Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa 2014

Over 30 of Africa’s foremost established and emerging designers will converge on Melrose Arch, Johannesburg to present their latest collections in the continent’s premier trans-seasonal fashion showcase, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa 2014, in 16 shows over four days from 29 October to 1 November.

Organiser and leading fashion authority, African Fashion International (AFI) has unveiled an extraordinary line-up of sartorial talent from all over Africa – including Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire – set to showcase under this year’s theme, “Our Heritage Reimagined”.

The first day of MBFWAfrica will present exciting collections from renowned labels, Kibonen (Cameroon), Intisaar (Zimbabwe), Mille Collines (Rwanda & Kenya) and Taibo Bacar (Mozambique).

The ELLE Rising Star 2014 show will see finalists – Chris Dawson, Tamara Cherie Dyson, Frances Pauls, Kelli Botha, Nadia Viljoen, Jeandri Britz and Michelle van der Westhuizen – compete for the coveted accolade and the chance to design a capsule collection for retail clothing chain, Mr Price.

Day Two will bring striking collections from sartorial stars, Tina Lobondi (DRC); Marianne Fassler and Spero Villioti (South Africa); Josh&Nicol and one of Africa’s preeminent menswear designers, Mai Atafo (Nigeria) to the MBFWAfrica runway.

The third day will be a truly cross-continental affair with Sheria Ngowi, John Kaveke and KikoRomeo, Carducci, Christie Brown, Loza Maleombho, and Ituen Basi – from Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria respectively – set to bring their newest designs to the ramp.

The showcase will close out in style on Day Four, beginning with the much-anticipated capsule collections of the AFI Fastrack™ winners – Rich Mnisi, Jessica Ross, Nazneen Kagee and Tuelo Nguyuza – who will vie for the title of AFI Young Designer of the Year. Thereafter, the City of Tshwane Presents Show will bring designs from Archiebald Monyepao, Dennis Maponya & Neville Masondo to the ramp.

Finally, Murade (Mozambique), Nana Brenu (Ghana), Laurence Airline (Cote d’Ivoire) and David Tlale (South Africa) will unveil their latest collections and bring MBFWAfrica 2014 to an elegant conclusion.