What Happened in African Fashion This Week
- bolaji akinwande
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Nigeria has recently approved a textile development board to help revive the cotton and garment sector in the country; elsewhere, artisans in Kenya collaborate with eponymous fashion house Vivienne Westwood in a bid for sustainability and craftsmanship. And ahead of the 2025 MET gala, Africa Fashion International is hosting an event to celebrate African fashion designers
Clearly Invincible brings you all these and more in our weekly update.
Here is everything that happened in African fashion this week.
Collaboration
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD X ARTISAN FASHION LAUNCH SUSTAINABLE CITY-INSPIRED TOTE COLLECTION
Artisan Fashion is an initiative launched in 2009 by the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) as a social project in Nairobi. It brings together artisans who collaborate with luxury fashion brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Adidas, and Stella McCartney.
The initiative has recently unveiled a new tote bag collection in partnership with Vivienne Westwood. Inspired by the cities where the brand’s iconic flagship boutiques are located—London, Tokyo, Paris, and New York—the totes celebrate both place and purpose.
Each piece is hand-printed and crafted from transformed textile fibres sourced from discarded clothing and manufacturing waste, spotlighting craftsmanship and sustainability at its core.
Brand
KAI COLLECTIVE RETURNS TO LAGOS WITH TWO-DAY POP-UP AT ALÁRA
Fisayo Longe, a London-born Nigerian, is the founder of the contemporary womenswear brand Kai Collective. The brand has announced a two-day Lagos pop-up event titled "KAI COMES HOME," set to take place from May 24–25 at Alára, Lagos' foremost concept store.
Brand
DYE-LAB ANNOUNCES SIX-MONTH GLOBAL POP-UP TOUR ACROSS TWELVE CITIES
Nigerian Adire-focused brand Dye-Lab is set to hold pop-ups across twelve major cities and countries, including London, Ghana, New York, Abuja, Atlanta, Paris, Chicago, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Abidjan, Houston, and Uganda.
The six-month pop-up tour kicks off this May and will run through October. More locations are expected to be announced soon. The tour will bring Dye-Lab’s signature statement pieces to fashion lovers around the world.
Brand
WANNI FUGA LAUNCHES BOLD SWIMWEAR LINE INSPIRED BY ITS SIGNATURE PRINTS
Wanni Fuga, the Nigerian luxury brand known for its mesh-like designs and kaftan pieces, is expanding into swimwear. Titled "WANNI FUGA SWIM," the new collection features vibrant bikinis and one-piece swimsuits, incorporating the brand’s iconic headpieces reimagined to complement swim aesthetics.
The launch offers a bold and colourful take on women’s swimwear, blending elegance with beach-ready flair.
Collection
MMUSO MAXWELL TEASES FIRST MENSWEAR COLLECTION IN COLLABORATION WITH CAPE WOOL SA
Mmuso Maxwell, the Johannesburg-based South African brand and winner of the 2022 Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, has teased a new collection titled “OBHUTI ABATSHA”—its first-ever menswear line.
In collaboration with Cape Wool SA, the brand introduces a fresh take on tailored fashion, using premium South African Merino wool to craft refined, contemporary pieces.
Innovation
NIGERIA APPROVES TEXTILE DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO REVIVE COTTON AND GARMENT SECTOR
Nigeria’s National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the establishment of a Cotton, Textile, and Garment Development Board aimed at revitalizing the country’s struggling textile industry.
The board will function as a public-private partnership, a long-term collaboration between the government and private sector institutions. It will reportedly be funded through import levies on textiles and will operate regionally across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Event
AFRICA FASHION INTERNATIONAL AND HARVARD TO HOST 'AFRO DANDY' FASHION EVENT AHEAD OF 2025 MET GALA
Ahead of the 2025 Met Gala scheduled for May 5, Africa Fashion International (AFI) is partnering with the Harvard Center for African Studies for a landmark fashion and culture event titled “Afro Dandy – Tailored for Africa.”
Inspired by this year’s Met Gala theme on Dandyism, the event aims to explore African style through a distinctly continental lens. It will feature a runway showcase of acclaimed African designers including Kente Gentlemen (Côte d'Ivoire), David Tlale (South Africa), Orange Culture (Nigeria), Imprint ZA (South Africa), Masa Mara (Rwanda), Sheria Ngowi (Tanzania), and Nala I Privé (South Africa).
The program will also include the premiere of AFI’s new documentary “Afro Dandy: Dandier Than the Rest,” alongside a panel discussion featuring Black fashion icons and scholars.
Event
ANANSE AFRICA TO HOLD FASHION AND BRANDING MASTERCLASS IN LAGOS THIS MAY
Ananse Africa, an e-commerce platform that showcases African-based artisans and designers, connects buyers with sellers to create a seamless transaction process.
The platform is set to host an exclusive one-day masterclass in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 7th. Open to African entrepreneurs, students, and brand owners, the event will feature global experts from Farfetch and M-KOPA Nigeria.
Event
SOCIETY FOR AFRICAN DIASPORA HOSTS ANNUAL U.S. AFRICA DIASPORA SUMMIT IN HONOR OF AFRICA DAY
The Society for African Diaspora is a community initiative that provides art, culture, and connections for Africans in the diaspora. In honor of Africa Day on May 25, the platform is hosting its annual U.S. Africa Diaspora Summit from May 23-25.
With the theme “Africa’s Global Imprint,” the summit will explore the global impact of the continent's vibrant fashion scene. Highlights include panel discussions on African fashion, a multi-day curated fashion pop-up, and dialogues between designers and creatives from across the Diaspora.
Collection
NIGERIAN LUXURY BRAND ASO UNVEILS "THE MEMORIES OF LAST SUMMER" COLLECTION
Nigerian luxury brand ASO has unveiled its latest collection, "The Memories of Last Summer."
The new collection explores the brand's commitment to creating flattering pieces that challenge fashion stereotypes. The range includes silk dresses, corseted designs, and structural mini dresses, offering a blend of elegance and bold innovation.
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