to compete in the show, making it the first time a monetary reward is attached to the grand fashion event.

According to Co-producer Ruth Osime, the seed money provided to the designers is a way of supporting young designers who face pecuniary challenges when setting shop.
Echoing similar sentiments, renowned supermodel Naomi
The event will be live-streamed on Arise Play and Arise TV/THISDAY platforms.

Campbell Wants African Designers Given Global Attention, Meanwhile, at age 50, international supermodel Naomi Campbell who is currently in Nigeria  for the ARISE Fashion Week has one ambition: to see the fashion world embrace African designers.
“I want to see the fashion world embrace African designers and all these young designers from emerging markets. They need to be accepted and given a platform. Whatever I can do to help make that happen, that’s why I’m here, that’s what I’ll do,” she said in a recent interview with UK publication, The Telegraph.

This explains her unflinching support for the grandest fashion event in Africa. Since 2018, Campbell has been a regular face at ARISE Fashion Week, strutting the runway in iconic pieces by designers, including the young designer Kenneth Ize who is participating at this year’s edition.
“Kenneth has had a lot of great attention. It’s been wonderful how he’s been embraced. But we still have a lot to do in terms of getting him set up and recognised worldwide in the way designers should be.”

Her thoughts echoed the theme of 2020 stanza, Ize and 29 other young designers from the continent have been selected to showcase their creativity on the runway while competing for cash prizes.
For the organisers, it is a way of supporting the young designers financially and giving them the exposure they need to compete favourably on the international scene.

“The stuff I’ve seen so far, I’m really happy with. Although this has been a pandemic and a time of loss and sadness for many, it’s also been a time of people really using their minds and being so creative,” she said of the designers.
Other designers participating include Onalaja, Bibi, Pepper Row and Fruche.

Right from inception, ARISE Fashion Week has been keen on taking African fashion to the next level. It continues to push the envelope by introducing emerging designers on its platform while giving established brands the needed spotlight.
The 2020 virtual edition kicked off yesterday and will continue till December 12 when the overall winner will be crowned. Viewers can catch all the excitement on ARISE Play streaming service and ARISE NEWS Channel.

Content courtesy of This Day Live & Nairobi fashion hub 

Durban Fashion Fair Recognition Awards set to celebrate fashion excellence

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The highlight of the annual Durban Fashion Fair is undoubtedly the DFF Recognition Awards – and the good news is that we won’t be losing out on this year’s edition despite all the disruptions caused by Covid-19!

The awards will be an important part of the DFF Class of 2020 Fashion extravaganza that is taking place at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Friday, December 11.

A feast of creativity and colour, the much-anticipated event will give Durban Fashion Fair (#DFF2020) Class of 2020’s designer mentees an opportunity to showcase their creations on the ramp. Their garments will be modelled by this year’s new face models who have been given a chance to strut their stuff after receiving extensive training organised by eThekwini Municipality.

The training programme included model boot camps and skills development opportunities that have given these aspiring youngsters a peek into a career in fashion that they would never have thought possible.

Most importantly, eThekwini Municipality through the Business Support, Tourism and Markets Unit, will be recognising the achievers in the local fashion industry through the DFF Recognition Awards. Watch out for the Best Ladies’ Wear Collection, the Best Menswear Collection, Durban Designer of the Year, the Fashion Innovator, the Collection of the Week and more.

The judges who will be working feverishly behind the scenes to make these important decisions include:

Zodwa Kumalo-Valentine is group native content editor at Arena Holdings for titles including Business Day, Financial Mail, Sunday Times and Sowetan LIVE. She has been a speaker at the Street Food Festival and Business of Design, a judge at the South African Fashion Week New Talent Search and was one of the 38 curators of the World Design Capital. She has written for and edited several international and local publications and was part of the digital team that launched the content hub on Woolworths’ online portal.

Former editor-in-chief of GLAMOUR South Africa, Asanda Sizani, has held positions such as fashion and beauty director for ELLE and fashion editor for Woolworths’ W. She has also written for Fashion Tribes, a book on global sub-cultures, and served as curator for Design Indaba and Africa Fashion Week Berlin.
​​​​​​​She has also edited a range for the fashion retailer Topshop, consulted for brands such as Consol, Yardley, MaXhosa Africa and Unilever and fronted campaigns for Woolworths, Diesel and KISUA. She accepted the Media and Advertising award at the 2017 Standard Bank Rising Star Awards which recognises excellence in young leaders.

