London will witness the spotlight shining on Africa’s exceptional fashion culture, as African designers and creative fashion talents gear up for the 13th edition of Africa Fashion Week London, scheduled to take place during Black History Month in the UK.
This event will showcase the richness and diverse offerings of Africa’s finest fashion, captivating audiences with its unique style and creativity.
Africa Fashion Week London holds the prestigious title of being the most enduring platform dedicated to showcasing African fashion brands outside the borders of the African continent.
This year’s edition will feature fashion designers hailing from a wide range of African countries, including but not limited to Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, and Namibia, among others.
The highly anticipated international fashion show, which seeks to showcase the cultural wealth of Africa through fashion, as well as promote trade and investment in the creative industry, is scheduled to take place in October in alignment with the celebration of Black History Month in the UK.
In addition to highlighting the vibrant African culture, the show aims to foster the development of Black businesses in the UK. The event will provide valuable exposure for start-ups and Black-owned businesses, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Queen Aderonke, renowned for her unwavering dedication to the advancement of African culture and heritage, is a strong advocate for the portrayal of African narratives through fashion. She stands as the visionary behind the inception of Africa Fashion Week London and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, both celebrated platforms for showcasing the richness of African fashion. Additionally, she holds the esteemed title of co-founder of Africa Week Brazil, an event that promotes African culture in the vibrant nation.
The queen has forged partnerships with a range of esteemed educational institutions, including the University of Northampton, Henleys Business School of Entrepreneurship, Parsons School of Design and Technology, Ravensbourne University, London College of Fashion, and West London University. Through these collaborations, Africa Fashion Week London has successfully showcased over 2000 established and emerging African brands to a worldwide audience.
She also holds the esteemed position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Adire Oodua Textile Training Hub, operating under the guidance of His Imperial Majesty, The Ooni of Ife. This hub serves as a vocational skill training center, dedicated to instructing young individuals and women in diverse adire production techniques such as Adire Oniko, Adire Batik, Adire Eleko, and Adire Alabere.
The remarkable aspect of this initiative is that it offers these training programs completely free of charge. Queen Ronke’s vision is to elevate Adire to the status of a non-oil export, with the potential to bolster our nation’s GDP through the creation of employment opportunities.
AFWL 2023 is proud to announce the inclusion of a Nigerian pavilion, dedicated to showcasing the exquisite uniqueness and captivating beauty of Nigerian culture and heritage. This platform aims to provide a remarkable opportunity to highlight the thriving Nigerian Textile and Garment industry startups during the entirety of the event.
Enitan Ogunwusi, the revered Ooni of Ife, has been serving as the esteemed Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Africa Fashion Week brand for almost a decade.
His enthusiasm knows no bounds as he eagerly anticipates the momentous occasion of the 13th edition of Africa Fashion Week, scheduled to take place this year.
