Accra Fashion Week, the event that coined and introduced African fashion seasons onto the international scene with the Chilly/Rainy edition in March and Summer/Harmattan edition in October will now only see one event in 2021.

This comes as a big surprise as Accra Fashion Week is known for hosting the largest number of nations in Africa, as far as entertainment and fashion is concerned. In 2017, the event hosted over 30 nations showcasing in Accra.

AFWk To Develop Designer Training Program

According to the organizers, the reasons behind the limitations is many designers as well as the nation itself, need a lot of preparation prior to a fashion week.

As far as the designers are concerned, organizers behind the show believe they need time to compose a collection that works and is relevant to interested buyers.

Not only is the design aesthetic a crucial part of the runway, but also the essential activities needed to be executed to make a statement with the showcased collections.

“Most designers use fashion shows as a symbol of their status or exposE of their work. However, fashion shows are business platforms to launch a product to a retailer.

No retailer looks forward to hosting or selling merchandise that is not heavily promoted in any market” – Geori stated “Our aim is to prepare the designers ahead of this with an Accra Fashion Week designer program”

The fashion week intends to execute it’s designer registration early so they can work closely with the foreign brands to groom them ahead of the show so errors in their runway presentations could be amended to meet appropriate standards.

“Africa has been sidelined in the international world of fashion for too long, we have pockets of successful individuals here and there when they are convenient to the major markets, but nothing to the interest of Africa.

This is all due to the lack of interest of both the industry players and the government to organize our fashion scene, which leaves us on the shortened” stated by CEO of Accra Fashion Week, Nana A. Tamakloe

Last year, many witnessed a revolutionary virtual edition of fashion in Africa producing quality runway videos like never seen before.

The event hosted brands like Red Cotton Boutique, Milandsther, Clavon Leonard, Mikoko Deluxe and much more.

There are no plans for Accra Fashion Week to go virtual in 2021 as of yet but are likely to consider adding elements of this to its 2021 show. For now, expect the next runway event to be executed in the month of December 2021.