SENEGAL: African designers dazzle with traditional and modern cuts at Dakar's fashion week.

Record ID: 200220

  • Title: SENEGAL: African designers dazzle with traditional and modern cuts at Dakar's fashion week.
  • Date: 23rd June 2014
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) ADAMA NDIAYE, FOUNDER OF DAKAR FASHION WEEK, SAYING: "There are many things that have changed, especially when it comes to designer participation. There are more and more designers coming from all over the world, from Europe to Asia, and that's a very good thing. We are seeing an increasing number of press coverage of the event, which has also contribu
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Senegal
  • Country: Senegal
  • Topics: Business,Entertainment,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA5RK2ZK9MWHP951MF9SM5L8ODP
  • Story Text: The annual Dakar Fashion week gets underway, with the launch of Africa Fashion TV - the first channel in Senegal, that will focus on the latest in African couture. Now in its 12th year, the fashion event has become an indicator of latest trends and is an attraction for various African and foreign designers.


    Fashion enthusiasts converged in Senegal for this year's Dakar Fashion Week, which has become an indicator of the latest trends and popular with various African and foreign designers.
    In its 12th edition, this year's event included more than 19 designers from Africa as well as the U.S. and Holland.
    The event, a culmination of four days festivities also included fashion shows staged throughout Dakar, in a bid to make high fashion accessible to ordinary Senegalese, according to organisers.
    With African fashion growing bigger and bolder at home, Dakar Fashion Week is starting to register on the radar of design houses and style magazines abroad.
    Designers stunned audiences with bold and modern cuts as models sashayed down the catwalk.
    The brain child of the stylist Adama Ndiaye, also known as Adama Paris -- the Dakar Fashion Week is now one of the most sought after events on the African fashion calendar.
    Despite the popularity and prominence the show has gained, Ndiaye said the fashion industry still faces many challenges.
    She says that authorities do not give the industry enough recognition, especially as it's a sector that has increasingly contributed towards growth of the country's economy.
    "There are many things that have changed, especially when it comes to designer participation. There are more and more designers coming from all over the world, from Europe to Asia, and that's a very good thing. We are seeing an increasing number of press coverage of the event, which has also contributed to the growing popularity of the event, which is good. But unfortunately, the only negative thing is that I feel a lack of support from my country, which is a real shame. But we are still here and I think that we will be here for a few more years," she said.
    For celebrated US based designer Moussa Dia, also known as Versailles, who counts US R and B singers such a Mary J Blige and Beyonce amongst his clients, given their level of talent, there is no reason why African designers should not be in the same league as their counterparts in New York, London or Milan.
    "This is the first time I come to Africa to do a show. I did a few shows in the U.S. and I really love it over here, people are friendly, they are very into the show. I feel it's better here that the States or anywhere else, all these people are very friendly, and I enjoy being here. This is my home town, so love being here," he said.
    This year's event also saw the official launch of Africa Fashion TV, a channel dedicated to all things pertaining to African fashion.
    Ndiaye added that the channel will be used to showcase and promote "fashion made in Africa", as well as give exposure to African designers and those from the diaspora, who would not otherwise have a platform to showcase their work.
    "The content like the name indicates, will be 100 percent African fashion and not just in Africa, it will also include the influence of African fashion on the diaspora and the world. We will go to New York and Paris, going through Tokyo, with a focus on showcasing black models, African fashion, and not just ready to wear but also African couture," said
    Organisers are also hoping, through the channel, to encourage a demand for local African designs where buyers often opt for western designs.
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