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A returning judge and previous sponsor of DFF Menswear Category, fashion retail professional and senior operations manager for the Foschini Group, Themba Mthethwa, brings experience in trend analysis, fashion retail management, and coaching to the awards. A public speaker, with multiple qualifications from different institutions including the South African Institute of Management, University of Pretoria, University of Stellenbosch, owner of the Valley Lounge and founder and owner of Son of Jane Studio and Gallery.

All Covid-19 restrictions will be in place. Don’t miss out on the fashion action on Friday, December 11, from 6.30pm at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

Book now as seats are limited. Tickets for the evening are on sale via webtickets.co.za or at Pick ‘n Pay outlets at R150 per person.

Content courtesy of IOL & Nairobi fashion hub 

Naomi Campbell ‘I didn’t think I’d still be working past 25 Years, let alone 50’

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Even in quarantine, Naomi Campbell is very busy. The supermodel, speaking from the hotel in Nigeria where she’s quarantining pending a negative Covid test, has a schedule stacked with press engagements, Zoom meetings and shoots for her YouTube channel.

“It’s full-on here,” she says, her voice like honey down a crackly phone line from Lagos. “It’s kind of strange trying to get used to being back in the groove. It’s taking a minute for my mind to switch back into the hustle and bustle of it all.”

For Campbell, the hustle and bustle never really stopped. She’s in Lagos to support Arise Fashion Week, an event she’s backed since its 2018 launch. This season, the main attraction is the “30 Under 30: The New Stars” competition, a showcase of work by emerging designers who will present collections in livestreamed catwalk shows and compete for a grand prize worth $100,000.

“The stuff I’ve seen so far, I’m really happy with,” she says. “Although this has been a pandemic and a time of loss and sadness for many, it’s also been a time of people really using their minds and being so creative.”

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Lagos has become something of a second home for Campbell. Usually she spends five to six weeks a year in Africa, but her usual travel plans, like everyone else’s, were disrupted by Covid. This is the first time she’s been able to make the trip since January. “I’ve missed Africa so much, I can’t tell you.”

Campbell may have been more prepared than most for travel in the age of contagion. Last summer, long before the term “social distancing” entered the lexicon, Campbell posted a video detailing her pre-flight cleaning routine to her YouTube channel. She donned gloves, used Dettol wipes to “clean[s] everything you touch” and draped her first-class seat in a protective cover.

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Her routine has only become more intense since the start of the pandemic. In May, she wore a mask, gloves, goggles, face shield and full hazmat suit to fly from London to Los Angeles. She finished her outfit with a Burberry cape. “A museum wanted an outfit that depicted 2020, and they asked me for my outfit with my Burberry cape, my hazmat suit, my gloves, my mask. So I donated it.”

This time, “I flew the way I always fly, covid or no covid. I flew with my mask… Now I have a few extra bags of PPE and cleaning supplies, a few extra additions. But it’s all good. I’m very cautious.”

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Really she would have done anything to make it to Lagos for the young designers she’s there to support. “I was very happy to come here and to be here for Arise and for these young designers. This is what I care about. I’m thrilled that it worked out.”

Designers participating in 30 Under 30 include Bibi, Lagos Space Programme, Ghetto and Elfreda Dali. For international fashion fans, the most familiar name on the list will be Kenneth Ize.

Ize, a 2019 LVMH Prize finalist and Arise’s designer of the year, creates vibrant, handwoven designs drawing on the artistry and expertise of weavers at his factory in Ilorin, in Western Nigeria. Campbell walked in his Arise-winning show and has become one of Ize’s highest-profile champions.

“I feel great wearing Kenneth’s designs. They’re authentic, they feel easy, I feel like I’m wearing the clothes and can put my own spin on it. I love that he uses the authentic artisan way of making his clothes and making his culture modern for the world,” she says.

“Kenneth has had a lot of great attention. It’s been wonderful how he’s been embraced. But we still have a lot to do in terms of getting him set up and recognised worldwide in the way designers should be.”

