Top Fashion Designers In Africa – Historically, the relationship between the global fashion industry and the African continent has undoubtedly been difficult and fraught with disrespect, cultural exploitation and appropriation from its troubled history.
Fabric – the most identifiable fabric of West Africa – to Western fashion houses that recognize the work of local African artisans and designers. However, this is quickly changing as traditional African techniques, textiles and fashion designers are gaining global attention.
Top Fashion Designers In Africa
In recent years, Lagos, which is fast becoming the fashion capital of the continent, has hosted Arise Fashion Week and Lagos Fashion Week, produced by Style House Files, which hosted some of the world’s leading editors and experts. The former, among others, received the stamp of approval from supermodel Naomi Campbell: after debuting on the runway at Arise Fashion Week in 2018, Campbell returned in 2019 and took on the role of curator. Emerging talent from across the continent has also taken to the international stage, including Nigerian designers Adebayo Oke-Lawal and Kenneth Ize, who were both 2014 and 2019 LVMH Prize finalists, as well as South African designer Thebe Magugu. who received the award in 2019.
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In today’s world, African fashion does not seek to validate the global industry; It stands as its own power. An important catalyst for this evolution is the pioneering young talent who have undertaken to create revolutionary work and tell stories that break stereotypes and preserve ancient methods, while building a sustainable fashion business infrastructure on the continent.
Sat down with five of these designers to talk about their inspirations and the future of the African fashion industry. Read on for more.
In 2019, Thebe Magugu received a standing ovation when he received the LVMH award. This well-deserved win was more meaningful than a celebration of one of the industry’s most promising minds, but a recognition of the important work Magugu is doing in South Africa. Three years after launching his brand, Magugu is using fashion to change the world’s perception of his country.
“I want my clothing to be a vehicle to express my thoughts and politics and to give those who wear the clothes a glimpse into our history and tell stories that people would otherwise not know,” Magugu said.
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Magugu’s brilliance lies in how she effortlessly but deliberately channels the rich culture of South Africa to create work that subverts Western expectations of South African fashion. The results include sculptural pieces that play with unexpected waists and openings, such as a cashmere suit jacket that falls in the style of a wrap scarf, or a ruffled skirt with a whimsical chevron pattern that nods to the South African craft tradition. “I always try to prove the Western ideas of African fashion, because it is often very old and lazy,” says Magugu. “I grew up between my culture and the view of globalization, so my clothes will be my African experience, which is more authentic, not the African that everyone should be. I think that many African designers and creatives share this idea. They do. : The African color of fashion is more than that.”
When Adebayo Oke-Lawal, an inexperienced 20-year-old then working in corporate finance for an oil company, founded Orange Culture in 2011, there was no brand like it in Nigeria. It’s not there yet. Oke-Laval’s ability to incorporate bold colors and traditional feminine silhouettes into Orange Culture’s collections and pieces has propelled the brand to become one of the biggest names in fashion in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
“I want my clothes to speak from a place of freedom and liberty,” she tells Oke-Laval. “My clothes are an escape from a reality that strips us of our rights and imposes our stereotypes. My clothes encourage us to believe in the difference and beauty of being and expressing ourselves, no matter where you choose to be, no matter what wherever you are or not. Where you are from. My clothes are also from Nigeria. They speak a cliché story: My Nigeria and Nigeria I love and want to make better.”
In fact, Orange Culture is more than a brand or a line: it’s a subversive movement that seeks to push the boundaries of gender and masculinity from fashion in a country that ignores unconventional forms of self-expression. punished
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It was a visual masterpiece complete with stunning visuals, perfect narration and hypnotic movements. It also featured some of Beyoncé’s best looks, including a custom Tongoro suit and a durag. But this is not the first time that the pop star is seen in this brand. In 2018, he made a total of four appearances for Tongoro.
One look at the brand’s pieces and you can see why it’s loved by not only Beyonce, but many stylish celebrities, including Naomi Campbell, Alicia Keys, Burna Boy and many more. The aesthetic of the tees is very directional, with interesting patterns and interesting dramatic pieces. “I want my clothes to say ‘I’m free,'” says creative director Sarah Diouf. I have fear. I am proud.”
After talking about the Dakar native, you can’t help but wonder what this business woman has planned to help build the African fashion industry. “I think African fashion is more of an ecosystem than an industry,” says Diouf. – We still have a lot of work to do in terms of structure and foundations.
To fully appreciate the designs of Emmanuel Okoro’s Emmy Casbit brand, founded in 2014, you have to see them up close. “The most exciting part of my design process is creating custom fabrics based on inspiration from that season,” says Okoro.
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Moreover, I will create more jobs for women – artists – because the craft I work in is a craft that has been forgotten for a long time and I will try as much as possible to preserve it and wherever I go , take with me. “
And is made from a hand weaving process by the women of Akwete village in eastern Nigeria. For Okoro, the process of creation is not only about the innovation of working with fabric with such a strong history, but also about preserving these techniques and empowering artisans who, according to Okoro, would otherwise have no other means of livelihood.
Working with this unique fabric, Okoro interprets and mixes traditional and contemporary art with a very tongue-in-cheek touch, resulting in eye-catching pieces such as the printed bomber jacket and deconstructed one-sleeve.
Since 2014, Akosua Afriyi-Kumi’s AAKS aims to preserve the raffia bag making techniques passed down from generation to generation in Ghanaian tribes. To ensure that these skills are not lost and provide a sustainable income for women in northern Ghana, AAKS is based on a design philosophy based on craftsmanship while refining these ancient methods to produce practical and modern methods. – designs of the day.
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“I grew up around basket bags in Ghana, giving them as gifts and also using them for storage,” Afriy-Kumi recalls. “I remember a lot of ‘I wish it was like that, I wish it was like that’ moments. I wanted it to be softer, almost weathered, and also more colorful with beautiful embellishments and details.” One of his most popular designs, the Baw Pot bag, is an example of that, which comes in a variety of shapes and colors, as well as updated details such as a soft linen lining and leather lining.
FashionKali Uchis dressed fashion stars Olivia Rodrigo at GrammysCulture 2023 in H&M Studio’s stunning new spring campaign. Beautiful couple at GrammysFashion 2023 Jenna Ortega is the face of Adidas’ latest line, in 2020, African designers have reached new heights. creation Some of the world’s most important publications, such as Vogue and Forbes, have published in-depth articles on African designers. The charge of diversity has led to a global push to recognize wider cultural contributions, and African fashion has seen an unprecedented leap in the spotlight. As Africa becomes a powerful force in the global fashion industry, here are the top 10 African designers to keep an eye on.
Founder Aisha Obuobi was inspired to create her own fashion line by seeing her grandmother, Christy Brown, who the label is named after, making beautiful African clothes while working as a seamstress. From a young age, Aisha experimented with African fabrics, making clothes for her dolls in Ghana. In 2008, Christy Brown was born.
Christie Brown’s collection is known for her incredible attention to detail and structure in African print dresses that embrace all aspects of the modern African woman. Her clothes are a mix of ready-to-wear pieces and embellished dresses, often with a focus on cinching the waist. Although her aesthetic is primarily luxury and high fashion, her collections are versatile.
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