Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) has announced a partnership with the British Council to present the Creative DNA London Showcase, a collaborative platform aimed at giving visibility to emerging African fashion designers.
Set to take place during Africa Fashion Week London 2025, the initiative will feature ten designers from Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, each of whom is an alumnus of the British Council’s Creative DNA accelerator programme. The designers will unveil their latest collections during a group runway show on Saturday, 9th August at 4pm.
In addition to the runway show, the programme includes a press conference to officially welcome the designers and explore the vision behind the partnership, an exhibition featuring TechStitch. a virtual reality experience that blends fashion and technology, and a series of panel discussions on Sunday, 10th August that will cover sustainable fashion, creative entrepreneurship, and the future of African design.
Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, founder of Africa Fashion Week London, said the partnership with the British Council represents a step forward in their mission to elevate African fashion on a global scale. She highlighted how showcasing early-career designers in London opens doors to new audiences and professional networks. Similarly, Farai Ncube Tarwireyi, Regional Arts Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the British Council, emphasised that the initiative aligns with their vision of using creativity and cultural exchange as tools for inclusive and sustainable growth across the continent. He noted that the platform allows emerging fashion entrepreneurs to access global markets and develop meaningful collaborations.
Now in its 15th year, AFWL is one of the longest-running platforms dedicated to showcasing African fashion outside of the continent. Since its launch, it has hosted nearly 3,000 designers and exhibitors, representing 26 African countries and 67 nations globally. The event supports over 5,000 individuals annually, including designers, students, tailors, stylists, photographers, and technical teams.
The British Council’s Creative DNA programme, which focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa, has supported more than 200 designers across Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Senegal. The programme aims to equip participants with the skills, networks, and tools to grow sustainable fashion businesses. Expansion into additional countries is planned for 2025.