Campbell’s ambition is for the world to know a fashion week roster’s worth of African designers, not just celebrate one or two leading lights. “I want to see the fashion world embrace African designers and all these young designers from emerging markets. They need to be accepted and given a platform. Whatever I can do to help make that happen, that’s why I’m here, that’s what I’ll do.”

Speaking about African fashion, Campbell is fully in advocate mode – not a role she foresaw for herself even a few years ago. “All of it is a surprise in a way. There was no strategy or plan.”

But then, so much about her story is unexpected. That a girl from Streatham would go on to become a monomial star outshining and outlasting her peers over a three-decade-plus career wasn’t expected. Nor were her long working relationships with Azzedine Alaia, Karl Lagerfeld, the Versace family… None of it guaranteed or given to her, especially in light of received wisdom about a fashion model’s limited career longevity in the Eighties.

“I didn’t think I’d still be working as a model, because we were always told we would never work past 25 years.”

She’s still at the top of her game at 50, but still not making plans. She doesn’t even know where she’ll be for Christmas.

“I have no idea…. Wherever I’ll be, I just want to be still,” she says. “I’m looking forward to the new year, though. It’ll be nice to see friends and be able to hug them. Not being able to hug people you love is tough. I know we’ll get there.”

Content courtesy of Telegraph Uk & Nairobi fashion hub 

Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show and Africa Fashion Stakeholders to discuss future of fashion industry in Africa

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show (RCFS) will on December 18, hold a virtual conference during which players in the fashion industry will discuss the current state of the African fashion industry.

Dubbed “The Future of Fashion Industry in Africa”, the webinar will bring together different stakeholders of the fashion industry to share experiences and discuss how private and public institutions can support Africa’s growing fashion industry.

The webinar will include discussions which will be in the form of a series of a thought-provoking panel. Key speakers of the event will include renowned fashion designers, fashion promoters, experts in textiles and fabric dyeing, fashion school teachers and some government representatives.

Celestin Ntawirema, the brains behind RCFS and organiser of the webinar told The New Times that participants in this webinar will share experiences on how to establish a successful fashion concept business, discuss challenges facing the industry and propose some solutions.

Mr Celestin Ntawirema & Miss Rwanda 2020 Umutesi  Denise

“Though Covid-19 halted most activities in the industry, we thought of creating a platform that will bring players in the fashion industry to share experiences and best practices so we can learn from each other how best we can push our fashion industry to another level. We also want to see how designers can go global through African networks,” Ntawirema said.

The African fashion sector is already impressing in the global market, something that industry players hail as a motivation despite the challenges they have faced in the journey.

Ntawirema, who has been promoting fashion for over the past eight years said that, from his experience,  many brands from all over the continent had established themselves among the best globally and are now selling big on the international fashion markets compared to Western fashion despite having few fashion schools that can drive the industry to greater heights.

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He, however, lamented that investors are still reluctant to put their money in fashion-related projects because protection of fashion copyrights and fashion innovations is still low due to the gap in fashion literacy.

The webinar, he said, will be an opportunity for fashion players to show both the public and private sectors the potential that fashion has at its disposal so as to attract their investment and, on the other hand, call for support from the governments to create a conducive environment for fashion to flourish and become a sector which can contribute to the national economic development.

Some of the speakers expected for the webinar include Ruth Jackob, senior lecturer in fashion marketing Eastern London, Karen Uwera, the President of Rwanda Designers Association, John Bunyeshuri, the CEO and Founder of Kigali Fashion Week and Kenyan fashion guru Vinn Clizz, the Managing Director of Vinn Clizz among others.

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Mrs Karen Uwera

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Mr John Bunyeshuri

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Mr Vinn Clizz

Challenges

Though Rwanda’s fashion industry is being contextualized with the ‘Made in Rwanda’ policy but Ntawirema said that it’s a shame that One of the biggest challenges we have is that we have no fashion school that can prepare and raise future designers, models, or fashion promoters by profession.

“This is all down to the fact that Rwanda has no forum bringing together designers, models, promoters and other stakeholders to discuss to the future of this industry. We also need an umbrella or a fashion watchdog for all players in the fashion industry to ensure that the protection of our works is guaranteed,”

Rwanda may have local designers who are becoming successful but under hard conditions which the webinar is also looking forward to tackling.

The webinar outcomes are expected to respond to questions raised around African fashion industry from “who can design?”, “who can sell locally-made clothes”, and “who promotes fashion?” or even “who can basically support fashion sector?”

