What Happened in African Fashion This Week
- bolaji akinwande
- Mar 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 12
This week, fashion continues to push boundaries on the continent. From the African designers showing at the 2025 Paris Fashion Week, to the new African fashion exhibition in the U.S. Here is everything that happened in African fashion this week.
Organisation
THE AGOA ACT EXPIRES IN SEPTEMBER, AND HERE IS ITS EFFECT ON AFRICAN FASHION.
Following the new Trump administration in the United States back in February, a 90-day restriction was placed on all foreign aid, loans, and grants. The Fashion industry in Africa is also feeling the effect of the restriction. The African Growth Opportunity Act known as the (AGOA) is a set of T &C that governs importation from the US and allows countries in Africa to trade commercially back to the US if they meet specific criteria. While countries like Ethiopia and Kenya have built sustainable projects in the form of trading textiles and manufacturing services with the AGOA acts, the jobs and opportunities it has helped create may become non-existent once the AGOA expires in September. Without its renewal which is tied to the recent USAID restriction, African businesses will suffer great losses, fewer job opportunities, and low development altogether.
For more details, read more below.
Brand
MAXIVIVE RELEASES NEW COLLECTION TAGGED "7562RJ"
Maxivive releases a new collection on 3rd March which marks the last day of Milan Fashion Week. Mavive is a Nigerian artisanal brand known for blending fashion, art, and activism unveils its new AW25 collection (Dry/Wet 25) tagged “7562RJ”- the new collection features functional wear ranging from long sleeves jumpers, hoodie jackets, hooded ponchos, utility waistcoats, amidst other pieces like sequined denim, hand-tufted dresses, all made out of upcycled materials.
With the collection, the Maxivive brand continues to help redefine African fashion through its sustainability approach exploring unconventional themes like gender and identity.
Event
THE FIELD MUSEUM CELEBRATES AFRICAN FASHION WITH NEW EXHIBITION.
The Field Museum, one of America’s top museums opens with a new exhibition titled: “African Fashion” scheduled to run from March to June 29th, 2025. “African Fashion” celebrates the work of over 180 African fashion pioneers from 20 African countries, with names like South African designer Thebe Magugu and Shade-Thomas-Fahm (Nigeria’s first-ever boutique owner).
The exhibition will show pieces from Haute Couture and ready-to-wear looks. “African Fashion” is curated by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England and the exhibition has been in the works since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Event
NIGERIAN FASHION STYLIST, ZACH AMINO HOLDS A MASTERCLASS.
On 7th- 8th March, 2025. Celebrity and fashion stylist, Zach Amino known for curating looks for Nigerian actresse like Funke Akindele, among a plethora of other celebrities, hosted a 2-day fashion styling masterclass for fashion enthusiasts who would like to begin a career in fashion styling. The masterclass is a collaboration between some of Nigeria’s finest and seasoned fashion professionals, like (costume designer) Yolanda Okereke, Experimental stylist and creative director (Temitope Uduak Betiku), Multi-disciplinary stylist (Tosin Ogundadegbe aka “thestyleinfidel”) stylist and costume designer (Damola Adeyemi) and stylist (Okolo Miracle Obiechina aka “Swazzi” ).
Showcase
MAXHOSA TAKES PFW 2025 WITH THE UMBULELO COLLECTION.
South African brand, Maxhosa Africa returns to showcase during the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 25 season. With a presentation on for the 8th of March, Maxhosa is the only African designer on the week-long schedule which began on the 3rd- 11th of March.
The upcoming collection is titled- “UMBULELO” which means A Gift To The Ancestors”.
Maxhosa’s designs are heavily inspired by the culture of the Xhosa people in South Africa. Often using multi-colored fabrics to create striking silhouettes of both men's and womenswear. The brand’s previous collection “Maxhonaissance” SS 24/25 is a blend of youthful streetwear style in the most luxurious way possible.
Event
CREATIVE ECONOMY WEEK BRINGS TOGETHER AFRICAN DESIGNERS
Creative Economy Week, which took place from March 5th to 10th in Harare, Zimbabwe, is a week-long event organized by the British Council that aims to bring together creatives across Africa, from policymakers to designers and artists, in six key countries: Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Uganda. The lineup of activities includes a music and fashion showcase and a panel discussion tagged “Fashioning the Future,” where seven African designers discuss style, industry growth, and collaboration.
The panelists include Rahma Bayingana, the creative director of Rwandan brand Haute Baso, Zimbabwean jeweler Rungano Nyamayedenga of (Paper Pieces Jewelry), Kenyan designer James Otieno, Ugandan jeweler Yvonne Ahimbisibwe, and Nigerian designer Henri Uduku.
Event
FASHION SOUK TAKES GHANA.
Fashion Souk is a fashion and lifestyle multi-day fashion fair that began in 2018. Starting in Lagos, Nigeria the fair has extended outside of the country with editions in cities like London and Dubai. This year, Fashion Souk takes Accra, the capital city of Ghana where over sixty African brands showcase their pieces. Nigerian brands like Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Dye Lab, For Style Sake, and M.O.T Label are among the lineups for the Ghana edition.
Personality
KATHLEEN NEWMAN-BREMANG CLOSES AWARD SEASON IN ONALAJA.
Journalist and reporter Kathleen Newman- Bremang wraps up the 2025 award season wearing another Nigerian-owned designer (Onalaja) to the 96th Academy Award. Kathleen has previously worn Nigerian designs like ÖFUURË in the past. For the Oscars on Sunday night,she wore a long maxi gown with golden detailing.
Personality
AIRESS PADDA STUNS IN HERTUNBA AT THE OSCARS.
American model and media personality, Airess Padda wears Nigerian brand, Hertunba to the Oscars. Airess wears a brown toned corset dress to the ceremony last Sunday. She styles the dress with a red neckpiece and golden jewelery creating an ultra feminine sihouette.
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