African fashion brands have taken the world by storm this year, across major fashion weeks and trade events, from London and Milan to New York and Paris – and now they are coming to the catwalks of the Mother City.
Cape Town Fashion Week: The Edit Spring Summer 24, presented by Africa Fashion International (AFI), takes place on Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30 at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse, and features top designers from South Africa and the African continent. It is a must-attend event for any fashionista or those interested in design.
The line-up includes acclaimed pan-African designers Alia Baré (Niger/Senegal), Sisters of Afrika’s Hélène Daba (Senegal), Laurence Chauvin-Buthaud of LaurenceAirline (Côte d’Ivoire), Papy Kaluw of Urban Zulu (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Safiétou Seck of Sarayaa (Senegal).
South Africa is represented by Malondié’s Londeka Buthelezi-Ndaba, Bathini Designs’ Bathini Kowane, Scalo by Sello Medupe, Keletso Moraba of K.Moraba & Collective, Sandi Mazibuko of FabroSanz and Cape Town’s Julia Buchanan of JULIA.
Two celebrated local designers are also set to make notable returns to the AFI Fashion Week runway. Craig Jacobs of Fundudzi, one of AFI’s pioneering collaborators in 2007, returns after a 14-year hiatus. His latest collection will feature in the grand finale, offering a nostalgic yet evolved representation of his craft. Another exciting addition is Craig Port, the Cape Town-based designer who last showcased with AFI in 2018.
Globally renowned fashion designer Gavin Rajah – who will also be showcasing his designs on the catwalk – is the creative director of the much anticipated event.
AFI’s in-house brand, AFI Privé, will also launch its eagerly awaited Spring/Summer 2024/25 signature collection. A highlight will be the finale collections by the AFI Fastrack Prize 2023 finalists.