“We hope the webinar will find share responses to these questions together with the speakers. We also value new ideas from the public from which the future styling and fashion business in Africa can rely on,” he added.

Content courtesy  of The New Times Rwanda & Nairobi fashion hub 

Designer and Teacher Diarra Bousso Fuses Math and Art to Create Her Fashion Collections

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Diarra Bousso isn’t your average designer. She’s a mathematician, an artisan, and a former Wall Street trader, and all of those experiences have led to the creation of her lifestyle brand, Diarrablu. Her designs celebrate her rich culture, with every pattern and piece telling a story.

“I grew up in Senegal, and I wanted to be the perfect student. I was never a cool girl or an ‘It girl,’ I was a nerd,” Bousso told POPSUGAR. Bousso is from a family of artisans. “In the summers, when I would go to my dad’s village, I’d see that work, and it’s so rich and beautiful,” she explained.

Splitting her time between visiting her dad’s village and attending a private French school in the city, Bousso explained she wasn’t sure how to connect her two worlds. “I always knew that I was going to do something at the intersection of those two worlds, but I didn’t know how to do it.”

She moved to the United States to attend graduate school at Stanford University, graduating with a degree in math education and research. Bousso didn’t want to work in tech upon graduation and found herself trying to figure out how to fuse her background in math with her love of fashion.

She began doodling in her free time and realized, “I can doodle, and I can also write math code to do the doodles for me.” It isn’t common for designers to code their designs, but Bousso is creating her own rules.

“Once you write a couple of equations, by just changing a few numbers, you can create a new print very quickly. So it makes the process of drawing now very efficient because you can draw one thing, then actually create thousands by just changing the numbers,” she explained.

“Algorithms allow me to solve a very important problem in fashion in terms of sustainability. They also allow me to really explore creativity beyond what’s available, because there are no limits to what you can make.”

The equations Bousso writes create afrocentric shapes and prints that tell stories, centering on the diversity of Africa. She described the process as empowering, as she owns the production of the prints and no longer has to attend markets or trade shows for fabrics.

Additionally, there’s a sustainable element to her approach which allows her to save money without wasting fabric. “Algorithms allow me to solve a very important problem in fashion in terms of sustainability. They also allow me to really explore creativity beyond what’s available, because there are no limits to what you can make.”

This new technique has also allowed her to engage with her audience in real time, creating polls to find out which designs they prefer. “We produce what people want. There’s no excess inventory,” she said. Once she has the pattern in fabric form, she cuts it to maximize the amount of pieces produced, creating a dress, a necklace, shoes, and a face mask from three yards of fabric. “We keep iterating until there is nothing left,” Bousso explained.

Her 2020 Joal collection is rooted in wanderlust, the idea of freedom and travel, and her love for Senegal and celebrating the destinations in Africa that people don’t know. It pays homage to a small village on the coast of Senegal, Joal Fadiouth, an island covered in clam seashells. Joal was designed for being comfortable at home, mixing lightweight prints with solid-colored pieces.

Her newest collection, Dall (the Wolof word for stillness and serenity), “celebrates the magic in peace and stillness at home,” Bossou said in a press release. “Dall is an escape; a feeling; a destination; a daydream; a pause; an escape in time; a retreat in space,” she explained.

The holiday collection features sustainable, solid pieces like palazzo pants and maxi dresses made from ecofriendly lyocell fabric, coming in olive green, navy blue, rust, and evening noir colors. There are also bold pieces, such as kimonos and minidresses, inspired by mindful moments and the Tanzanian Serengeti, celebrating the beauty of movement in stillness.

The Diarrablu brand is known for its oversize kaftans and dresses that can be wrapped in 19 different ways, in addition to jumpsuits, swimsuits, kimonos, and mules. Each garment is custom adjusted to one’s height, per the African bespoke garment-making tradition, and ranges in size from XS to 3XL.

Every item is created to be worn for a lifetime and throughout all the changes the body will go through. “It’s always going to fit because everything is elastic and wraps,” she said.

Bousso’s designs are coveted for both the comfort and understated luxury. “It looks expensive but it’s not trying too hard.” Her collections are timeless, and with each design, you’ll be transported to a place of peace, freedom, and stillness.

