What Happened in African Fashion This Week
- bolaji akinwande
- Sep 20
- 6 min read
As the 2026 Spring-Summer fashion season kicks off across major cities—with New York wrapping up last week and London up next—African designers are firmly on the roster, showcasing cross-continental influence. Both emerging and established brands are debuting and returning to international runways, from Hertunba in Seoul to Loza Maléombho in New York, celebrating African culture and excellence. Meanwhile, Nike’s new collaboration honors African heritage, and South African fashion visionary Thebe Magugu makes his foray into interior design.
Clearly Invincible brings you the latest in our weekly African fashion recap. Here's everything that happened this week.
Collaboration.
NIKE AND PARIS-BASED COLLECTIVE, AIR AFRIQUE LAUNCH THE AIR MAX RK61
Nike, the American athletic footwear and apparel brand, has collaborated with Air Afrique, a Paris-based creative collective, to launch the Air Max RK61. This dress shoe fuses heritage, craftsmanship, and innovation. The name references Air Afrique’s original flight code, RK, and its founding year, 1961, while the design pays homage to the airline’s legacy of connecting West African nations and the diaspora.
The RK61 features an Air Max unit inspired by a jet engine, Morse code on the outsole that translates to Air Afrique, a zipper embossed with the airline’s original logo, and a jacquard sock liner reminiscent of vintage airline seats.
This release builds on Air Afrique’s first partnership with Nike—the Air Afrique Football Club campaign, which debuted in 2024.
The Air Max RK61 will be available globally on October 9.
Collaboration.
VLISCO UNVEILS “ICONS LAST FOREVER” CAMPAIGN WITH DESIGNER SARAH DIOUF AND PHOTOGRAPHER TREVOR STUURMAN
Vlisco is known for creating and distributing fabrics, particularly African wax prints, which are designed in the Netherlands. The brand recently released a campaign titled “Icons Last Forever,” celebrating the work of the late Malian photographer Seydou Keïta.
The campaign features Senegalese designer Sarah Diouf, creative director and founder of Tongoro (a Senegal-based fashion brand), and South African visual artist and photographer Trevor Stuurman, both of whom draw inspiration from Keïta’s work. Together, the two creatives merge fashion and photography: Sarah designs looks using Vlisco prints, while Trevor reimagines Keïta’s iconic poses, angles, and symbolic objects through photography.
The “Icons Last Forever” campaign is part of a larger project exhibition titled “Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens”, which will open in New York on October 9.
Personality.
SOUTH AFRICAN DESIGNER THEBE MAGUGU EXPANDS INTO INTERIOR DESIGN AT THE MOUNT NELSON HOTEL IN CAPE TOWN
South African designer Thebe Magugu, founder and creative director of his eponymous brand, recently announced his foray into interior design. This December, he will open the Thebe Magugu Suite at the historic Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. The suite will launch alongside Magugu House in Cape Town, described as a concept store and gallery. It will showcase limited-edition pieces, archival fashion works, and artworks by African artists. The space will also host events and exhibitions. The expansion marks the brand’s tenth anniversary.
Showcase.
IVORIAN-AMERICAN DESIGNER LOZA MALÉOMBHO DEBUTS 2026 SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTION AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
Loza Maléombho is an Ivorian-American designer and founder of her eponymous brand, known for its avant-garde approach that blends traditional African motifs with contemporary design elements.
Her Spring/Summer 2026 collection, described as an “immersive fashion portal,” was showcased in partnership with Orun Studio-a, a pan-African creative ecosystem, under the Orun X Designer event at New York Fashion Week.
The collection featured 21 silhouettes, incorporating raffia and bronze details that merge Côte d’Ivoire’s craftsmanship with futuristic design.
Collection.
AFRICAN DIASPORA DESIGNERS IB KAMARA, TAOFEEK ABIJAKO, AND JACQUES AGBOBLY PRESENT SS26 COLLECTIONS AT NEW YORK FASHION WEEK
The 2026 Spring-Summer season of New York Fashion Week took place from 11–16 September, and its roster featured African diaspora designers such as Ib Kamara, Taofeek Abijako, and Jacques Agbobly.
Ib Kamara, the Sierra Leone-born, London-based stylist and creative director of Off-White, presented the brand’s SS26 collection, Pop Romance. Inspired by disco, hip-hop, graffiti, and streetwear created by African creatives, the collection juxtaposed edgy tailoring with sportswear aesthetics.
