African Fashion news and archive

In S.Africa, Madiba shirts keep Mandela's legacy alive

Johannesburg - In his workshop stocked with piles of fabric and sewing machines, Sonwabile Ndamase is proud that the Madiba shirts he designed for Nelson Mandela 30 years ago endure as a legacy of South Africa's first democratically elected leader. Worn untucked and without a jacket, the loose Madiba shirts remain a favourite among South African...

News |Interview

IFM to support Benin's emerging designers through incubator programme

In collaboration with the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM), the Sèmè City programme, initiated by the Beninese government to promote innovation and local creative industries, is launching the FLY incubator. Over a twelve-month period, fashion professionals will support and mentor emerging designers from Benin and other African countries. Over...

CultureFeatured

Bisa Butler’s Manhattan show unites fashion and art with contemporary relevance

The opening of Bisa Butler’s solo show took place on Saturday May 6 at Jeffrey Deitch’s downtown Manhattan gallery and it was more reflective of a fashion week happening than a traditional art opening. Youth, individualism and pride were on show not only in the work but in the attendees who spilled out through the open doors onto Wooster Street’...

Culture

Chanel's le19M to host three-month long exhibition in Dakar, Senegal

After Chanel showed its Métiers d’Art collection in Senegal’s capital city in December, the Maison’s craftsmanship hub, le19M, is launching a three-month international programme in Dakar. In a statement le19M said the entire country of Senegal is replete with artisanal expertise, a heritage to which le19M is particularly sensitive. In...

Fashion

This fashion week in pictures

Sandton (South Africa) - Designer Mzukisi Mbane (middle), founder of Imprint, cheers with his models before his show as part of the African Fashion International (AFI) fashion week in Sandton on November 19, 2022. Detail of the Kimono exhibit at Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. November 22. (Photo: Léo Delafontaine via Claudine Colin...

Fashion

South Africa's Precious Moloi-Motsepe, champion of African fashion

South African Precious Moloi-Motsepe, one of the richest women in Africa, is a staunch promoter of fashion designers from the young, vibrant and culturally diverse continent. Style has coursed through her veins since she was a young girl growing up in Soweto township, and for her the time is ripe for "African designers to shine" on the...

CultureFeatured

First ever 'Africa Fashion' exhibition opens in London

Britain's most extensive exhibition of African fashion is set to open in London, showcasing designers past and present, as well as the continent's diverse heritage and cultures. "Africa Fashion", at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum from Saturday, is also the country's first exhibition dedicated to the medium. Project curator Elisabeth Murray...

Schools

CIAFE selects talent for Africa’s Young Fashion Leaders Fellowship

The Council for International African Fashion Education (CIAFE), a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to improving the standards of fashion education to make it accessible to all people in hopes to create employability opportunities, has selected talent for Africa’s Young Fashion Leaders Fellowship. Twelve fellows have been chosen for the...

Fashion

8 by Yoox launches Tales of Africa project

Yoox-owned label 8 by Yoox has revealed its new project, Tales by Africa, dedicated to artisanal and African culture and will include capsules created by six designers from the African continent. Set to become available from the beginning of May, the collections include ready-to-wear pieces, bags, accessories and footwear. Each of the designers...

BusinessFeatured

Folklore Group raises 1.7 million dollars to launch wholesale platform for African brands

The Folklore Group announced it has raised 1.7 million dollars in a pre-seed funding round that will help it launch a conglomerate of B2B and consumer platforms for African and diasporic brands. The funding round was led by Slauson & Co. and had additional participation from Fearless Fund, Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player...

ManagementFeatured

Birimian partners with Trail to support African fashion

Birimian, the investment company dedicated to connecting African luxury and heritage fashion brands with international investors, has announced a strategic partnership with European asset management firm Trail Capital to scale up support for African fashion houses and brands. To mark the partnership, Paris-based Trail has invested an undisclosed...

News |Interview

African Fashion Education: The future of the African fashion education industry

The Council for International African Fashion Education (CIAFE) is an organisation that is dedicated to improving the standards of fashion education in order to make it accessible to all people in hopes to create employability opportunities, launched in July 2021. FashionUnited spoke with CIAFE’s executive director Frederica Brooksworth about...