Content courtesy of Pop Sugar & Nairobi fashion hub 

Africa’s Biggest Red Carpet (Asfas) To Return In 2021

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

The Abryanz Style & Fashion Awards (ASFAs), Africa’s biggest red carpet fashion awards have announced that the awards will not take place this year. This is the first time since its inception in 2013 that the event is pushed forward.

The Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards also known as the ASFAs are continental fashion awards presented annually in Uganda to recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the fashion industry in Uganda and Africa. More than 2,000 people grace the event annually.

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Brian Ahumuza founder of the ASFAs states: “The Abryanz Style & Fashion Awards were started on the idea of people coming together to socialize, network and interact with one another, in the name of celebrating something we all love and support; Fashion. Our team did have a sit down, and we did weigh our options, in as far as embracing the new normal goes.

But we have never envisioned the ASFAs being a virtually produced show, as this ruins the idea and concept on which the ASFAs started. People coming together, in one room, with all the oomph, flair and glam is what has made the ASFAs what they are today. So, after much consideration, putting into account the safety of our fans and guests, and also the need to give you a show that will be as remarkable and unforgettable like the last 8 years, we have made the tough decision to postpone the event to 2021.

This year and the year to come will be maximized in planning, together with our partners at Talent Africa, to ensure that we deliver a show that will be the best you have ever experienced. To our loyal fans and the supporters of the ASFAS, we do apologize for any inconveniences this may cause, but you can be sure to experience the ASFAs like never before, come 2021! Thank you for your unwavering support in the last 8 years, and get those outfits and the flair ready.

Aly Allibhai from Talent Africa Group states “with the current health guidelines and ban of public events due to the pandemic it would have been impossible for the ASFAs to give our guests the same A-list red carpet fashion experience through an online or virtual experience, so we have decided to come back next year with a bigger and bolder experience”.

The team from the ASFAs wishes you a safe and happy festive season ahead.

Content courtesy of ASFAs & Nairobi fashion hub 

How can Private and Public Institutions Support Africa’s Growing Fashion Industry?

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

This is the topic that will be discussed during the virtual conference entitled “The Future of Fashion Industry in Africa”. It will be in the form of a series of thought-provoking panel discussions about the textiles and fashion industry in Africa. It is scheduled on Friday, 18th December 2020, from at 10:30 am to11:30 am (GMT-KIGALI).

Rcfs 2020 Webinar Speakers

Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show Webinar 2020 Register Here To Participate  or Send your registration via e-mail: info@rcfs.rw 

It is organized by the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show known as the RCFS. This is a Rwandan company which had been working in the fashion industry about 8 years ago. The RCFS was founded in 2012 to promote fashion designers and create public awareness of the talent and quality designs in Africa.

Since the start, may Africans men and women have been promoted through the RCFS events. It assists in marketing, promotion and branding especially for the upcoming fashion designers who are starting small businesses in fashion. According to the examples from the RCFS’s 8 years’ experience, many brands from all over the continent had been established and some are now selling even on the international fashion markets.

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This is a magnificent step which shows that the Africa fashion industry had been achieving in a short time. For example, Africa has few fashion schools comparing to the countries where modern fashion is coming from like in the USA, India and Europe etc. But many Africans fashion designers had been invited to showcase in Western and Europe fashion weeks and this is a great full for the Africa fashion sector.

The journey of the fashion industry in Africa started about 20 years ago. It was the revolution of the textiles and fashion industry on the continent which the RCFS sees as an example for the Africans and friends of Africans to feel the pride from our various cultures in styling.

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According to the African Development Bank, demand for African textiles and garments is increasing globally, and African patterns are gaining international recognition as fashionable and iconic pieces, with international fashion houses now integrating more and more African influences in their latest collections. As President Zewde stated: “Globally, Africa’s cultural colours and clothing are increasingly being embraced.

Another example, there are several continental initiatives which are supporting the African fashion industry to develop and sell their products. The Fashionomics Africa initiative of the African Development Bank, together with the African Union, the AfroChampions initiative, and other institutional partners and private operators, launched the Pan-African Fashion initiative on 9 February during the recent AU meetings in Addis Ababa.

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Pan-African Fashion initiative is a platform for stakeholder engagement, dialogue, strategy and policies to advance the African fashion industry within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to remove trade barriers between African nations and thus expand intra-Africa trade by about $35 billion per year. Intra-African imports and exports currently account for just 15% of all trade on the continent.

