What happens when couture reclaims?

Editorial Note: With African Fashion Week right around the corner, we thought that we would share this article to get our community excited about what is to come…

For fourteen years, a movement has been quietly dismantling the Eurocentric scaffolding of the fashion industry from the heart of Toronto. It is an ecosystem of growth, a grassroots cultural institution that has evolved into a global gateway.

As African Fashion Week Toronto (AFWT) stepped into 2026, the atmosphere was about acknowledgement. It was a reckoning with the work done and a bold expansion into a future where African designers are recognized as the primary innovators of craftsmanship.

In a world where couture is often a label reserved for the ateliers of Paris, AFWT co-founder Brenda Foreman offers a psychological and cultural reframe. She notes that the very definition of couture, garments made by hand over countless hours, unique to a single body, is a daily reality in Lagos and Ghana. Artisans there create textiles and hand-beaded masterpieces every day, yet the global luxury space historically credits others. This year, the vision was clear: to reclaim that narrative and position African excellence at the highest level of commerce and creativity.

The Face of AFWT 2026 event was a testament to resilience, a word Brenda emphasizes as she reflects on the journey of building something that others said should stop. This resilience is mirrored in the new generation of models and designers stepping into the spotlight. “This isn’t just about a beautiful face; it is about ambassadors who can speak, represent, and infiltrate systems that weren’t designed for them,” Brenda shares. The energy this year was alive, designed to make audiences feel they were experiencing the true Pan-African culture, spanning the continent, the Caribbean, and South America.

Central to this year’s mission is the crowning of the Face of AFWT 2026. The selection process, led by a panel of industry veterans including lifestyle coach Kamshuka, international speaker Danielle Alicia, photographer CJ Cromwell, former face Ron Naiman, and co-founder Isaac Ansah, was rigorous. They were looking for confidence without arrogance, brand alignment, and cultural pride.

The winners, Derek Asante and Ashley Kkenyonyozi, embody this new era of strategic storytelling. Derek, Toronto-born with Ghanaian roots, is an event planner and model who thrives on connection and creativity. Ashley, representing her Ugandan heritage, is a versatile force in high fashion and editorial, driven by a vision to take her talent global while remaining rooted in her identity. They are storytellers tasked with communicating the depth of the culture throughout the year.

Behind the scenes, the glue holding this institution together remains the partnership between Brenda Foreman and Isaac Ansah, who famously puts in “25 hours out of a 24-hour day” to ensure the organization’s growth. Their collaboration has turned a labour of love into a hub for trade, education, and mentorship. By 2030, the dream is for AFWT to be a fully established global respected gateway where African designers, models, and artists are celebrated at the highest level.

This year’s event at the Lashish Lounge was a demonstration of strength through vulnerability and a refusal to give up on a fourteen-year legacy. It highlighted that the spotlight is finally shifting, because the gatekeepers can no longer ignore the craftsmanship that has always been there.

Although I could not be there, the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper has always been a huge supporter of African Fashion Week. We recognize that this is about the power analysis of who gets credited and who profits. It is about ensuring that the creators of the world’s most intricate couture finally receive the respect and economic rewards they have earned. The future of fashion is being woven here, one stitch of resistance at a time.