Nigerian designers rock fashion week

BY OYINDAMOLA LAWAL
NIGERIAN designers, with their counterparts from other parts of the continent, will gather in a two-day seminar at Johannesburg, South Africa Republic, to reposition Africa’s fashion future. The seminar will, outside talks, showcase different models on the runway.
Leading designers from across the continent and in the Diaspora will show their latest designs at the second yearly Africa Fashion Week, which comes after the seminar.
The collections of 33 designers from all over Africa will feature in 19 runway shows before a huge audience of international buyers, media professional, World Cup guests, and international celebrities from June 30 to July 3.
During a recent visit to Nigeria, the African Fashion International (AFI) Chairperson, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, stated, “Africa Fashion Week (AFW) is potentially the most important platform for the African fashion industry, being perfectly positioned to promote African designers globally.”
She added that for designers, their collections would not just be confined to the catwalk; they would be available to purchase on site, along with ready-to-wear garments, at the first ever AFI Fashion boutique, which would be open for the month of June.
Moloi-Motsepe with her partner, Vista Kalipa of Total Exposure, advises that Nigerian designers should concentrate more on good finishing and versatility in order to compete favourably with others.
Kalipa also called on Nigerian fashion designers to form a body that would regulate the industry.
On the eve of African Fashion Week itself, the AFI boutique will launch online as a permanent shop specialising in African fashion from across the globe, with collections available immediately after their catwalk showing.