By Yemisi Suleiman 

It was three days of fashion extravaganza as the much anticipated Africa Fashion Week Brazil, AFWBrazil, held in Sao Paulo, with Nigeria’s indigenous fabrics- Adire and Ankara, taking center stage at the international runways. 

Held at the Expo Center Norte, Sao Paulo,  Brazil, the event which kicked off on Thursday, May 25th, and concluded on 27th, brought together designers from around the world including London, Paris, and Nigeria for a spectacular showcase of Africa’s cultural heritage and fashion. 

 Organized by Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi in partnership with businesswoman Silvana Saraiva, Chairman of Brazil Chamber of Commerce and Chief Executive Officer, and CEO of FeaFro Institute, Brazil, the show is aimed at promoting the richness of African culture through fashion and more importantly, promoting trade and investment in the creative industry.

The runway saw a display of classy cuts, haute couture, and ready-to-wear trendy pieces all distinctly made with the Adire and Ankara fabric, to the delight of the audience. It also featured a special showcase of Adire Oodua by Nigeria’s frontline designer Ejiro Amos Tafiri.  A-line adire dresses with statement sleeves, asymmetric tops paired with adire trousers, and long skirts with extravagant organza hem were the stars of the collection, all made with different types of adire.

Designers, Fashion By Ashani, Wuraola4lar, Chiefo, Adire Teems, Pilz and Poiszn and Blingshiki, and Ejiro Amos-Tafiri who were supported for the event by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and Enterprise Sponsors, Providus Bank, floored the runways with amazing designs, which projected the rich culture and dynamism in Nigeria’s fashion.

For the organizer Olori Ronke Ogunwusi, whose love and undying passion to promote and uphold our cultural heritage, it was a delight to see that the Adire fabric of Nigeria is indeed taking center stage at Africa fashion week Brazil “It’s a great thing indeed for Nigeria as Adire is now being sort for across. ” she says. 

Asides from the amazing runway show The Ooni of Ife’s Adire textile training hub also conducted a workshop for an audience of over 1000  visitors who were educated on the origin and the different methods of adire-the adire eleko, adire oniko, adire alabere and batik.

Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, better known for her passion for the development of African culture and heritage is the founder of Africa Fashion Week London and Africa Fashion Week Nigeria. She is also the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Adire Oodua Textile Training Hub, and Vice Chairman House of Oduduwa Foundation. 

For her, AFWBrazil not only celebrated fashion but also served as a channel for black emancipation. The event she says aims to dismantle the deeply ingrained perception of inferiority associated with Afro-Brazilian fashion and culture. It sought to empower the Afro-Brazilian community by providing a platform to showcase their talents, challenge stereotypes, and redefine their identity on their own terms, while also improving economic ties between both countries.