What Happened in African Fashion This Week
- bolaji akinwande
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
As the second half of the year begins, four African fashion creatives make the 2025 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list, and fifteen African designers are heading to China for the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAFTE). In addition, South Africa’s retail powerhouse, Mr Price, records a second-half boost.
Clearly Invincible brings you all these and more in our weekly recap of fashion news.
Here is everything that happened in African fashion this week.
Collaboration.
THE AFRICA CENTRE COLLABORATES WITH AFRICA FASHION WEEK LONDON FOR “THE ROYAL ADIRE HERITAGE COLLECTION”
The Africa Centre is a cultural institution based in London, one of its sole aims is to promote African and Diaspora narratives through arts, education, and innovation. The institution has collaborated with Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) to launch Adire-inspired fashion pieces ranging from T-shirts, Boubous, Scarves, Kimonos, and Tote Bags. The fashion pieces were created by the Adire Oodua Textiles Hub in Ile Ife, Nigeria, which is an affiliate of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL)
The collection, titled “The Royal Adire Heritage Collection,” celebrates the adire as an Indigenous African textile and as a way of empowering local artisans.
Brand.
NIGERIAN LUXURY BRAND BANKE KUKU RELEASES NEW PIECES FOR SUMMER 2025
Banke Kuku is a Nigerian eponymous luxury brand. The brand is known for its monogram silks and printed pieces. Ahead of the 2025 summer season, the luxury house recently unveiled new pieces. Inspired by the brand’s two previous collections, “Eden” and “Oceans”, the new release blends silhouettes and prints from both collections, creating a new ultra-feminine look.
Organisation.
AFRICA REIMAGINED ANNOUNCES 4TH CHINA-AFRICA ECONOMIC & TRADE EXPO
Africa Reimagined is an African women-led international development consultancy. The platform has announced its participation in the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAFTE) happening in China.
In previous years, the CAFTE has helped African brands meet and network with Chinese businesspeople to help begin their entry into the Chinese market, which in turn helps to increase Africa-China value-added trade.
This year, the CAFTE focus is no different, as it is aimed at using African fashion as a link for trade, innovation, and worldwide influence. In addition, African Reimagined is partnering with AfricaRise (a shopping and retail e-commerce platform in South Africa) and Brand South Africa (another South African-led initiative) to showcase more than fifteen African fashion brands that are helping to expand the continent's global trajectory.
The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will take place from June 12th- 15th in Changsha, China.
Personality.
GHANAIAN DESIGNERS JONATHAN COFFIE, KELLY FOLI, RICHARD KWEKU OF FREE THE YOUTH, AND TANZANIAN DESIGNER ANJALI BORKHATARIA MAKES FORBES 30 UNDER 30 LIST
The Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list is an editorial list that spotlights young African changemakers and creatives across various industries and sectors like media, sports, technology, fashion, healthcare, social impact, and more. This year, four African creatives in the fashion industry made the list, namely Jonathan Coffie, Kelly Foli, and Richard Kweku, who are the three founders of the Ghanaian streetwear brand- Free The Youth.
Anjali Borkhataria is a Tanzanian designer and the founder and creative director of EKANTIK, described as a modern-day, gender-neutral brand.
Event.
LHAUDE AFRICA HOSTS FASHION EVENT IN NEW YORK
Lhaude Africa is a Pan-African platform that empowers and showcases the work of creative entrepreneurs. The platform’s foremost event, Roots, is described as a Pan-African Fashion Tour featuring Pop-up installations, panel discussions, and networking. The latest edition is set to take place in New York City this weekend, from June 6th to 8th, and will feature showcases and pop-ups from African fashion brands like Cladini Studio, Ehiwoman, Ruks A La Mode, Mewe, Scqueeze, and more. In addition to a panel discussion from African fashion creatives like Sheye Oladejo, Ngwane Liz (founder of the Cameroonian brand- Margo’s Mode), Priscilla Chigariro (founder of the Zimbabwe Fashion Week Trust), and other personalities.
Organisation.
SOUTH AFRICA’S RETAIL CHAIN MR PRICE RECORDS SECOND-HALF BOOST.
One of South Africa’s foremost retail chains, Mr Price, has recorded a 10.1% increase in full-year earnings. The retail chain known for selling sportswear and appliances saw sales rise to 7.8% at 39.4 billion rand. This comes after a financially strained first half of the year.
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