The 9th annual international fashion by Hub of Africa Addis Fashion Week (HAFW) is set to take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the organizers said.
The event to be held at Hyatt Regency Hotel from October 9-12th 2019, HAFW, said in its statement indicating that fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry of which Africa’s benefit from the industry is insignificant.
“HAFW seeks to remedy this and has worked diligently towards this growth. Since 2010 its events are one of the most important platforms in developing the African fashion industry for designers, models and all stakeholders. Over the years, more than 100 African designers have participated and graced the HAFW stage,” it said.
The statement also noted that the event has been featured on CNN, Vogue Italia, Fashion TV, BBC, and many other regional and international media outlets. Opportunities that designers have gained include showing during New York African Fashion Week, Berlin Fashion Week, connecting with international buyers and media, and growing their brands to the global market.
Waridi Schrobsdorff Founder/CEO of FA254 will be hosting a workshop and presenting upcoming designers. The designers include from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa.
The event has been sponsored by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for many years. Fashion Africa 254 (FA254) has been collaborating with Hub of Africa Fashion Week for the past 4 years in curating and developing African designers with their “African Designers for Tomorrow” initiative.
As a result, many Ethiopian designers have gotten a chance to showcase at Berlin Fashion Week and connecting them with potential buyers, according to the statement.
“Our collaboration with FA254 is eminent in developing the African fashion industry and we will continue to work together to elevate the industry. In addition, The British Council will serve as the facilitator of a ‘Made in Ethiopia’ event which will feature producers of textile, leather, manufacturing and other stakeholders of the industry,” the press statement said.