Ranji Mangcu
Ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Final, which was won by the host country, Côte d’Ivoire, Africa Fashion International (AFI) held the Africa Fashion Unites (AFU) Fundraising Fashion Show in Abidjan.
Hosted by AFI in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Francophonie, it was a celebration of African fashion. 28 designer brands showcased at the AFU Fundraising Fashion Show, representing the 24 countries that participated in the 2023 AFCON.
The AFU Fundraising Fashion Show was held in support of the Centre Artisanal ABE APO Élisabeth, which is based in Montézo, in the Alépé Region of Cote D’Ivoire.
The Centre Artisanal ABE APO Élisabeth serves its community and economy by turning the age-old traditional practice of weaving into a skills-exchange, promoting autonomy and practical skills-development.
With Côte d’Ivoire being the host, AFI had to pay special attention to the country’s vibrant fashion industry.
Boasting some of the most exciting fashion designers in the continent, Côte d’Ivoire’s fashion industry has played a pivotal role in solidifying the nation’s position as an emerging force in global fashion.
Ivorian fashion designer, Loza Maléombho, walking out after her show at the AFU Fundraising Fashion Show.
Amidst the star-studded list of African designers who showcased at the fundraiser, were a handful of Ivorian designers who are leading the charge on their home turf.
With each on a mission to represent the beauty and riches of their culture, their presentations were a reminder of just why they are leaders in Africa’s fashion industry.
Loza Maléombho attributes her avant-garde design approach to the “rich tapestry of African traditions and global influences” that defined her upbringing and have defined her brand from its outset.
Leading with a multi-cultural frame of reference and a sophisticated blend of traditional and contemporary elements, Maléombho strives to represent an empowering vision of African fashion.
For the AFU Fundraising Fashion Show, the designer showcased her talent, merging immaculately tailored looks, with the Loza Maléombho brand's signature gold mask-shaped ornaments taking pride of place.
The label’s impact stretches beyond commerce, demonstrating how African fashion can create real, social, and economic value in communities through collaboration and the empowerment of local artisans and craftspeople.