Johannesburg - Designers showing this week at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa have been asked to re-imagine their African identity in a globally relevant way.
MBFWAfrica takes place at Melrose Arch from Wednesday to Saturday, and includes 16 shows by established and emerging designers.
The theme is “Our Heritage Reimagined”.
“This year, we celebrate how far African fashion has come by bringing together the best design talent from the continent and its diaspora, who are both rooted in their African identity and reinterpreting it in an internationally relevant way,” says Sizwe Nzimande, marketing manager of AFI, the organisers.
Besides collections by well-known labels, MBFWAfrica will present capsule collections from designers competing for the Elle Rising Star 2014 and the AFI Young Designer of the Year titles. The City of Tshwane also has a showcase for emerging designers.
Running concurrently is the African Fashion Trade Expo.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
5.30pm: Kibonen (Cameroon)/ Intisaar (Zimbabwe)
6.45pm: Elle Rising Star
8.15pm: Mille Collines (Rwanda)
9.30pm: Taibo Bacar (Mozambique)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30
6pm: Tina Lobondi (Congo)/Josh & Nicol (Nigeria)
7.15pm: Marianne Fassler (SA)
8.30pm: Spero Viliotti (SA)
9.30pm: Mai Atafo Inspired – Mai (Nigeria)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31
7pm: Carducci Man & Woman
8.15pm: Christie Brown (Ghana)/Loza Maleombho (Ivory Coast)
9.30pm: Sheria Ngowi (Tanzania)/ Kikoromeo (Kenya)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1
11am: David Tlale (SA)
12.45pm: Afi Fastrack showcase
3.30pm: Tshwane fashion showcase
5pm: Murade (Mozambique)/1981 By Nana Brenu (Ghana)
6.45pm: Laurence Airline (Ivory Coast)/Maxhosa By Laduma (SA)
The Star