Africa Fashion Reception 2017 lights up Addis Ababa

The African Union Commission hosted the 2nd African edition of the Africa Fashion Reception in its headquarters in Addis Ababa few days ago.

It was a glamorous event attended by 600 select guests made up of African and non-African Ambassadors, leaders of the various international organisations, top government functionaries, industry chiefs, local and international media and top fashion practitioners from around the African continent

The African Union Commission’s chairperson was ably represented by the deputy chairperson, Quesi Quartey. The welcome address was delivered by Her Excellency, Mrs Amira Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union. In his address, Lexy Mojo Eyes, Chief Executive Officer of Legendary Gold Limited, co-organisers of the Africa Fashion Reception enumerated the aims and objectives of the event as follows:

• To build bridges by creating free trade and partnerships among fashion practitioners throughout the African continent
• To attract global attention to Africa’s very rich and diversified dress culture which can be explored as a catalyst for the social economic growth of the continent’s garment/textile industry.
• To expand the potential power of fashion as a tool of fighting poverty in Africa by creating wealth through the empowerment of women and youths in the various fashion vocations through training, capacity building schemes, workshops and setting up of medium/small scale businesses, thereby supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union Agenda 2063.
• To bring about self-reliance, as this initiative will create millions of jobs across the continent for tailors, creative directors, textile designers, models, cutters, pressers, fashion photographers & writers, hair stylists, make-up artists etc
• To contribute in bringing the much-desired peace and stability to our continent by positively engaging the youths as stated above.

It was a colourful evening as fashion designers representing each participating African country took their turns to showcase the best their country had to offer. Only one designer is nominated by the executive board of the Africa Fashion Reception to represent each participating country.

The African edition of the Africa Fashion Reception 2017 opened with an exhibition which went on for two days. It also had the 2nd Africa Fashion Business Summit (AFBS), which is one of the activities that take place during the AFR.

The keynote speaker for the AFBS was the world renowned fashion consultant, Anton Dell. He spoke ‘Best Export Practice – 100% Practical Guide on Selling African Fashion Successfully in the Global Market.’

Some of the participating designers include. Hava from Angola, Forest Spirit from Cameroon, Broe Creation from DR Congo, Niamien from Cote d’Ivoire, Ejig from Ethiopia, Skyfall Creation from Kenya, Signature Secret Africa from Nigeria, Thabo Makhetha from South Africa, Kokonut Stylist from Swaziland,  Bobbin Case Clothing from Uganda, TZM from Zimbabwe and so on.

Partners for Addis Ababa event include Ethiopian Airlines, Design Essentials, Heineken, Debredamo Hotel, Getfam Hotel, Gusto Restaurant, Castel Winery, Ebony Life Tv, African Independent Television, Studio 24, Instiute Francais, O.C designs & Talkstuff

After the African edition, all roads will be leading to Paris for the global edition of the AFR.

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