Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa 2012

AN exciting line-up of some of Africa and the diaspora’s most significant designers will descend on Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, from October 24-28 to unveil an array of captivating collections in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa 2012.

Presented by African Fashion International (AFI), the Gateway to Fashion & Lifestyle, Africa’s most prestigious fashion gathering is being held for the first time at Melrose Arch, Johannesburg’s definitive destination for high street fashion, sophisticated style and urban culture.

With more than 20 shows over four days, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa will present designers from South Africa, Cote D’Ivoire, Morocco, Mozambique, Cameroon, Rwanda, Angola, DRC, Trinidad, New York, Nigeria and Ghana – all of whom have been chosen for their standards of global relevance and commercial viability along with a distinctive design that exemplifies African creativity.

“Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa is the authentic contemporary African Fashion gathering, bringing together and honouring designers from the four corners of the continent and the diaspora. This global platform for the African fashion aesthetic showcases the global relevance and commercial viability of our industry along with innovation and distinctive design,” says AFI Executive Chairperson Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe.

This year MBFW Africa truly crosses borders and from the diaspora New Yorker Kevan Hall is one of Hollywood’s go-to red carpet designers with his philosophy of glamour with a modern sensibility while, from the Caribbean, Anya Ayoung Chee Anya’s unique, top quality designs are inspired by the beauty of the islands along with a modern, elegant interpretation.

Now based in London, South African Jacob Kimmie’s collections seek to convey profound artistic, historical and social paradoxes.

From South Africa, fashion greats include Cape Town’s Kluk CGDT, Gavin Rajah and Craig Native who will join Johannesburg’s David Tlale, Marianne Fassler, Thula Sindi as well as Durban swim-wear designer Dax Martin’s “Burg Collection Brought to you by Glocell”.

Angola’s Shunnoz Fiel and Tekasala Ma’at Nzinga, meanwhile, are the forces behind Projecto Mental, a brand that links Angola to the world through fashion. Having shown collections in Tokyo, London and Lisbon Fashion Weeks, Projecto Mental’s goal is to use fashion & art to reshape Angola’s cultural image made to create a statement but still maintain a timeless air of luxury and style.