The Hub of Africa Addis Fashion Week organized its fifth annual international Fashion Designers Showcase @ ASFW (Africa Sourcing & Fashion Week) which was held at Millennium Hall on the evening of Thursday, October 6, 2016. This years event was supported by Vogue Talents, in collaboration with the Italian Embassy and Italian Agency for Development in Ethiopia.
HAFW once again worked with prominent international Designers, Stylists, Hair and Makeup Artists as well as Models from all across the African continent to promote African Fashion on an international stage.
For a second time, The HAFW collaborated in tandem with several Italian organizations that represented on the ground by teams brought in with the considerable support of the Italian Embassy and Italian Agency for Development in Addis Ababa, which hosted a networking event among the different stakeholders at the Embassy compound on October 7th.
Sara Maino (Senior Editor Vogue Italia, Head of Vogue Talents), Simonetta Gianfelici (Fashion Consultant and Talent Scout), and Serena Tibaldi (Fashion Journalist “Repubblica”), and Ingrid Tamborin (Journalist and Model Scout for Brave Modelling Management Milan) attended all HAFW 2016 events. Additionally, Danielle Chemela, Buyer for Avenue Montaigne (New York) and Waridi Schorbsdorf Buyer and CEO of FA254 (Germany) also attended the event for potentially doing business in Ethiopia.
During their visit, Maino, Tibaldi, Gianfelici, and Schorbsdorf conducted a talk moderated by Ingrid Tamborin for designers and other stakeholders at the Millennium hall on October 7th. HAFW also arranged visits to small and large manufacturing companies, and held an informal lunch with government officials and other stakeholders where all guests mentioned above were in attendance.
This year HAFW featured SEVEN international designers (all from Africa) together with their Ethiopian counterparts. The following were HAFW 2016 featured designers:
Arnold Murithi Kenya
Anyango Mpinga Kenya
Kiko Romeo Kenya
Kauli Tanzania
Accessory Brand I Mela Ethiopia
Lali Ethiopia
Ayni’s Design Ethiopia AYNI’S DESGIN
Mafi Ethiopia
Yefiker Ethiopia
Samra (Luxury World Class Leather) Ethiopia
Ratatouille (by Jackie Mota for Haile Garment) Ethiopia
Naked Ape South Africa
HAFW 2016 also provided a platform for nine emerging designers from all across Ethiopia and East Africa to present their work on the main stage. The Hub extended invitations to the up and coming designers. The participants were:
Aida Tadesse Ethiopia
Makeda Zeleke Ethiopia
Estifanos Minchegirot Ethiopia
Nahom Tamiru Ethiopia
Natasha Simma Uganda
Okori Juliana Uganda
Yonael Merga Ethiopia
Eleni Geday Ethiopia
Welkitey University Students Ethiopia
Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry of which Africa only has a small share. The Hub of Africa seeks to remedy this and has worked conscientiously 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 50 African designers have graced the HAFW stage. The event has been featured on CNN and several African Television outlets. Opportunities that designers have gained include showing during the New York African Fashion Week, connecting with international buyers and media, and projecting their brands to the International market. Our organization has diligently included international buyers, manufacturers, and fashion experts in panel discussions, trade shows, meet and greets; and has made every effort to move towards the complete integration of the African Fashion industry.
