The fifth annual Africa Fashion Week – set to take place in New York between the 4th and 6th of September – has announced it will include a cool fashion week master class, titled “Off the Runway,” in partnership with the United Nations Foundation.
The master class will host speakers who are leaders committed to the advancement of women, entrepreneurship and Africa, including South African designers David Tlale and Gavin Raja, celebrity stylist Kith Brewster, PR guru Zara Okpara and philantrophist Bisila Bokoko, of the Bisila Bokoko literacy project, amongst others.
The event, scheduled for Thursday, 4th of September at 6pm also is supported and proclaimed by Michael Bloomberg, the former Mayor of New York, and will be open to participants of Africa Fashion Week and to a selection of pan African entrepreneurial students – specifically young women studying the business of fashion.
Africa Fashion Week’s founder, Adiat Disu explained of her platform;
“Our mission behind Africa Fashion Week (in fashion capitals) is about acknowledging the entrepreneurial element of Africa’s fashion industry globally [because] let’s face it, the fashion industry is a sector in Africa that is often overlooked.
However, it is one of the most accessible ways to create a living for women and the youth – whether it is actually designing the clothing, promoting the clothing, managing the operations of a retail outlet, or any other relevant activity.”
Ms Disu also said of partnering with the UN Foundation, which works primarily with female reproductive health, global health, climate and energy;
“Working with the UN Foundation is an indicator of our seriousness towards building a structure around Africa’s Fashion Industry.”
The UN Foundation also addresses the needs and rights of women and girls across the globe, working with the United Nations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate and government partners to promote gender equality, advance sexual and reproductive health and rights and to alleviate poverty, amongst other things.
Master Class “Off the Runway” is designed as a business exchange that invests in entrepreneurs, young creatives and women in the fashion industry, and will cover five key topics centered around Africa’s emerging industries, via Adiree (a branding firm representing African businesses in New York)’s program, A.S.A.P (Adiree Sustains Africa Program). The topics will be:
– Promoting Africa’s Growth in Style, through Education & Entrepreneurship
– Awarding & Supporting Africa’s Young Women Creative Entrepreneurs
– Transforming Lives through Talent Grooming
– Creating Success Stories That Inspire and Resonate Globally
– Helping Brand Development, Business Management and Revenue Generation
A portion of the proceeds from tickets sales for the master class will go towards the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation. We at SPICE suggest you get yours here or head to the Africa Fashion Week website here for more information.
Image source: Africafashionweekny.com
