Sandton Convention Centre
Johannesburg, South AfricaJOHANNESBURG, May 28, 2009 / FW/ — Dubbed as a showcase of the [African] continent’s leading fashion designers, Arise Africa Fashion Week is slated on June 12 – 20, 2009 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
With the promise of being “an eight day celebration of the aesthetic and unique design signature of African fashion,” Arise Africa Fashion Week debuts with 51 designers from 21 countries participating.
With the lofty goal of becoming the “must-see event in the fashion calendar in the African continent,” Arise Africa Fashion Week plans to travel around the continent each year following the 2010 showcase.
The 51 names on the calendar represents a tiny fraction of the designers in Africa, the continent has long been a source of inspiration for fashion beginning with the late Yves Saint Laurent references to North Africa and Jean Paul Gaultier’s African Queen haute couture collection.
With ARISE Africa Fashion Week, the organizers would like to allow the world to see authentic African fashion directly from the source.
“We looked for the very best designers that the nations of Africa have produced over the years when putting together this show schedule,” says Paul Jackson, CEO of African Fashion International.
Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, chairperson of African Fashion International, says, “At AFI, our mission is to take African fashion to the world. In fulfilling this mandate, I take enormous pleasure in launching the inaugural Arise Africa Fashion Week. This event affords the regions’ creative economy with a world-class opportunity to showcase to a global audience.”
Ituen Basi
