Community News
Exciting visual representations of Africa during African Fashion Week
BY SIMONE J> SMITH
I am super excited about this upcoming weekend. For those who do not know, usually at the end of each August, Toronto Canada is the focus of the fashion world’s attention. African Fashion Week Toronto invites: community, celebrities, models, buyers, retailers, and the entire fashion world to come and experience an exciting visual representation of Africa. For five days, the audience is visually tantalized with attention grabbing, spectacular designs and collections coming out of Toronto.
African Fashion Week Toronto has gained notable recognition as one of the worlds leading creative platforms for new designers wanting to break out into the fashion industry. As an organization, AFWT aims to promote and improve the GTA communities understanding and appreciation of African Fashion. In doing so, their hope is to create progressive and mutually beneficial partnerships, which will naturally lead to collaborative business opportunities for our designers, models, and other fashion professionals. Overall the organization is truly focused on the overall growth of the African fashion industry throughout the Diaspora, it is also their way of rebranding the perception of Africa utilizing the powerful world of luxury fashion.
What is truly unique about AFWT is their focus on educating, supporting and promoting young designers. In 2013, a special section of the week was dedicated to students of fashion, and this became their Student Design Competition. Since then, it has become one of the largest student inspired fashion competitions in Canada. The inspiring fashion designers are tested on their creativity, and ability to execute technically. This part of the week is so important because in order to have a successful career in the fashion industry, students need to develop the skills necessary to navigate this tough industry. It is not just about the fashion; it is also about the business etiquette that is required in making an impact.
To finalize the learning and creative part of this, the student designers have the opportunity to showcase their vision in a competitive fashion exhibition. It is a great way to teach leadership and excellence, which will set each designer apart when they fully immerse themselves into the industry. Some of the talented designers who have won this competition by differentiating themselves from the pack include: 2013 winner Zeena Kay, 2014 Winner Beida Omary, 2015 Winner Kadeem Faustin, 2016 Winner Tehillah (Ofuure), 2017 Winner Sadi (Phresh Empire), and 2018 Winner Eugene Adjoa (Nykwale).
Let’s get you started by giving you a snapshot of your African Fashion Week right here in Toronto Canada:
Monday, August 19th, 2019
Student Designer Showcase
Royal Ontario Musueum (100 Queen’s Park, Toronto)
Doors open 5:30 pm/ Show Starts at 7:00 pm Sharp
This year’s rising stars include: Mutiat Olaniya, Diana Nwoke, Bianka Meroe, Tia McQuaid, Adekemi Odeleye, Nkine Bissong.
Thursday, August 22nd, 2019
AFWT Fashion & Beauty Business Seminar (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
OACD Unversity (Rosalie Sharp Pavillion (115 McCaul Street)
This seminar will be offering free fashion business tips and insider secrets to assist new designers grow and establish a successful fashion/creative business.
Friday, August 23rd, 2019
High Fashion Designer Showcases
Doors open 5:30 pm, and the show starts at 6:30 pm
Branksome Venues; 6 Elm Avenue, Toronto
There will be a special showcase featuring Student Designer Winners from 2013 – 2018
Doors open at 8:30 pm and the show starts at 9:30 pm
Saturday, August 24th, 2019
High Fashion Designer Showcase
Doors open 4:30 pm and show starts at 5:30pm
Branksome Venues: 6 Elm Avenue, Toronto
High Fashion Designer Showcase
Doors open 7:30 pm and show starts at 8:30 pm
Sunday, August 25th, 2019
Fashion Awards & Premium Fashion Show (Adebayo Jones Luxury)
Red carpet begins at 4:00 pm, and the ceremony begins at 5:00 pm
Branksome Venues: 6 Elm Avenue, Toronto
As we all know, it is powerful collaboration that makes anything happen. AFWT has formed together a supportive network of people to help bring this prodigious week together. They are thankful to all of their sponsors that include: The Coalition of Racialized Workers, Janome, What’s Next, Space Fly, Afro Global Television, World Remit, Angela’s Beauty Box, Duke’s Refresher + Bar, Ukik Models, PR Diva Communication, Imagine Managing and Marketing, and the saving the best for last, YOU, the members of the Greater Toronto community.
Women, strap on those killer heels, and men shape up that beard; it is time to step out hotta this year at the African Fashion Week Toronto. For more information, visit them at http://www.afwt.ca/.