African fashion has gained so much recognition in recent years due to its rich cultural heritage, vibrant colours, and unique designs. The industry has grown exponentially, and African designers are now showcasing their creativity in international runway shows.

Obiora Imelda, the owner and creative director of Emeldah Atelier, recently reflected on the significance of her recent outings at the Bristol Fashion Show, where she showcased brightly coloured African dresses with unique styles.
These colourful styles could be seen as a direct reflection of the vibrant African landscape. Various patterns and prints such as Ankara and Kente were on display.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, she said: “I always wanted to participate in an international fashion show. It was an amazing experience talking with other fashion designers and hearing about their breakthroughs in the fashion industry. It gave me an insight into what to do for my brand this year. I loved the look and love for African products on everybody’s face. People showed a lot of interest as they were interested in the products and how they could get them.”

Emeldah Atelier is a brand known for its exclusive focus on the use of African prints, and Obiora Imelda has concentrated on working to produce rich collections from fabrics sourced from the West African countries of Nigeria, the Republic of Benin and Ghana.

Providing more insight into Emeldah Atelier’s exploits at the Bristol Fashion Show, she disclosed the inspiration behind the collection showcased, saying: “I was invited to speak in a program but I struggled with what to wear from my previous collection. I needed something that was not regular African fashion, something smart and corporate. So, I wore a blazer and pants made by me. I got a lot of comments on that. Then I decided to move the next collection to blazers and flare dresses.”

On the benefit of showcasing on a prestigious international platform like the Bristol Fashion Show, the Emeldah Atelier boss said: “I learned lessons from other designers that participated. Importantly, I learned that consistency, collaboration and creativity are the major spices of the fashion business.” 

Riding on the waves of accolades that came her way courtesy of the Bristol Fashion Show, she said she is working on more collections and would like to showcase them on other international runways like London Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, African Fashion Week London and Afro Fashion Show UK, to mention but a few.

Photos from the Runway show.