BOKISSONTHRONE: Be inspired at the inaugual AFWL2019 Business Fashion Forum

Princess Ronke Ademiluyi - Founder and CEO of Africa Fashion Week London and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria

Ronke Ademiluyi was born in London to a scion of the royal family in Ife Kingdom in the South Western part of Nigeria. She is the founder of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN). Fuelled by the lack of retail space, production factories and start-up funds and how it is hindering the growth of the potential billion-dollar industry, she is on a mission to bring African fashion to the forefront of the global fashion world.

A graduate of Law from Thames Valley University in London, her passion and her brainchild has now acquired global recognition and become an unparalleled platform for over 7000 African and African-inspired designers showcasing their collections in London every year.

Joseph Farodoye, Founder of EPG Media, The Estate and Bluxe

Joseph is a seasoned entrepreneur with a track record of success across multiple industries at senior levels and a global keynote speaker in his field.

Joseph is a specialist in international real estate investment and foreign direct investment and has facilitated business at international government state level. With clients such as the Berkeley Group, Eko Atlantic, Nakheel, CBRE and The Resort Group to name a few.

A post graduate of Mass Communications & Media studies and investor in people.

Simone Cipriani - Head and Founder of the Ethical Fashion Initiative

The Ethical Fashion Initiative is a flagship programme of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and of the World Trade Organization.

Cipriani has made it his mission to build a more responsible and sustainable fashion industry, by transforming it into a vehicle of poverty reduction and of empowerment of women, throughout the developing world.

The initiative enables artisans who live in marginalised conditions, in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, to become regular suppliers of international fashion and lifestyle brands, thus reducing poverty and empowering large numbers of women artisans.

Since its inception, the initiative has also evolved to work with emerging African designers to promote their talent at an international level and thus to support more forms of Made in Africa production.

Jeanette Bain-Burnett is Assistant Director for Communities and Social Policy at the GLA.

Other roles at the GLA have included Senior Policy Officer (Diversity and Social Policy); Senior Cultural Strategy Officer and Community Engagement Manager.

Jeanette was a senior manager and consultant in cultural strategy including as Director of the Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (2007-2014). Her clients have included the BBC, Arts Council England and Voluntary Arts. She is also a trustee of Arts Depot and advisory board member of Uchenna Dance.

Azzi Glasser - Perfume Designer - The Perfumer's Story

Azzi Glasser is an award-winning perfume designer who specialises in creating groundbreaking fragrances for the world’s top fashion designers, beauty brands, Royalty, Hollywood actors, musicians and artists. Azzi’s level of creativity brings a bespoke and unique quality to all her creations and she holds an iconic client portfolio like no other in the world.

Azzi’s exclusive bespoke portfolio includes perfumes for Hollywood movie stars such as Helena Bonham Carter, Jude Law, Kylie Minogue, Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, Orlando Bloom, Douglas Booth, Stephen Fry, Laura Linney and Johnny Depp.

Azzi has also successfully designed signature perfumes, the first in history for established clubs such as Annabel’s, Quo Vadis and the world’s finest hotels such as the Chiltern Firehouse, Mandrake, Lydmar and the new Kimpton Fitzroy.

Florence Kollie Raja - Founder Ethical Era and Woke Wo/man

Florence is also the creator of the Positive Planet 2030 Agenda, shortlisted as "woman to watch" for Red Women of the year award - political category.

CEO of Buqa, a lifestyle brand that inspirational women of today can relate to, which provides women with slow/sustainable fashion as well as a network in which women can unleash the uniqueness of who we are. A collection that celebrates quality, artisan craftsmanship, to be worn and treasured for many years with a focus on ethical values and intellectual elegance.

Buqa Couture specialises in luxury formal wear and caters for a discerning clientele who seek exclusively crafted garments with a distinguished design as part of the slow/sustainable fashion movement.

