100 African designers, exhibitors to showcase at AFW London

Not less than 100 African fashion designers and exhibitors will feature at the 7th edition of Africa Fashion Week in London, UK.

The event will hold between August 11-12 at the Grand Hall of the Freemasons.

Ronke Ademiluyi, founder, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria/London (AFWNL), disclosed this to NAN in Lagos on Wednesday.

She said that the designers and exhibitors would be coming from Ghana, Togo, Kenya, South Africa, Congo, Tanzania, Mozambique, Senegal, Uganda and Cameroon.

“Some Nigerian designers that will, also, be participating include: Signature Secret, Neopele, Lady Biba, Step Up, Sheila Black Style, House of Bo and Joela Bags,” she said.

“The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) will lead a delegation of Nigeria’s best emerging designers that will also be accompanied by the Council’s catwalk show.”

Ademiluyi also told NAN that no fewer than 10,000 guests were expected to grace the two-day show.

“This year’s show will hold in two days; with five shows, that will have 60 designers on the catwalk, along 40 exhibitors,” she said

Ademiluyi said that the event would be part of activities to promote African fashion before the international community.

“Africa Fashion Week London, a sister event to the just concluded Africa Fashion Week Nigeria, is a celebration of African designs, talents and diverse ethnic fashions in the United Kingdom (UK).

“It is going to be a celebration of African designs, talents and the diverse ethnic influences that contribute to the development of fashion industry in the UK.

“Samson Soboye, an established London-based fashion stylist and a creative director behind the brand `Afro chic’ who has worked as a freelance stylist for publications will be our head stylist for AFWL 2017,” she said.

She said that since the debut of the programme in 2011, it had been identifying and promoting new and emerging designers inspired by the rich culture of Africa and contemporary designs.