What Happened in African Fashion This Week.
- Hamza Olalekan Dosunmu
- 13 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Africa’s fashion industry continues to consolidate its position across design, policy, manufacturing, and global market access, with this week’s developments reflecting structured growth at multiple levels of the value chain.
From government-backed cultural initiatives and organic cotton production partnerships to international runway milestones, retail-backed designer incubators, and cross-brand collaborations, the sector is operating through interconnected systems rather than isolated moments.
What emerges is a landscape defined by alignment — between heritage and innovation, craft and science, runway visibility and commercial infrastructure. African fashion is not only expanding its global footprint; it is reinforcing the foundations that sustain long-term industry development.
Clearly Invincible brings you the latest weekly African fashion recap.
Collaboration
Designers Consociate and Afrikstabel Release Sustainable Àdìrẹ Report
Designers Consociate and Afrikstabel have released their Sustainable Àdìrẹ Report, detailing a 2024 initiative aimed at rethinking traditional Àdìrẹ dyeing processes in Nigeria. Supported by Innovate UK through the Lead Customer Programme Grant, the project explored cleaner, scalable methods that preserve the integrity of the wax-resist craft while reducing environmental impact.
The team piloted reactive dyeing as a lower-impact alternative to conventional vat dyeing, alongside a wastewater treatment system designed to filter and sanitise dye effluent before discharge. The report outlines technical findings and future pathways for sustainable textile production.
Developed in collaboration with De Montfort University and partners across the UK–Nigeria Circular Fashion Innovation Network, the project positions heritage craft and scientific innovation as complementary forces within Nigeria’s evolving textile industry
Brand
Onalaja Shortlisted for BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund 2026
British Fashion Council (BFC) has announced the shortlisted designers for the 2026 BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, with Onalaja named among this year’s finalists.
The annual initiative, launched in 2008, supports outstanding British fashion businesses through a £150,000 grant alongside bespoke mentoring and professional services aimed at strengthening long-term commercial growth. The Fund is delivered in partnership with British Vogue and supported by Burberry.
Chaired by BFC CEO Laura Weir and British Vogue’s Head of Editorial Content Chioma Nnadi, the judging panel will interview shortlisted designers before announcing the winner in May.
As part of the BFC Foundation, the Fund forms part of a broader framework of charitable initiatives focused on education, grant-giving, and business mentoring within the UK fashion industry.
Fashion Week
MAXHOSA Returns to Paris Fashion Week
Laduma Ngxokolo has confirmed a return to the official Paris Fashion Week calendar for a fifth season, marking another milestone for the South African designer on the international runway circuit.
Two weeks later, Ngxokolo will host the fourth edition of the annual MXS KULTURE Festival on 21 March, continuing the platform’s focus on culture, community, and contemporary African creativity.
Collaboration
Homecoming Festival x Nike Air Max Plus Unveiled in Lagos-Inspired Collaboration
Nike has partnered with Homecoming Festival for a special edition Nike Air Max Plus, introducing the silhouette in two colourways: ‘Black’ and ‘Safety Orange’.
Built on a breathable mesh upper, the sneaker features the Air Max Plus’ signature rubberised cage inspired by swaying palm trees, with leather reinforcing the mudguard. Underfoot, Tuned Air technology delivers the model’s characteristic cushioning.
The collaboration stands out for its triple-lace offering — red, green, and white sets referencing Pan-African colours — each differentiated by texture and finish. Decorative charms, including shells, coins, and miniature bird motifs, add a personalised design element. Custom insoles and limited-edition packaging complete the release.
The drop aligns with Homecoming Festival’s annual programme in Lagos, reinforcing the intersection of sport, music, fashion, and African cultural expression.
Brand
PALMWINE ICE CREAM Unveils SS26 “MUSE” in Berlin
PALMWINE IceCREAM has introduced its Spring/Summer 2026 collection, MUSE, marking a continued evolution of the brand’s emotionally driven storytelling. Following AW25’s Life Moodboard, SS26 shifts toward a luminous celebration of women, community, and craft.
Founded by Kusi Kubi, the label draws inspiration from the women in the designer’s life across London and Accra. The new season places greater emphasis on womenswear, moving from AW25’s elongated silhouettes toward more sensual, fitted, and skin-revealing forms suited to the warmth and energy of summer.
Handmade in Ghana using up-cycled and dead-stock materials, the collection foregrounds artisanal techniques, including naturally dyed leather from northern Ghana coloured with tree bark and sun-drying processes. Key pieces include a chainmail dress, a leather-and-mesh ballerina corset, naturally dyed leather trousers, and hand-painted boots. Accessories — from symbolic earrings to wooden bangles and painted leather bags — reinforce the collection’s thematic focus on femininity and heritage.
Presented during the brand’s second runway show in Berlin, SS26 underscores continuity within PALMWINE IceCREAM’s narrative arc, connecting personal homage, memory, and now a celebratory tribute to women as creative and cultural anchors.
