4 African designers to look out for this year

AFRICAN fashion is dominating the industry. While many are not globally known yet, their work is exceptional and proves that it can be done, given a chance.

Young designers are working tirelessly, coming up with innovative designs. If you’re looking for new designers, these are the ones to check out.

Omoniyi Ogochukwu Shokoya The Nigerian designer is known for hand making clothes out of yarn. She is the founder of Floydcardigancolltn, an urban African knitwear brand. Shokoya recently launched a new Spring/summer 2022 collection titled “Journey to Self,” which tells the story of self-realisation and acceptance. Sharon Wendo

From Kenya is Wendo, a jewellery designer who founded the brand Epica Jewellery. Wendo makes African-inspired jewellery using beads.

Her work has gained international recognition, allowing her to showcase at the Curiosity and Cloth Fashion Event in Australia.

Nicole Ncube

Representing Mzansi is Ncube of Ascend Label, a 100% black South African-owned luxury street wear brand. The 22-year-old from Soweto, who manufactures her designs in South Africa, initially wanted to be a model. When she was rejected by several agencies, she launched her brand and modelled for it.

“Being part of the fashion industry has always been a passion of mine, I knew I belonged there, be it fashion modelling or designing, I knew I had to be part of the fashion industry, but I didn’t know how to go about it,” she says.

Boyedoe

Owned by David Kusi Boy-doe, Boyedoe is a Ghanaian fashion brand that blends afro-luxurious heritage with ethical elegance. For SS22, the designer dropped a collection made of recycled denim.