ARISE Africa Fashion Week - new day dawns in African fashion

23 May '09

5 min read

Dr Moloi-Motsepe continues “The fashion business has been a significant contributor to the GDP of most African countries. In South Africa, the clothing and textile sector generated sales of over R18.4 billion in 2006 and this sector represents 1.8 percent of overall employment in this country.

By comparison, the British creative industry brings in £21 billion. Africa can compete in the global fashion industry by focusing on our abundance of creative talent and our unique African signature. ARISE Africa Fashion Week will benefit the local textile industry, inter-African trade as well as capitalise on global interest in the continent as a creative source.”

African influences have abounded in European and American collections; a trend which global fashion consultant, Claire Hamilton of WGSN New York, believes is only going to grow. “Tribal or ethnic prints have been popular on the runways for several seasons and right now the African aesthetic—defined especially by textile patterns or beadwork—is very appealing.”

Renowned US fashion critic, Suzy Menkes, detailed in a recent New York Times article entitled “The Bright Continent,” how African inspirations are a dominant theme in current fashion trends and how there is now a new focus on diversity, from model selection to accessories and design. ARISE Africa Fashion Week (AFW) has already confirmed the participation of 50 of the best African fashion designers from 20 countries, from all regions of the continent. ARISE Africa Fashion Week is set to become an annual event and it is envisaged that it will be hosted by different countries on the continent each year following 2010, with Nigeria being hotly tipped to host the event in 2011. Organisers are confident that it will become one of the world's major perennial, must-attend fashion events.

Joburg Tourism Company CEO, Lindiwe Mahlangu, commented “that by hosting 'Joburg-Africa at its best experience' during this exciting time of our history and more importantly with a flagship project like ARISE Africa Fashion Week as core element of the experience, Joburg would once again be reinforcing its status as a World-Class FCC host City”. “This initiative will have a major business and cultural impact, creating a legacy project for the continent.”

“For the duration of ARISE Africa Fashion Week, the Sandton Convention centre will be the hub of fashion collections, exhibitions, trade and entertainment. Guests to Joburg during this time will be spoilt for choices in the city with the golden touch-come & feel the golden touch” says Mahlangu.

Africa Fashion Week