Content courtesy of Rwanda cultural Fashion show & Nairobi fashion hub 

Arise Fashion Week 2020 Unveils ‘30 under 30’ Designers Vying for $500,000

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Africa’s premier fashion show, the ARISE Fashion Week, is set to deliver one of its most exciting line-ups to date, with the unveiling of the ‘30 under 30’ fashion designers who will be competing for $500,000 in prize money.

The list which includes designers from not only Nigeria but other parts of Africa and Europe, boasts fresh talent alongside some acclaimed international names in fashion.

Known for breaking records, ARISE Fashion Week has raised the ante even further by celebrating a new brand of designers – ‘30 under 30’ with a cash prize of $500,000 to be shared amongst the winners.

The weeklong virtual event is first of its kind on the African continent and is an avenue to unveil new stars in the global fashion industry.

According to co-producer Arise Fashion Week, Ruth Osime, “We look forward to this experience and feel truly honoured to play a role in turning the dreams these designers into reality.”

Following on from the successes of previous events, the Arise Fashion Week 2020 promises to be an exciting experience, with its prestigious location – the Lakowe Beach and Golf Resort, Lagos – just one of the markers to a one-of-a-kind event.

The weeklong event will be held from December 5-12, 2020, with live shows available to a global audience from the 9th to the 12th.

The virtual show will be broadcast to a worldwide audience on the new ARISE PLAY streaming service and other ARISE and THISDAY digital platforms which include an array of social media channels.

Among the list of the 30 selected designers drawn from across the world in alphabetical order are: Bibi, Bloke, Boyedoe, Clan, Colrs, Dna By Iconic Invanity, Elfreda Dali, Fruche And Geto.

Others include; Ilham.g_ng, Jawara Alleyne, Kenneth Ize, Kiko Romeo, Ladunni Lambo, Lagos Space Programme, Mazelle Studio, Moon By Me, Mmuso Maswell, Muyishime, Onalaja And Pepper Row.

Completing the line-up of precocious talents are Re Lagos, T.i. Nathan, Tjwho , Tzar Studios, Vicnate, Weiz Dhurm Franklyn, Wuman, And Ziva Lagos.

For more information and enquiries on the latest edition of Afirca’s biggest and most enthralling fashion show, log on to www.arisefashionweek.world and follow on Instagram: @arisefashionweek and @thisdaystyle

You can also contact Konye Nwabogor , Editor thisdaystyle.ng at konye.nwabogor@thisdaylive.com; Bolaji Animashuan, Line Producer, ARISE Fashion Week at bolaji@arisefashionweek.world and Sakina Renneye, Line Producer, ARISE PLAY at sakina@arisefashionweek.world

Content courtesy of ARISE Tv & Nairobi fashion hub

Destination wonder: a journey through Ghana’s feelgood fashion world

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

With Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Accra’s fashion week cancelled due to coronavirus, photographer Carlos Idun-Tawiah captures the talent of the new wave of designers who would have been showcasing their work

Against the backdrop of West Africa’s heritage, Ghana’s fashion scene is culturally rich and diverse. Nestling between Togo and Ivory Coast, it oozes with vital energy. It was once home to the celebrated Yaa Asantewaa, queen mother of the Edweso tribe of the Asante (Ashanti).

As Ghana’s history continues to unfold, its precolonial past has woven its essence into the work of its modern artists. Today’s generation of designers explores the depths of the nation’s heritage, without trivialising its value. Through experimentation and by devoting their tradition to the streets of Accra, young designers are bringing Ghana’s colourful culture into sharp focus.

With Accra fashion week postponed due to Covid-19, Mercedes-Benz has worked with five next-gen designers and the photographer Carlos Idun-Tawia to showcase Ghana’s emerging talent and the country’s tradition of sharing skills from one generation to the next through storytelling.

Chloe Asaam uses ideas and experimentations to create timeless pieces for women who want to stand out. “I’m inspired by many things, but usually I draw from the women in my life – the matriarchs in my family and community,” she says. Imbuing a versatile spirit, the label designs clean-cut staples that exude comfort and fuss-free wearability.

