10 Incredible African Fashion Designers

1. Taibo Bacar - Mozambique

Taibo Bacar was born in Mozambique in 1985 and originally studied Information Technologies. The son of a seamstress, Bacar grew up around the sounds of sewing machines, fabrics and the design sketches that he drew for some of his mother’s clients. One day he decided to take a chance and follow his childhood passion, leaving the world of IT and heading to Spain to take a course in design and pattern cutting at Instituto Marangoni. At that time there was no fashion industry training available in Mozambique.

In 2007, Taibo created the brand TAIBO BACAR. It was Milan Fashion Week in 2011 that catapulted Bacar into fashion’s limelight.

2. Sindiso Khumalo - South Africa

Sindiso Khumalo is a women's' wear textile designer who lives and works in Hackney, East London. She studied Architecture at University of Cape Town before moving to London to work for award winning architect David Adjaye. Following that she went on to study an MA Design for Textile Futures at Central St Martins College of Art and Design, graduating with a distinction for her final project. In October 2012 she was shortlisted for the Elle Magazine Rising Star Competition and showcased her debut SS13 collection at the Awards. In February 2013, her Aretha Dress was was nominated for “ Most Beautiful Object in South Africa” by the Design Indaba Cape Town. She works with NGO's in various parts of the world in developing new textiles for her collections. Recently her AW13 collection was showcased in Paris at Laboethnik Fashion Weekend.

3. Aisha Obuobi - Ghana

 Aisha Obuobi began her love affair with fashion at an early age. However, the real motivation came from watching her grandmother Christie Brown, a seamstress, create rich and vibrant garments. Today, she is the Creative Director of Christie Brown, a Ghanian Based luxury women's fashion brand. This is a luxury women’s wear label she founded in 2008 in her final year of psychology at the University of Ghana. Its not just her eloquent use of kente  and ankara that makes her a voice of now and the future in fashion , but it is how seamlessly she is able to infuse her culture in the fabric of the modern woman. Her work has been featured in Harper’s bazaar (UK), Italian Vogue and she was the only Ghanaian designer that was selected to showcase at the Arise L’Afrique- a- Porter, in Paris as part of Paris Fashion Week (2010).

4. Duro Olowu - Nigeria

Since arriving on the London fashion scene in 2004, Nigerian-born Duro Olowu has impressed the right people with his vibrant mix of African prints, seventies tailoring, and unlikely color combos. A high-waited patchwork boho dress—known as the “Duro”—put the brand on the fashion map, and became a cult item in 2005 after being discovered by American Vogue editor Sally Singer and Julie Gilhart of Barneys.

 5. Gavin Rajah - South Africa

Gavin Rajah is a South African born designer. He works out of his atelier based in Cape Town and regularly shows at Paris Fashion Week (Couture). Gavin Rajah was voted as one of 150 designers to watch around the world by Franca Sozzani in the January 2013 issue of Italian Vogue, and was winner of the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa Award at Design Indaba Expo, and the SATOURISM Designer of the Year in 2013.
He uses his visibility and fashion events to bring awareness to various child related issues. Gavin Rajah has been appointed by the United Nations as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

6. Patricia Mbela - Kenya

Patricia Mbela is a fashion and jewelry designer, and the first Kenyan to participate at the Nigerian  Fashion week back in the year 2011. Currently, the designer behind the POISA label. In 2012, she was at the Swahili Fashion week, where she was nominated East Africa's Designer of the Year.

Patricia has loved fashion and garment construction since childhood. At age 14, she decided to be a fashion designer. Her dream came true, when she went to study fashion design at London's Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design and then on to Kent Institute of Art & Design, Rochester campus.

7. Josephyn Akioyamen (Fenix Couture) - Nigeria

Josephyn is a Nigerian-Canadian designer whose designs are perfect for the subtle dresser waiting to branch out a little. She started her journey into fashion while living in Lagos, Nigeria. She was constantly surrounded by intricate colors and prints and, of course, African culture.She makes flattering silhouttes that are playful and sexy, and she mixes up her fabrics for eye-catching textures.

She created Fenix Couture, a Nigerian-Canadian design label. Its well-tailored designs and understanding for the female form are both professional and appealing. Fenix Couture is a combination of timeless elegance and modern luxury brought to life by stimulating textiles and precision tailoring. With its 2013 Ihotu Collection, the label introduced itself to the world as one not just to watch, but a label that is so transformational that it would last for years to come.

8. Lisa Folawiyo - Nigeria

Nigeria's fashion designer Lisa Folawiyo's shiny clothes have captivated people from Lagos to Cape Town, London, Paris, New York and Hollywood. She is the founder and creative director of Jewel by Lisa, a brand that specializes in Ankara textiles, the vibrant wax-resist dyed fabrics characteristic of West Africa and widely used across the continent. But, as though they were not already bright enough, she decided to embellish them with beads, sequins and crystals, all sewn by hand, and the chic combination became an instant success.

9. Gabriella and Kelly Davids (Milq & Honey) - South Africa

They’re often described as the “Kardashian sisters” of Cape Town, but Kelly and Gabriella are proudly Davids. The stunning siblings are the brains behind the fashion label MilQ and Honey, which turned heads at the Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Fashion Week. Compliments streamed in after their Morocco-inspired catwalk show, which featured colourful, wispy creations with animal print and over-sized hats. The MilQ and Honey brand consists of a fashion line run by Kelly and a luxurious spa run from their father’s Rondebosch home by Gabriella.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 10. Marianne Fassler - South Africa

Marianne Fassler has spent two decades in the fashion business. She operates from Leopard Frock, her creative workshop in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. She sells garments and separates off the peg and also consults with individual clients by appointment. Her work is diverse and includes garments to suit a busy lifestyle as well as custom made special occasion wear and stunning, highly crafted Wedding dresses.

Her designs are whimsically creative and exude a sense of Africa that is unique and inspiring. Using her knowledge of design and her understanding of South African cultures, each piece she designs is definably Marianne Fassler, and a similar design would be difficult to find.