Best of African fashion on show at MBFW Africa

The collections of more than 30 top African designers from 15 countries are being showcased in 20 runway shows in the City of Tshwane, described as the African Capital of Excellence.

Featured designers represent some of the best of African collections from across the continent and the Diaspora. Highlights include Taibo Bacar (Winner of the 2012 Designer of the Year - AFI Africa Fashion Awards) from Mozambique; Mille Collines from Rwanda; Mina Evans and Duaba Serwa from Ghana; Sheria Ngowi and Mustafa Hassanali from Tanzania; David Tlale, Marianne Fassler and Thula Sindi from South Africa.

AFI executive chairperson, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe says, "MBFW Africa is the pinnacle of African fashion: the platform is the gateway between African designers and the global fashion community to engage and promote our local industry. African designers have shown themselves to be world-class in their creativity and aesthetic, and MBFW Africa strives to heighten accessibility to new markets through regional and international exposure, creating a global desire for African-designed fashion. "

During Fashion Week, AFI has also been presenting a retail element: the Africa Fashion Trade Expo (AFTE). The AFTE offers designers the opportunity to engage in business-to-business networking with the media and buyers as well as business-to-consumer sales directly to the public.

For more, go to www.afi.za.com.