The best African fashion designers spearhead Africa Fashion Week London 2017
Announcing Some Of Our Designers For AFWLondon 2017
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The best African fashion designers spearhead Africa Fashion Week London 2017
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Tsitsi Fred Knitwear is an
emerging knitwear brand founded in 2016 by a Zimbabwean born London
based textile designer Tsitsi Fred who is well known for her signature
artisanal knits. As a young girl she grew up with her auntie who owned a
knitwear studio. This is where she got her inspiration from as she
used to knit alongside the workers, learning simple knit techniques.
Tsitsi Fred studied Fashion Textiles
(Knitwear) at University of Arts London (London College of Fashion).
Her first collection ‘Knowing Dylan’ was
inspired by her son who is diagnosed autistic and presents social and
communication deficits from a very young age. Through research she
integrated her findings into fashion where materials, colour, texture,
functionality and practicalities of the garments are all taken into
consideration to suit the needs of the autistic as well as the
non-autistic, aim being to break the boundaries of a neurotypical
culture and raise a neurodevelopmental awareness to the society.
Since her
first collection, she has participated in community autism awareness
projects in Greenwich Borough. She will be showcasing her new
collection ‘miles apart’ at Africa Fashion Week London 2017 and this collection is also inspired by her autistic son and her immediate family.
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Oreva Okowa is the founder/Creative Director Signature
Secret. She is the Founder/National President (FADEA) Fashion Designers
and Exhibitors Association International
Signature secret was established 2007 with the total back up of the
Federal Government Registration body of Nigeria, Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC). Signature Secret has over 40,000 creative designs,
also has raised over 500 fashion designers around the globe.
The brand concentrates on bringing out future fashion designers.
In the past years, Signature secret has been nominated and awarded over
35 awards and the Creative Director made a personal presentation of the
brand to the president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, at the ACTIF programme.
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Based
in New York, Dario Mohr is Daft Minerva’s driving force. Hand painted,
hand illustrated and hand embellished Fine Art Fashion series pulls
inspiration from numerous sources, including Aboriginal and Tribal art,
sacred geometry and fractals and African Masks.
Dario’s fashion alias has showcased in numerous runway shows, most
notably during Paris Fashion Week, several New York Fashion Week shows,
Fashion Week Brooklyn, Philadelphia Mens Style Week, and many more.
Additionally, Daft Minerva has been featured in various publications
including Lucky Magazine, AfroPunk, I-Fashon Magazine, Sain-City
Magazine, Style Equation Magazine, Black WNY Magazine 2014, Thus In!
Newspaper, Gorgeous Freaks, Solis Magazine, and The Beacon NY Newspaper.
Dario hails from New York and Grenada and has roots in Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
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Head Stylist, Samson Soboye, is also a stalwart on the African design scene in London.
A very much in demand menswear designer and
stylist, Samson has had 20 years’ experience in the creative industries
and is the British Nigerian creative behind the successful Soboye brand that has been in existence for an impressive 15 years.
Samson
graduated from Central St. Martin’s 1994 where he rapidly established
himself as fashion stylist working initially with Lucinda Chambers at
British Vogue, then worked as a Freelance Stylist for publications such
as The Guardian, The Times, ES magazine.
"Seeing
the designs that are coming out of Africa is always inspiring. In the
past 20 years, I've seen a steady increase in the quality and
craftsmanship - and to be honest - the utter creativity these young
Africans bring. Africa Fashion Week London is the only show of at least
40 individual designers that we can see that without travelling out of
London! I'm really looking forward to August to see what new
trends Africans are bringing to the catwalk."
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Head Curator, Caroline Chi-Chi Chinakwe
is a stylist, graphic artist, creative Consultant and Designer for her
own bespoke label Chinakwe. A 1994 graduate of London College of
Fashion, Caroline first got her foot in the industry working as a
garment technologist with high end brand Nicole Farhi, where she
developed her love for garment construction and production and for over 7
years worked in garment manufacturing for high street labels including,
Top Shop, French Connection and Karen Millen.
Caroline
is currently working on her latest collection that combines fashion and
art celebrating her African and British influences whilst showcasing
her many talents and skills.
With
a passion for supporting African and African inspired designers, it is
her job to make sure the designers are showing their best on the
catwalk. She is also producing a specially curated catwalk show of the
best talented designers that are showcasing this year.
"This year,
I have been mentoring the designers through the process of applying for
Africa Fashion Week London. Some designers have needed guidance with
the direction of their collections, and some designers are just
outstandingly talented. We are going to have a 'Best in Show' catwalk
where you'll be able to see what these novice designers are capable of.
I can't wait to meet them all and see who has taken my advice and
brought their collections up to an international showcasing standard.
It is going to be tough competition for these designers to get that
special catwalk place!"
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Meet our Official Casting Director, Hassan ReeSe, CEO of DAM Model Management.
Hassan has been a veteran of the AFWL catwalks and now has started his
own male model agency. Hassan knows what it takes to be an Africa
Fashion Week London model.
"I
can't think of another catwalk show of this size and importance that
specifically wants Black and Ethnic minority model to be the stars of
the show. Africa Fashion Week London has been close to my heart since
2012, and now I'm in a position to manage the stable of over 40 models
from the backstage; mentor them and make sure they look their best, feel
their best and walk their best. Black and African models don't get a
better chance to be in front of the international media than this show.
We are also on the look out for rising stars. The Africa-based models
who are coming in to walk for the show are another level altogether -
watch out for them!"
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11-12 August 2017
Freemasons' Hall
60 Great Queen Street
London WC2B 5AZ
Doors open from 1pm for Exhibition browsing and entertainment
Friday Catwalk Shows: 5pm & 7pm
Saturday Catwalk Shows: 3pm, 5pm & 7pm
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The
classic Freemasons' Hall will be the backdrop of Africa Fashion Week
London 2017. Built between 1927 and 1933, it is an homage to the Art
Deco era.
Freemason's Hall is already venue to LFW's off schedule shows, Fashion
Scout; but set against the ornate interior, AFWL will be at home inside
the the stunning style of the Grand Temple space, the Vestibules and
Foyers.
Expect to see Designer Exhibitions offering 'straight off the catwalk' bargains, jewellery, accessories and footwear.
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