The African Fashion and Design Week (AFDW) is an innovative event by Bluepearl Services International (BSI) and in partnership with World Fashion for Development supporting their goals of promoting economic development and social responsibility around the world through fashion as an avenue for development.
The AFDW aims to promote the business of fashion in Africa globally, nurture emerging talents and take local talents global and bring global talents local. Since its establishment, the AFDW has discovered and nurtured emerging designers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and sponsored designers from Nigeria and other African countries to showcase their designs during the Fashion Week Brooklyn New York.
The AFDW is a four (4) days branded entertainment environment providing activities and opportunities for fashion designers to come face-to-face with the principal tastemakers, VIP’s, celebrities, musical talent, international and local retail buyers, media and consumers. The event activities will include showcasing of the best in Nigeria and International fashion and design, with trade exhibition running during the daytime, and runway shows in the evening, press conferences and live performances by top musical talent & DJ’s.
It features emerging & established designers from Africa and the rest of the continent and is open to all designers of all genres from urban to couture, ready to wear, whatever type of clothes, accessories, handbag, or foot wears they do design may participate in these events.
This year's designers:
LOLO ANDOCHE (BENIN REPUBLIC)
The LOLO ANDOCHE Company was founded in 1991 by its founder Charlemagne AMOUSSOU to reveal his talents “designer”.
Like most tailor shops, the company has evolved into the informal to the formal registration in 2000. Started with a machine, the company has evolved gradually and steadily through the entrepreneurial talent of its founder who had the ambition not to be confined to the classic pattern of master craftsmen, tailors, but to be a true creative company wealth and jobs.
The company has participated in the Magic Show in Las Vegas (USA) in 2007, the International Fair of the African campaign (PANCA) in Lome, Togo in 2001, the parade methods without Borders in Cholet (France) in 2003, participation in the caravan Alphadi at Kora Fashion Designer in Sun City (South Africa) and the International Parade Africa Unida Luanda (Angola) to name a few. Lolo Andoche is also a Woodin partner for over a decade.
PATIENCE PLEASE (NIGERIA)
Patience Please Nigeria Limited is a lingerie manufacturing company based in Lagos, Nigeria. Founded on an ethos that lingerie is the most important aspect of a woman’s wardrobe, Patience Please uses only the finest materials such as delicate silks and exquisite Austrian laces.
Patience Please is also a company with a conscience. By educating young, unemployed people and giving consideration to environmental, social and corporate governance issues they hope to create a sustainable and responsible business that yields a ‘human return’ and also put Nigeria on the map, not just as the African lingerie capital, but as a contender in the global textile and fashion industry.
PARADISE FASHION (ETHIOPIA/ITALY)
The natural gift Genet possesses in design, coupled with the scientific knowledge she acquired during her studies enabled her to realize her childhood dreams and become one of Ethiopia’s top designers after the establishment of her firm, under the name “Paradise Fashion” in October 1992. Producing ladies and children dress of any standard for day to day and occasion wear and also home interior. Her aim was to be a pioneer specializing in designing hand woven traditional cotton material, combined with colourful hand-made thread designs called “Tibeb” in Amharic Ethiopia’s official language. Through her annual fashion shows, held in Addis Ababa and her participation in similar shows in African, European and American cities, Genet has demonstrated that Ethiopian traditional costumes are colourful and elegant, provided that they are beautifully designed.
MOIE (LIBERIA)
MOIE label is the brainchild of former Miss Liberia and Fashion Designer, Patrice Juah. The name “MOIE” is the short form of the designer’s Kpelle (a native language spoken in Liberia) name, “Daiemoie”, which means:”LET THEM TALK”. MOIE brand has a social responsibility of empowering young women and creating a generation of independent Liberian women through fashion & apparel design.
ROSBINNA (NIGERIA)
Rosbinna LTD is a fashion house that has existed since 1997 as Rossy Creations, in whose strength it has designed for numerous first ladies across Africa. Designs includes Haute-couture, Pret-a-porter collections, Afrocentric and EuroAfricans with a vision to add a splash of glamor and style to more wardrobes across the world. The creative director, Rosemary Iwezor, is the brain behind the fashion house of Rosbinna.
NALLEM COTHING (GHANA)
Nallem is proudly an African label that seeks to fill the gap between designer couture and chain store clothing. At NALLEM you will find unique creativity and a selection of fabric that guarantees comfort, colour and top of the world taste of fashion and style The hunger for design and style manifested in the founder of this unique and progressive brand, Gregory A. Kankoh, has since his childhood experimented with footwear, bags, toys and a unique choice of clothing and detail. Greg’s current status as a designer is no surprise to those who knew him growing up. His views have been sought in both print and electronic media and complimented with awards and participation in high profile fashion events in Las Vegas, Dubai, Abuja and African Fashion and Design Week Port Harcourt to mention a few.
For inquires/Participation please visit http://www.afdwng.com/
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