Kenyan Designers Shine At Africa Fashion Week New York

Africa Fashion Week has always been a great platform to celebrate and showcase Africa’s brightest designers and their enthralling designs across the world’s fashion capitals — New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Tokyo, Berlin and Milan.

This year’s edition of the Africa Fashion Week New York, held from September 4-6, showcased an array of eclectic runway collections from seven African-born fashion designers.

The event kicked off with a fashion star-studded masterclass titled ‘Off the Runway’, hosted by the United Nations Foundation. It featured leaders in the global fashion industry who all shared insightful perspectives about African fashion and business.

 
They included top South African designer David Tlale; Eunice Omole, media professional and executive producer of TV series ‘Africa’s Top 100 Entrepreneurs’; Gavin Rajah, Unicef ambassador and couture designer; celebrity stylist Kithe Brewster; fashion entrepreneur Nana Poku, and Zara Okpara, PR and media relations director of Jewel.

Day two featured a fashion presentation and pop-up shop highlighting innovative and cutting edge designers from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and other countries on the continent. On the final day, the runway show commenced at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

Some of the top Kenyan designers who showcased their works at the event included Hilda Mauya of Dahil Republic of Couture Fashion and Sally Karago of Mcensal.

Karago unveiled 10 pieces reflecting the indigenous Kenyan fabric, Kikoi, with a complement of beaded jewellery accentuating the pieces.

Hilda Mauya showcased her sophisticated couture pieces that accentuate the woman’s features with style and elegance. Made from a mish-mash of indigenous African fabrics with linen, cotton and dry lace, the line included several intricately detailed long dresses.