Now that most of us have a break from work, how about we get some design inspirations with the AFDW recap?
Happy holidays and Merry Christmas!
Let me start by wishing Queengold D. Sekibo a full recovery. So glad you are doing better!
Now, I did post about African Fashion & Design Week 2016 (You can view the post here), but I never got the chance to post the collections at the Fashion Week.
This is one of the biggest shows in and for Africa, which contributes highly to the growth of the African fashion industry.
The show is a great platform giving opportunities to African designers to showcase their creativity. It also opens doors for more retail access, networking opportunities and learning the ropes in the industry. The models also get a platform to market themselves.
While I was thinking about a recap, I coincidentally got contacted by one of the most amazing ladies and a treasure to African Fashion. Queengold D. Sekibo, the Managing Director of BluePearl Services International and The founder of African Fashion and Design Week New York and Nigeria.
To have someone so amazing encourage and show support for this website is an honour and humbling gesture.
So she sent me images of the designs at the AFDW 2016 and honestly it couldn’t have come at a better time. Her passion to promote African designers is touching. I mean she sent these images even when she was in between going to the hospital and back. God bless her heart. She is indeed a treasure to the African Fashion Industry as well as an amazing and humble woman.
In order to give the designers the attention each deserve I will do a recap daily of the designs showcased at the fashion Week by each designer. If there is a design you like or you want to get in touch with the designer, I will leave their details at the end.
To start us off is Jamil Walji, lead Fashion Designer of JW Couture label. Jamil Walji has continued to create and design impeccable pieces setting the bar each time he releases a collection. When you think opulence and sophistication, think Jamil Walji.
Jamil Walji won The East Africa Designer of the year at the just concluded Swahili Fashion Week 2016. In 2013 Jamil Walji won fashion designer of the year at the kenya Fashion Awards just two years after coming from Malaysia in 2011 where he had gone to study fashion. Prior to that in 2012 Jamil won the FAFA Insight 2012 (an emerging designers’ competition).
Jamil has showcased in various platforms including but not limited to Swahili Fashion Week, Mozambique Fashion Week, FAFA and AFDW. Jamil is indeed a trend setter whose innovative collections oozes sexiness, class and glam.
“My creations are vigorous haute couture garments of high quality using delicate and exclusive fabrics with a variety and combinations in texture….. I believe that fashion is a creative form of communication, where we send out messages and feelings as well as having one’s own style by what we wear. It is important to spread the word of innovation and modernity through designs. I am determined to establish and imprint my mark in the fashion industry with an open minded and a quest to raise fashion to a form of pure art.” – Jamil Walji
For his collection at the AFDW 2016, Jamil was inspired by dance costumes which he interpreted into very chic elaborate beading and vibrant pieces with a touch of tribal and western fusion.
Click the link below to Watch the designs on the runway.
Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the collection.
“Promoting talents in fashion will not only empower designers to earn a sustainable living but will also create job opportunities through the establishment of fashion businesses resulting in the growth of the fashion industry and eventually the economy” -Queengold Daniella Sekibo, Managing Director Bluepearl Services International
sharing is promoting. Kindly share.
Facebook: Jamil-Walji-Couture
Email: jamilw.couture@gmail.com
Phone: +254 722 814356
What an amazing read.. thank you for this piece..
My pleasure, thanks for stopping by