Two renowned brands, Deji & Kola and Anka Africa, came together to propel African fashion in a grand display during the just concluded Lagos Fashion Week, at an event which held at the Deji & Kola Experience Centre in Lagos.
The event, a gathering of fashion enthusiasts, was a typical celebration of African fashion, culture, and boundless creativity.
Speaking at the event, Kolapo Olabintan, CEO/Co-Founder, Deji & Kola, a brand renowned for crafting bespoke suits, shirts, and African traditional attires, told Allure that this was the best time for African designers to appeal to international audience.
“In 2022, 13% of our total orders came from international buyers, and the first half of 2023 reveals this figure has risen to an impressive 19%. We are steadfast in our vision to elevate this to 50% by the end of 2025, further bridging cultures through fashion.
“Another angle towards achieving this purpose is our continuous drive to open physical retail stores internationally. On the 8th of May, 2023, we opened our first international store in Calgary, Alberta Canada, and before the first quarter of 2024, if all things go as planned, another new additional store will be announced,” Olabintan said.
Emphasising the transformative force of e-commerce in the promotion of African fashion, Moulaye Taboure, Co-Founder/CEO, Anka Africa, cum CEO of e-commerce platform Afrikrea, said designers and brands have found a dynamic channel to reach a global market.
Taboure also affirmed that Nigeria is Afrikrea’s biggest country both in number of sellers and the average revenue of sellers.
He said: “The platform has over a thousand Nigerian sellers and thousands of transactions. Anka Africa has helped to propel African fashion onto the international stage. This partnership further exemplifies our commitment to promoting African fashion on a global scale.”
The fireside chat also featured a behind-the-scenes tour of the production house, offering journalists and attendees unique insights into how African fashion has evolved and expanded its horizons far beyond the frontiers of Nigeria.