Sara Ali - Luxury Business and Sustainability Expert

Sara Ali is a luxury business expert, stylist and mentor with over two decades of experience in the industry. Today, Sara has the privilege to style several pioneering world leaders and is a business insider collaborating with influencers that want to extend their reach whilst remaining exclusive as they grow their brand.

Furthermore, Sara was recently nominated as a finalist for the National Mentoring Awards in two categories, Fashion Mentor and Diversity Mentor Of The Year 2019

"CREATIVITY MEETS COMMERCE"
SEMINAR SPEAKER

Vanessa Gounden - CEO and Creative Director of Vanessa Gounden

Born and raised in the era of apartheid in South Africa, Vanessa’s early upbringing and experiences in the townships made her determined to break through the glass ceiling. Her hard work and determination paid off and she went on to gain a university degree and become a successful entrepreneur in post-apartheid SA. Hardship and segregation have had a lasting impression on Vanessa, moving her to serve under Nelson Mandela, helping to build a new South Africa following the first democratic elections in 1994.

Her eponymous brand launched in London in 2011, Vanessa Gounden is a luxury womenswear brand, with Vanessa herself as Creative Director and the inspiration behind the brand’s artistry. Her flagship store is located in London’s Conduit Street.

Vanessa’s signature style combines bold prints and patterns with innovative tailoring techniques, such as 3D layering. Her work is handcrafted in the finest luxury fabrics and embellished with hand-painted buttons, beading and embroidery. It is unsurprising then that her signature prints are conceptual and challenging with each print an elaborate canvas to create awareness of social and political issues.

"THE V&A PANEL"
SEMINAR SPEAKERS

Elisabeth Murray - Fashion Curator, The V&A Museum

Elisabeth Murray is a fashion curator in the Department of Furniture, Textiles and Fashion at the V&A Museum, specialising in 20^th and 21^st century fashion. Her areas of research include museum collecting practises and fashion and gender.

Prior to joining the V&A Elisabeth worked in the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection at Kensington Palace. Elisabeth has an MA in Museum Studies from UCL, specialising in the representation of diverse audiences within museums.

Janet Browne - Africa Curator, The V&A Museum

Janet has a background in Adult Education spanning over 25 years, before moving to the V&A 13 years ago. She was also joint Learning Manager at Black Cultural Archives (BCA) between 2012 – 2015 and was instrumental in designing their strategy for learning.

Janet’s work contributes to initiatives that encourage wider participation of black British communities including numerous events linked to displays, exhibitions and key national initiatives; the training of the V&A African Heritage Tour Guides; giving a platform to black artists, curators, historians and workshop leaders to develop, share and showcase their work; and develop advisory groups who advise on public programme, displays and gallery redevelopments.

Janet was a member of the V&A / BCA joint Staying Power Photography project for its 7-year duration, is a member of the V&A Africa Curators Group, and a trustee for an arts and social justice organisation.

"AFRICA'S NATURE OF FASHION "
SEMINAR SPEAKERS

Vicky Ngari-Wilson - Founder of The Rural Retail

Vicky is a social entrepreneur and sustainable Designer and sustainable development goals advocate. With a professional background of implementing sustainable and social impact solutions within creative ideas, she is exploring ancient indigenous crafts, converting them into contemporary fashion that symbolises indigenous communities and embodies their environmental practices.

Her organisation The Rural Retail gather’s groups of rural women to form as sustainable fashion producers and links them to Industry. Her workshop ensures that they can craft while teaching their children, tend to the land and create income. Education, Environment and Employment are her design principles which have led her research in nature, ancient knowledge and the future of the creative economy.

Teleica Kirkland - Costume Institute of the Africa Diaspora

Teleica is the founder, Creative Director and principal researcher for CIAD. With over 20 years experience working in the fashion and costume industry Teleica lectures at London College of Fashion and has travelled extensively throughout Africa and the Diaspora making links with designers, artisans, and practitioners across the globe.

AFWL2019 PANEL TALKS SCHEDULE