The Africa Fashion Week Middle East (AFWME) will be launched in Dubai in October 2020. Incepted by Dubai-based entrepreneurs Aser Levron, Dina Yassin and Badrriya Henry, along with founding partner, the African Fashion Fund AFWME aims to bridge the gap between local desire for originality in fashion and provide much-needed exposure for African and Middle Eastern fashion aesthetics.
The African Fashion Fund, an organisation that empowers fashion designers from Africa and its diaspora, will lend its support to the inaugural edition of AFWME. Revolving around technology, innovation and sustainability, the event will serve as a platform for fashion rooted in Africa and the Middle East whilst targeting the local trend-savvy cosmopolitan population.
Born from a zeal to connect fashion creators with connoisseurs in the Middle East, the first and only fashion edit of its kind seeks to promote the African creative industry while also celebrating the diverse, distinctive and ever-evolving fashion needs and lineage of Africa and the Middle East.
Speaking about the entrepreneurial venture, Levron said, “The whole idea is based on culturally rich nuances that need to be perfectly aligned in a globally renowned consumer space. Africa and the Middle East are both replete with talent that has long been waiting for a sustainable platform. The Middle East has a well-established fashion ecosystem, and we want to plug in the African fashion element as a natural extension to the flourishing fashion arena.”
“Africa Fashion Week has been flourishing in cities from London to Toronto. However, the Middle East region hasn’t had its own chapter until now. Our objective is to uncover untapped talent and bring it to a dynamic market that is open to experimenting with fashion. We are confident that when the Middle East and Africa come together to celebrate the innate vibrancy they share; it will be a sight to behold,” Yassin added.
“The event has the potential to become a game-changer on the global fashion scene. We aim to change the narrative because even though our regions have always been brimming with inspiration, the local fashion and creative sectors are still underserved. Ironically, in some cases, with our growing economic power, we buy collections from international brands that were inspired by our own heritage. It’s time to redirect our spending to support home-grown talent and brands that have direct access to and a deep understanding of the unique local craftmanship, textiles, rich and diverse culture and languages. Our vision is to establish a robust fashion ecosystem that will provide an enabling platform for designers and artisans,” concluded Henry.
Watsons to open 20 new stores in the GCC
In 2020, global health & beauty retailer AS Watson Group signed its
April 29, 2024 | By Rupkatha B / 
Mahalle began its operations in 2022 as an “Authentic Turkish Grocery in
“Retail is a people’s business. When building a retail brand or the
From being one of the first retailers in Dubai to ban single-use
For starters, Rabbit is a growing e-commerce grocery platform in Egypt always
In 2024 grocery retail major Choithrams has achieved several milestones underscoring its
Industry pioneers are embracing a comprehensive strategy that integrates consumer insights, digital
The regional grocery retail market is evolving fast keeping pace with constantly
From ethical and local sourcing to adopting cutting-edge technologies to curb food
The regional grocery retail market is becoming more and more diverse, offering
Spinneys, the leading premium fresh food retailer, has announced the opening of
Spinneys has announced the launch of The Kitchen by Spinneys, its first-ever
/ 
Following the successful launch of its flagship store in City Centre Deira,
In what comes as a significant announcement, Middle East based eyewear majors
Abu Dhabi based retail company LIWA Trading Enterprises, a subsidiary of Al
Aligned with the principles of ‘slow fashion’ UAE-based homegrown brand Ryokō Bags
From designing collections to creating campaigns, from analysing user preferences and purchase
Primark, known for its affordable fashion, has experienced significant global expansion since
For off-price retailer Brands For Less (BFL) Group, change management acts as
Sun & Sand Sports recently re-opened their Mall of the Emirates store, extending their #FunToTheFinish concept
Emirati Gen Z women are seeking collaborative, culturally diverse and creatively enriching
Styched, a trailblazer in the fashion and apparel industry, is revolutionizing the
One of a Kin, an innovative e-commerce store for sleepwear, is redefining
Sheetal Kapoor, the Managing Director of SHREE, transformed her life from a
Previous Article