Economic
Ghana Declares Wednesdays as National Fugu Day
Ghana has designated Wednesdays as National Fugu Day, spotlighting the cultural and sartorial significance of Fugu, also known as Batakari.
Rooted in Northern Ghanaian weaving traditions, Fugu has evolved from ceremonial and everyday heritage wear into a contemporary fashion statement embraced across generations. The initiative encourages citizens to incorporate the handwoven textile into their weekly wardrobe as a visible expression of identity, craftsmanship, and national pride.
By institutionalising Fugu Day, Ghana reinforces the value of indigenous textiles within modern dress culture—positioning heritage not as nostalgia, but as living style.
Fashion Week
From Kenya to Madrid: Eco Fashion Week Africa Heads to Circular Sustainable Fashion Week
Selected designers from Eco Fashion Week Africa Season Three will present their work at Circular Sustainable Fashion Week Madrid, extending the platform’s commitment to circular design onto an international stage.
What debuted on the runway in Kenya now enters a broader global dialogue on sustainability, material innovation, and responsible production. The participating designers represent a cohort refining craft, rethinking resources, and building fashion businesses grounded in environmental accountability.
The showcase signals continued momentum for African eco-fashion within global circular systems—where cultural depth, technical precision, and long-term vision converge.
Fashion Week
King Charles III Makes Surprise Appearance at Tolu Coker’s London Fashion Week Show
Tolu Coker opened London Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2026 with an unexpected front-row guest: Charles III, who attended the show at 180 Strand’s NewGen Space.
The moment marked a full-circle milestone for Coker, who received early mentorship from The Prince’s Trust when launching her label in 2018. The FW26 collection reflected on her upbringing on the Mozart estate in west London, weaving themes of community, memory, and social mobility into luxury womenswear.
Drawing from her experience as a former sales assistant at Louis Vuitton, Coker examined how clothing functions as a vehicle for aspiration and access. Tailoring referenced borrowed interview suits and workplace uniforms, underscoring fashion’s role in navigating class and opportunity.
By recreating her “block” on the runway, Coker framed the show as both personal narrative and cultural statement — positioning London in its full complexity, while inviting one of its most prominent figures into that story.
Organisation
Brand63Africa Launches and Introduces Inaugural Designer Cohort at London Fashion Week
Brand63Africa presented its first cohort of designers to Charles III as he officially opened London Fashion Week.
Founded by Eva Omaghomi and curated by Lulu Shabell, Brand63Africa launches with Harrods as its official retail partner for the season. The initiative is designed to create commercially sustainable, long-term pathways for designers of African heritage within the global luxury market.
The inaugural cohort includes:
Sukeina
The Cloth
Abiola Olusola
Studio Namnyak
Christie Brown
An international Creative Committee, including Vanessa Kingori, Nisha Kanabar Karimjee, CaSandra Diggs, Anna Getaneh, Wale Oyejide, Bethann Hardison, and Vanessa Moungar played a key role in shaping the debut selection.
The launch signals a structured, retail-backed model aimed at strengthening global market access for African heritage designers.
Collaboration
EU-OACPS and UNPCB Collaborate to Strengthen Organic Cotton Production in Burkina Faso
The EU-OACPS Business-Friendly Programme, in collaboration with the National Union of Cotton Producers of Burkina (UNPCB), has completed a key phase of its organic cotton support initiative in Burkina Faso.
Following training sessions and seed distribution launched in May, the rain-fed cotton harvest cycle that began in September has now concluded. Post harvest kits, including collection bags, transport sacks, drying sheets, and tying materials were distributed to participating production units to strengthen fibre handling and maintain quality standards.
The collaboration directly benefits 342 producers across Boro, Pâ, Hèrèdougou, Bandio, Bouahoun, Bouéré, Karaba, Sobaré, and Cella. Supported by the European Union and the OACPS framework, the initiative reinforces sustainable raw material development at origin, strengthening the agricultural foundation of the region’s textile value chain.
Fashion Week
Africa Fashion Week London Opens Applications for 16th Edition
Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) will return to Central London from 20–23 August 2026 for its 16th edition, continuing its role as a platform connecting African and diaspora designers to international buyers, press, and industry stakeholders.
The four-day programme positions participating brands within a global-facing showcase designed to extend visibility beyond the runway — supporting commercial growth, retail access, and cross-market partnerships.
Applications for AFWL 2026 are now open, inviting designers to present new collections and engage directly with global audiences in one of the world’s leading fashion capitals.
Collaboration
Post-Imperial × THIS IS US Tease “FANTASTIC MAN” Collection Ahead of March 5 Drop
Post-Imperial and Lagos-based brand THIS IS US have announced a forthcoming collaborative release titled FANTASTIC MAN, scheduled to launch on March 5, 2026.
The teaser signals a joint exploration of textile development and menswear construction, bringing together Post-Imperial’s hand-dyeing processes with THIS IS US’ focus on locally produced, seasonless essentials. The collaboration positions both brands within a shared framework of craft-led design and responsible production.
The full collection will be unveiled online and through select retail channels in early March.
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