Taofeek Abijako, the Nigerian-born American designer and the youngest designer to show at NYFW, is the founder of Head of State, a brand described as a representation of post-colonial youth culture. He presented his SS26 collection, "If Heaven Could Talk," featuring sculptural dresses and suits with intricate cut-outs in colors including red, white, and mint blue.
Jacques Agbobly, the Togolese-born American designer and 2024 LVMH Prize semi-finalist, is the creative director and founder of Agbobly. This New York-based label explores African heritage at the intersection of race and gender. Agbobly presented his SS26 collection, Pentagames, inspired by personal loss, on the final day of NYFW.
Together, these shows underscored how African-diaspora designers are reshaping contemporary fashion through heritage, identity, and inventive craftsmanship.
Showcase.
UNITY IN DESIGN GLOBAL NETWORK (UDGN) CULTURAL THREADS SHOWCASE SS26 TO TAKE PLACE DURING LONDON FASHION WEEK
The Unity in Design Global Network (UDGN) is a new platform dedicated to championing, supporting, and elevating minority fashion designers. Founded by Tara Issac,a Global Talent Visa recipient and member of the British Fashion Council, the platform combines incubator support with a designer showcase set to launch on Saturday, September 20, during London Fashion Week.
The showcase, titled “Cultural Threads: SS26 Runway Show,” will spotlight thirteen emerging minority-led brands from the platform’s inaugural cohort:
Motúnráyò– a contemporary brand exploring African spirituality
Midetush – a Nigerian heritage and Afrocentric contemporary fashion brand
Ayah – a contemporary menswear brand
Zubere – blending modern silhouettes with traditional imagery
Bola – a slow fashion brand
Kaypee Footwears – a Nigerian-UK-based footwear designer
Robes and Blings by Akokomali – a bespoke, made-to-order fashion brand exploring Yoruba heritage and bridal storytelling
Lekan Aare – a menswear brand
Oomo Ajadi – a menswear brand rooted in Yoruba tradition
Obireen – a womenswear brand fusing tradition and modernity
Itele – a luxury footwear brand
The Ideal Craftsman – a Lagos-based menswear brand
Pem – a contemporary brand honouring traditional heritage
The showcase will take place at Ladbroke Hall, London.
Showcase.
TWO AFRICAN DESIGNERS SHOWCASE AT SEOUL AFRICA FESTIVAL
The Seoul Africa Festival is the largest festival in Korea centered on African culture. Founded in 2016, the festival features diverse programs such as stage performances, fashion shows, and cultural experiences. This year, the festival took place from 12–13 September and included two African designers in its fashion showcases.
Nigerian-based womenswear brand Hertunba, known for fusing cultural heritage with contemporary design, presented a new collection titled Earthen alongside South African brand Maxhosa, which creates traditional knitwear inspired by Xhosa culture. The showcase served as a cross-continental exchange of fashion, bringing African creativity to Korea’s biggest platform.
Showcase.
NIGERIAN BESPOKE BRAND AMDIDDYY HOLDS “THE AMDIDDYY EXPERIENCE” IN LAGOS
Amdiddyy is a Nigerian-based bespoke brand offering traditional menswear designs such as the agbada, alongside casual silhouettes. The brand recently hosted a runway show titled “The Amdiddyy Experience,” featuring larger-than-life silhouettes that paid homage to traditional attire from various Nigerian tribes.
Event.
TOKYO AFRICA SELECTION 2025 SHOWCASES FOUR AFRICAN BRANDS
Tokyo Africa Collection is a fashion initiative aimed at connecting African fashion brands with the Japanese audience, serving as a cross-continental cultural exchange. Founded in 2016, it has hosted a total of four shows to date. This year, it is bringing four African brands-namely Pith Africa (a Nigerian streetwear brand), Wafflesncream (Nigeria’s skateboarding and streetwear powerhouse), Obida Culture (a Nigerian brand known for fusing traditional adire dyes with contemporary designs), and AAKS (a Ghanaian brand known for creating handcrafted bags)-under the “Tokyo Africa Selection” to feature in a week-long pop-up from 16–22 September at the Seibu Shibuya Store in Tokyo, Japan. The pop-up serves as a way of introducing these brands to a global audience and market.
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