I am Africa at Fashion Week #AFICTFW

A combination of established and emerging designers are set to take part in the African Fashion International (AFI) Cape Town Fashion Week (AFICFW).

The event will happen in two parts: Wednesday is a private showcase by renowned designer Gavin Rajah, Thursday offers an interesting selection of the business fashion, hair and beauty masterclasses by industry experts at the newly revamped The Ritz Hotel, and Friday and Saturday will be the runway shows at the Salt River Studios.

The theme for this year’s Cape Town Fashion Week is #IamAfrica, AFI’s calling summed up in one concise hashtag - to celebrate and showcase exceptional African creative talent on a global stage.

The theme is illustrated fashion film featuring jewellery designer Adele Dejak, which was filmed in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.This will be the first season where a jewellery designer will be showcasing.

The show schedule includes a diverse offering of African designers from Accra, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, Lagos, Nairobi, Port Elizabeth, and Joburg.

I asked Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, pictured, the founder and executive chairman of African Fashion International, what to expect for this season.

Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe. (Pic: Eunice Driver)

What exciting new editions should we look out for?

For the first time, the AFI platform will show a jewellery and accessory designer, Adele Dejak, from Kenya. Her designs are handcrafted, luxury fashion accessories - inspired by Africa, its tradition of adornment and its immense cultural heritage.

Other designers to look out for are Princess Bertha Logan-Owusu from Ghana (Lumiere Couture), Salima Abdel Wahab from Morocco, Sarah Diouf (Tongoro) from Senegal, Kahindo, from DRC and two South Africans, Nicola West (W35T) from Cape Town and Diana Tadjuideen (Diane Paris) from Joburg.

For the first time fashion week has a theme #IAMAFRICA with a fully shot campaign in Kenya. What brought this about and what does the theme mean?

The theme #IAMAFRICA means to fully own our identity as Africans. Our identity is what helps us navigate the world. The world will love and appreciate who we are only if we do so ourselves.

In just over a decade, AFI has built a thriving fashion marketing, retail and development platform that celebrates the creativity and craftsmanship of our continent, shining a light on African luxury fashion aesthetics, in all their originality, heritage and style.

In all this #IAMAFRICA, is AFI’s call summed up in one concise theme which is to celebrate and showcase exceptional African creative talent on a global stage.

The video shot that was taken in Kenya encompasses what the #IAMAFRICA theme is all about. It beautifully shows the element of history, the struggles, the strength and the victory of African people. It also shows the breathtaking view of Kenya Hell’s Gate National Park.