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22 days till African inspired showcase opens in Wellington

22 days till New Zealand’s African inspired showcase opens in Wellington


Wellington, New Zealand – November, 6 2014 - Launched in 2013, New Zealand's first African inspired fashion showcase will present the African continent as the bread basket of creativity.

Having served as inspiration for designers abroad, the African continent has become the inspiration for household names such as Yves Saint Laurent, Burberry, Stella Jean, Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney.

The rising inspiration of Africa’s fashion profile has resulted in a variety of showcases inspired by the continent in the fashion capitals of Paris, Tokyo, London and New York.

The first to hit New Zealand shores was hosted in Auckland 2013, at Te Karanga Gallery on K Road in what was described as an intimate and inspiring setting. In 2014, the showcase has grown exponentially to accommodate designers from Czech Republic, Philippines, South Africa and France.


Some of New Zealand’s own emerging designers will be participating at the showcase including Lucy-Mae Goffe-Robertson and Kowtow’s Joanna Jalliguer.

The showcase will be hosted at The Opera House in Wellington and will explore the infinite creative potential between fashion, art and theatre.


The show’s Creative Director Terence Ngwerume says the use of a traditional runway has been abolished.


“While runways are the norm for fashion shows, we are not going to be using one. We will use the Opera House’s grand stage and an innovative approach to produce a show that takes the audience on an African journey through fashion.”

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With each of the participating designers incorporating a theme that relates to their interpretation of Africa, the collections are breathtakingly constructed from an extraordinary array of materials.

“Africa is a continent made up of 54 countries, each country has its own traditions, culture and way of doing things. We wanted the designers to unleash their creativity, show us what Africa is to them and showcase that Africa is much more than what is currently presented by the media”, show Founder Makanaka Tuwe says.

A strong element of the showcase is the incorporation of storytelling.

“Fashion is a communication tool that enables us to say a lot without saying much. We wanted to present an awareness of Africa as the incubator and basket of creativity in the fashion industry. We believe that African inspired fashion presents an opportunity to engage, educate and excite audiences due to the artistic and historical references that it portrays, creating beautiful stories” says Makanaka Tuwe.

With a strong belief that fashion is a medium for community development the showcase is more than just another fashion show. Proceeds from the showcase will be donated to the ‘Fashion for Change’cause championed by Africa on My Sleeve.

Due to take place November 29 2014 in Wellington, the showcase will offer a chance for fashion lovers to experience magical vibrancy while supporting a good cause. Aptly titled ‘Cradle of Creativity’, the showcase will be one of a kind. Tickets are available online, with the ‘A Reserve’ tickets securing entrance to the VIP area.

Africa on My Sleeve is a social enterprise initiative that supports the professional development of designers inspired by Africa to promote economic empowerment. We are built on the foundation of providing education and employment for women in the villages in Africa.

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