What Happened in African Fashion This Week
- bolaji akinwande
- 5 days ago
- 5 min read
In 2020, Hanifa, the womenswear brand founded by Congolese-American designer Anifa Mvuemba, gained recognition for hosting the first-ever 3D virtual runway show by a designer. This week, the designer released her Fall/Winter 2025 collection.
Elsewhere in Côte d’Ivoire, Kente Gentlemen merges local artistry with the automobile and service industries following a new collaboration. Similarly, in Nigeria, two of the country’s prominent streetwear brands, Pith Africa and WafflesnCream, have joined forces for a new collaboration.
Meanwhile, Africa Textile Talks returns to South Africa this week with a stacked lineup of activities.
Clearly Invincible brings you the latest in our weekly African fashion recap. Here's everything that happened this week.
Event.
EJIRO AMOS TAFIRI TO HOST FASHION CONFERENCE THIS OCTOBER
Ejiro Amos Tafiri is one of Nigeria’s indigenous brands, known for its use of multi-textured fabrics to create pieces rooted in African royalty that embody elegance and simplicity. To mark its 15th anniversary, the brand will host a conference titled “Fashioning a Legacy: Leaving a Mark in Time Conference 2.0.”
The conference will bring together Nigeria’s industry giants and fashion enthusiasts, featuring panel discussions, mentorship sessions, and networking opportunities. In addition, the event will include the Young Designers Presentation and Grant Award, where the winner of a grant worth five million naira in production equipment will be announced.
The event will take place on October 28, 2025, at the JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
Collection.
HANIFA RELEASES FALL/WINTER 2025 COLLECTION
Hanifa is a Congolese-American womenswear brand founded in 2011 by designer Anifa Mvuemba. The label creates luxury ready-to-wear designs for women in sizes 0 to 20. Hanifa gained global recognition for hosting the first-ever 3D virtual runway show in 2020.
The newest collection, titled “FW25,” explores duality through bold contrasts and features sculptural silhouettes and fluid draping across fur coats, knitted dresses, structured two-pieces, shirt dresses, T-shirts, and ruffled gowns. The new offering showcases Hanifa’s signature craftsmanship and commitment to creating feminine-driven pieces.
Collaboration.
KENTLE GENTLEMEN COLLABORATES WITH CÔTE D’IVOIRE–BASED RIDE-HAILING SERVICE, GOYA BY YANGO
Kente Gentlemen is an Abidjan-based clothing brand rooted in ethical production. The brand works with local artisans to create sustainable pieces using the notable Kente fabric.
Recently, Kente Gentlemen collaborated with Goya by Yango, an Abidjan-based ride-hailing service, to produce a series of custom T-shirts. The T-shirts, made from high-quality fiber, are worn by Goya by Yango’s drivers and aim to celebrate Ivorian craftsmanship.
This collaboration highlights how local artistry and fashion intersect with the automobile industry to create a shared cultural expression.
Event.
AFRICA TEXTILE TALKS TAKE PLACE THIS WEEK DURING DESIGN WEEK SOUTH AFRICA
The Africa Textile Talks is an event aimed at spotlighting and celebrating the innovative minds, individuals, and ideas driving African fashion and textiles. The four-day event, hosted by Twyg Africa, will take place from 9–12 October during Design Week South Africa. It will feature an exhibition, a summit, talks, panel discussions, and a book talk centered on collaboration and how designers, makers, researchers, and brands can work towards a revitalized and inclusive textile future.
Award.
LAGOS FASHION WEEK NAMED AS A FINALIST FOR THE 2025 EARTHSHOT PRIZE
Lagos Fashion Week has been announced as a finalist for the 2025 Earthshot Prize under the “Build a Waste-Free World” category, alongside 14 other finalists. The Earthshot Prize is an initiative that celebrates ambitious climate leadership and innovative solutions from around the world.
Founded in 2011 by Omoyemi Akerele, Lagos Fashion Week has grown to become one of Africa’s largest and most sought-after fashion events, recognized for its sustainable approach and operational model. The platform continues to transform one of the world’s most wasteful industries into a new fashion economy rooted in sustainability and cultural integrity.
This recognition comes as the platform celebrates its 15th edition, themed “In Full Bloom.” The Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony will take place in Rio de Janeiro, where five winners will each receive £1 million to scale their impact.
Innovation.
LAGOS FASHION WEEK ANNOUNCES SWAPSHOP 2025 – A CIRCULAR FASHION EXPERIENCE
The SwapShop initiative is a circular fashion hub where old fashion items are traded and given new life, reflecting Lagos Fashion Week’s commitment to innovation, community, and sustainable practices. Participants donate clean and gently used garments before the event, which then go through a review process. Approved pieces earn color-coded tokens, and clothing racks are arranged accordingly to enable an easy swap experience.
Innovation.
THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF ART, CULTURE, TOURISM AND CREATIVE ECONOMY ANNOUNCES COMMITTEE TO TRANSFORM NIGERIA’S FASHION INDUSTRY
The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy (FMACTCE), led by Minister Hannatu Musawa, has launched a new committee that will unveil the Confederation of African Fashion, called “Afroliganza.”
The aim of the newly announced confederation is to increase Africa’s share of the global fashion market from 1.2% to a more significant percentage, boosting the continent’s fashion economy from $30 billion to $500 billion. Nigeria will work closely with other African countries, research institutions, and industry stakeholders to design and implement effective policies and protocols.
The newly formed committee includes key stakeholders from the Ministry and the creative sector, who will develop policies aimed at driving the growth of the creative industry, creating jobs, and boosting the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP.
Collection.
THIS IS US RELEASES “THE IVORY COLLECTION”
This is Us is a Lagos-based clothing brand founded in 2016. The brand is known for its use of indigo-dyed Funtua cotton to make pieces, weaving craftsmanship, and artisanal heritage.
The brand has announced their new collection titled “The Ivory Collection”, features three designs with twenty limited pieces for each. Each designs are made from cotton in the ivory hue, a shade that signifies beauty, history, and newness.
Collection.
PITH AFRICA & WAFFLESNCREAM UNVEIL NEW COLLABORATION
Pith Africa and WafflesnCream, two prominent Nigerian streetwear brands, have just unveiled a new collaboration. The collection features T-shirts in orange, white, and denim blue, incorporating design codes from both brands.
Innovation.
ANANSE CENTER FOR DESIGN OPENS IN LAGOS
Ananse Africa is an e-commerce platform founded in 2020. It aims to support African designers, artists, and artisans in selling both locally and internationally, bridging the gap in accessibility to diverse audiences and clients.
The platform recently unveiled its design space in Lagos, Nigeria, called the Ananse Center for Design — a fully functional, multi-purpose design and entrepreneurship hub. The Ananse Center for Design was established in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, with support from the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy.
The space serves as an initiative to address the challenges that hinder African creatives.
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