Africa’s Top Ten Fashion Designers

Look out for 10 of Arica’s talented designers rising quickly to the international fashion arena:

Duro Olowu: This Nigerian born Fashion designer was primarily set for a life of a lawyer in London. But then passion nagged, and he answered. Duro is now one of Africa’s most accomplished fashion designers, celebrated for his bright colors, highly finished cuts, and vintage prints. He won the Designer of the Year award from Britain Fashion Awards. And his clients go as far in prominence as that of Michelle Obama— Yes, the U.S. First Lady!

Tiffany Amber: This Nigerian designer was the first to have ever been invited to participate in the New York Fashion Week twice in a row. She started her brand in 1998 and has since won multiple awards for her designs.

Korto Momolu: In 1990, Korto and her family had to move from Liberia to Canada as a result of the civil war. Almost instantly she discovered her passion for fashion design and joined a fashion design institute. Korto then moved to the U.S. and signed up for what would be her career’s turning point – the Project Runway Show 5^th Season.  She became the 1^st runner up and had since become an icon for many upcoming African Designers.

David Tale: This South African designer is crawling up the ladder in the fashion world for easily wearable designs.  Not only is David praised for his creativity but also for how unpredictable he always is with his designs.

Deola Sagoe: Having several awards to her name and sharing the runway with fashion legend such as Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, this Nigerian designer has become a force to be reckoned with.  

Kofi Ansah: Born in Ghana and bred in London, this designer became the founder and president of The Federation of African Designers. He then designed the costumes for Ghana@50 celebrations – a design used again in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

Lanre Da Silva Ajayi: This Nigerian designer is telling the world incredible stories about the beauties of Africa through her designs. She uses traditional fabrics and patterns that resonate with the continents culture. She showcases her work both in Africa and abroad.

Idyl and Ayaan: The Somalia twins are dominating the fashion world. These twins have once been featured on the Oprah show through Skype for their unique, creative and multicultural designs.  They go by the name Mataano which in Somalia means twins.

Aisha Obuobi:  Aisha, a Ghanaian designer, has won many awards for her luxury designs. She is celebrated for her unique style of blending Ankara prints, Kente, and bright fashion pieces.

Jewel-Lisa: Celebrated for her unique taste of style, this designer has won the hearts of many celebrities and global icons. Her rare and incredibly creative combination of Ankara skirts with jewels, which she also produces, has put her up on the platform. This girl is going nowhere but UP!