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RONKE ADEMILUYI-FOUNDER AFWL |
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MENAYE DONKOR |
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SHINGAI SHONIWA |
With just a little over a week to go to the biggest African fashion extravaganza outside of Africa that is Africa Fashion Week London 2013 scheduled for 1-3 August 2013 at Old Truman Brewery, and last minute surge for ticket to the event, this year’s third edition is to set the standard for years to come.
AFWL 2013, set to take over the fashionable district of Shoreditch with 100 designers showcasing their designs on the runway and inside the grand exhibition hall and around 20,000 guests expected over three days, also marks a difference with this third edition with three ambassadors, two patrons and a glitzy grand finale at The Dorchester Hotel on Sunday, 4 August 2013 to introduce African Arts and Fashion Initiative and the existing Association of African Designers in the Diaspora.
African Arts and Fashion Initiative and Association of African Designers are both initiatives which intend to create start up funds for young designers to assist them in turning their creativity into sustainability. The exclusive debut event intends to serve as the first fundraiser event for both initiatives as well as a number of other selected charities and foundations.
“These initiatives are governed by the same vision that gave birth to Africa Fashion Week London – the passion to support and celebrate emerging designers. While the majority often celebrate established designers across Africa and around the world, it is the emerging talents who struggle to get their work out there due to a range of challenges from lack of start up funds to means of production,” said Ronke Ademiluyi.
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“With the grand finale of Africa Fashion Week London at The Dorchester, our debut event, we are not only introducing the African Arts and Fashion Initiative, but also with support from our patrons and ambassadors who have reached out to their networks, we are hoping to raise awareness to the challenges facing young artists and designers and raise funds to help support their talent,” Ademiluyi added.
“When you empower young people it is like an investment because if they are better educated and empowered, the future growth of our countries will be high, which is all the more the reason we should all strive to do more to help our young emerging talents reach their full potentials.”
Sponsored by Africa’s fastest growing telecommunications network Globacom, African women’s bimonthly New African Woman, L'Oréal’s premium professional haircare range for Afro Caribbean and mixed-race hair texturesMizani, African Arts and Fashion Banquet will see a host of leading dignitaries, first ladies, celebrities, designers and business people both from Africa and Diaspora attend this exclusive event at the prestigious venue hosted by AFWL, who will be joined by AFWL life patron Abuja-based philantrophist businesswoman and architect Princess Fifi Ejindu, AFWL 2013 patron London-based Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare MBE and and ambassadors philantrophist models Noella Coursaris Musunka and Menaye Donkor Muntari and Noisettes front woman Shingai Shoniwa.
Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Edem Duke who has given his endorsement to the event will be in attendance. The First Lady of Cross River State Her Excellency Mrs. Liyel Imoke, also one of the keynote speakers, will also be in attendance.
Set to feature fashion shows, art exhibits, and an exclusive celebration of African arts and fashion, the event will also see awards given out to those who have contributed to the growth of youth and women empowerment in Africa.
The three days of AFWL leading up to the exclusive banquet will see over 100 African designers and exhibitors showcasing their designs at the Old Truman Brewery just off Brick Lane. This years’ AFWL is set to be bigger and better than ever, expected over 20,000 people to attend the event over the course of the three days as well as our patrons Mrs. Ejindu and London-based Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare MBE as well as celebrity ambassadors Menaye Donkor Muntari, Noella Coursaris Musunka and Shingai Shoniwa alongside other VIP guests.