On the subject of working as a creative in Ghana, Asaam thinks that “the dynamics of practising as a fashion creative in Accra is both exciting and frustrating. From access to support, sourcing material, visibility and making a living… basically getting access to things that can help you grow your craft.

My colleagues and I often have conversations around possibilities. Things we could do if there weren’t so many constraints. But we find a way to make do with what we have. And I think there is beauty in that – to be able to make magic with limitations.”

Menswear label Atto Tetteh belives Africa has a story to unfold. “Ghana is an incredible place where you find inspiration everywhere. The most thrilling aspect of being a creative in Ghana is the freedom to create and the vast pool of inspiration all over the country.”

Crafting sharp tailoring and bold colour-blocking, the label seeks to provide quality clothes with a cultural appeal. “Tradition plays a pivotal role in the sense it is easy to draw inspiration from our local fabrics and symbols, as well as our local colours.”

Founded as an accessories line in 2012, Larry Jay is a unisex Ghanaian ethical label that seeks to celebrate 70s culture with an aim to craft timeless and unusual staples that represent both genders. “I am generally inspired by nature, multiple African cultures and arts,” says Jay. “However, the timeless style of my parent’s fashion from the 1970s and the community environment where I was born and bred is a big influence on my design aesthetic, that makes it unusual and timeless.”

As an Islamic devotee, the designer is keen to reflects the concepts in the garments. “My traditions are rooted in Islamic ideals and culture. I allow myself to be influenced by this and it reflects so much in the clothes I make.”

Hassan Alfaziz Iddriss’ brand, known as Hazza, is a contemporary uniform of gender-neutral clothing based in Ghana and inspired by heritage and culture. “As an ethical fashion brand, our clothes are made using eco-friendly materials that are mostly not readily available in the market and are scarce now.”

“The few that are available do cost more so we had to improvise through the usage of discarded materials and lots of DIYs.” Established in 2013, the brand prevailed against the financial odds that came from the pandemic. “Our brand went on a hiatus to re-strategise. For us this would have been a good time to launch our new collection, but we look forward to a show when we all can travel again.”

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Gucci fellow and Naomi Campbell aficionado, designer Steve French has always used his fashion to tell stories and mark profound statements. “I think the most thrilling aspects of been a creative in Ghana is being able to produce amazing stuff with little resources. Also, most creatives have a deep connection to a land that is so beautiful,” he says.

For his SS16 collection, he impressed the world while dealing with mental illness, which turned out to become something Naomi Campbell wore for Essence’s 50th anniversary issue. “Tradition cannot be changed as it is old, authentic, genuine and beautiful and we don’t alter we just add,” he reflects. “As a designer, I am usually drawing inspiration from my history, culture and music.”

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French’s label is contemporary and is characterised by abstract patterns and distinct silhouettes.

Written by Chidozie Obasi

Content courtesy of The Guardian & Nairobi Fashion hub  

The Journey of African Fashion to the global market

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

On November 19th 2020, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021), will present an expert panel discussion focused on African Fashion: The Journey to the Global Market.

This online event, designed for the emerging African Fashion sector is part of a series of digital events supporting the creative programme that will take place at the second edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2020) in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 6th to 12th, 2021, under the theme “Building Bridges for a Successful AfCFTA”.

 

It will be presented by The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Government of the Republic of Rwanda. IATF2021 will include a comprehensive creative programme with fashion being a key pillar.

The conversation will focus on some of the key links in the fashion value chain, specifically  creativity (and protecting it through IP policy), global reach and distribution, and access to finance.

A range of successful fashion icons on the panel will share their journeys to global success through this filter, unpacking how they were able to secure the financing and global reach to support their creative visions.

The panel will also include representatives from Afreximbank and The African Development Bank. They will provide further insights on how the sector can access some of the resources required to build the monetisation ecosystem in this viable sector.

This engaging and interactive discussion is aimed at emerging fashion entrepreneurs across the fashion industry value chain and is free to attend, although pre-registration is essential.

Panellists

Kibonen Nfi – Founder & Creative Director KibonenNY

Lulu Shabell – Co-Founder African Youth Mentorship Network

Emanuela Gregorio – Economist and Fashionomics Africa Coordinator at the African Development Bank Group

Abisade Adenubi – Founder and CEO of Heritage Apparels

Register here for live webinar 

Content courtesy of Intra African Trade Fair & Nairobi fashion hub 

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