Africa Fashion Week London Announces Partnership with British Council
The British Council Initiative, Creative DNA, brings a delegation of 10 pan-African designers to AFWL2025
Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) is proud to announce its partnership with the British Council to present the Creative DNA London Showcase in a first-of-its-kind international collaboration set to spotlight the vibrant next generation of African fashion.
As part of the Creative DNA showcase, ten emerging fashion designers from Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria will take part in an immersive programme during Africa Fashion Week London 2025. All ten designers are alumni of the Creative DNA fashion accelerator programme, which nurtures early-career talent from across the continent.
The designers will unveil their latest collections to the AFWL2025 audience during an unmissable Catwalk Showcase on Saturday 9th August at 4pm. This marks the first time such a diverse delegation of early-career African designers will present on a London runway under one banner.
In addition to the catwalk, attendees can look forward to a full programme of events designed to celebrate African creativity and innovation:
Press Conference to officially welcome the designers and explore the vision behind the Creative DNA partnership.
Exhibition Stand featuring TechStitch, an innovative virtual reality experience merging fashion with technology.
Panel Discussions on Sunday 10th August, exploring themes such as sustainable fashion, the future of African design, and creative entrepreneurship.
Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, Founder of Africa Fashion Week London, said
“This partnership with the British Council represents a bold step forward in our mission to elevate African fashion on the global stage. By showcasing these visionary designers in London, we’re not only celebrating their talents but also forging deeper cross-cultural connections within the global fashion ecosystem.”
This initiative aligns with the British Council’s vision to drive sustainable growth by championing creative talent and expanding access to global markets for the next generation of African fashion entrepreneurs.
Farai Ncube Tarwireyi, Regional Arts Director, SSA at British Council,
‘Africa Fashion Week London offers a powerful platform to celebrate African designers' innovation and global potential. Through the Creative DNA programme, we are proud to support emerging fashion entrepreneurs in accessing international markets, forging new connections, and telling their stories on the world stage.
This market access and showcasing platform also creates valuable opportunities for designers to connect with peers from across the UK and internationally, sparking new ideas, fresh thinking, and future collaborations. This work reflects our commitment to placing enterprise, creativity, and cultural exchange at the heart of inclusive and sustainable growth across the continent.’
The 10 Designers are:
Kisero Leather, Kenya @kisero_nairobi
Epica Jewellery, Kenya @epicajewellery
Sevaria, Kenya @sevaria.ke
Ometsey, Ghana @ometseyofficial
Henri Uduku, Nigeria @henriuduku
Black, Fine & Fly, Nigeria @bfandf
Runganor, Zimbabwe @runganorwedu
Dagmawit, Ethiopia @dagmawitfashion
Shwanda Kollection, Uganda, @shwanda_kollection
Guzo Technologies, Ethiopia @guzotech
ENDS