The Forbes 30/50 AFI Fashion Showcase

Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe is a medical doctor by trade, but an interest in fashion—and motivation to help African manner makes get worldwide attention—inspired her to identified the African Manner Institute in 2007. As a result of AFI, Motsepe is doing the job to bring expenditure and buyer notice to African designers of all varieties to day, the AFI platform involves 100 emerging and proven designers.

On March 7, throughout the inaugural Forbes 30/50 Summit in Abu Dhabi, AFI partnered with Forbes on a vogue showcase that includes seven of AFI’s ideal designers, who traveled to the UAE from Ghana, South Africa, Egypt and over and above. The evening culminated with 56-yr-old supermodel Paulina Porizkova creating a triumphant return to the catwalk, closing the display in a vivid Sara Tamimi gown and overcoat.

Hold scrolling to see the stunning styles from the showcase and listen to insights from Dr. Motsepe and each individual designer.

Sober Style and design Dwelling / Tshepo Mafokwane

Tshepo Mafokwane introduced Sober Style and design Dwelling in South Africa in 2006. A vogue style and design graduate from the Tshwane University of Technological innovation, Mafokwane has reported her aim is to rejoice all girls and their large capacity to conquer something.

Christie Brown / Aisha Ayensu

Two-time African Designer of the Year award winner Aisha Ayensu started the Ghana-based Christie Brown label in 2008. Ayensu’s models have been worn by Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, and Beyoncé and appeared on the web pages of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue Italia. Ayensu was also mentioned as 1 of Forbes‘ Most Promising Business people in 2016.

Marie Louis Bishara

Marie Louis Bishara is a Cairo-based mostly vogue designer who has revealed her perform at Paris Fashion Week and the Prêt a Porter and Haute Couture trend shows. She is to start with woman president of The Egyptian Attire & Export Council, and she is also the CEO and vice chairman of Egyptian agricultural company Bishara Group.

Laaniraani / Shamyra Moodley

Shamyra Moodley was on maternity go away when she made the thought for Laaniraani, a South African style and design label with a target on sustainability and multiculturalism: All of Moodley’s perform is handmade with reclaimed or recycled parts of fabric, and every single piece aims to replicate her African, Indian and Irish heritage. In 2021, Moodley was named an AFI Fastrack Youthful Designer of the Year.

Sima Collezione / Sima Azadegan

When she turned 50 decades previous, Iranian-American designer Sima Azadegan founded the Sima Collezione with a objective of employing her function to help empower gals of all ages. Her models have appeared at New York Fashion 7 days and have approaching showcases in the Paris and Milan Manner Weeks.

Eric Raisina

Born in Madagascar, educated in Paris and now primarily based in Siem Experience, Cambodia, Raisina is known for his “haute texture” strategy, which he developed though operating for for Yves Saint Laurent. His course of action consists of having a raw textile, like silk, and reworking it into a thing else totally, like fur.

Sara Tamimi

Abu Dhabi’s have Sara Tamimi always wished to be a trend designer she says that even when she was a child, she’d develop the clothing she could not uncover in the retailer. Today, Tamimi operates a label with a concentrate on sustainability—she’s been outspoken against quickly fashion’s damaging consequences on the environment—and depth.

duplicate by Maggie McGrath video clip by Ivan Clow and Tim Pierson photos by Colin Baldwin and photo enhancing from Merrilee Barton