Three Cities to Host L’Afrique Fashion Fest 10th Edition

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

Three cities, including Port Harcourt, Lagos and London are set to host the 10th edition of the L’Afrique Fashion Fest, slated for July, September and November in 2026.

L’Afrique Fashion Fest, is a celebration of creativity, culture and artistry, that has drawn participation from across African countries like Ghana, Cameroun, Benin Republic, amongst others, since its launch nine years ago.

The aim of L’Afrique is to spotlight Africa and its rich fashion diversity and create a platform for indigenous designers to showcase their creativity, and for brands to meet with end users of their products.

At a press briefing to unveil the 10th edition of the Fashion Fest I. Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of L’Afrique Fashion Fest, Emmer Schneider, stated that this year’s theme: “Beyond Borders,” is to launch the brand to the international community.

“L’Afrique has been in the city of Port Harcourt for nine consecutive editions and we have been bringing fashion to the city of Port Harcourt. Designers come from different parts of Africa, from Ghana, from Benin Republic, from Cameroon, from different cities, and they have been coming to Port Harcourt to showcase their very outstanding collections and we’ve worked with a lot of brands for these nine years.

“But for this 10th edition, we are highlighting “Fashion Beyond Borders. We are taking it to three cities. So, we are going to be having the event in Lagos, Port Harcourt, and of course in London. It is a good opportunity for L’Afrique to go international,” he said.

Schneider stressed that for the past nine years L’Afrique has proven to be a very solid brand, pointing out that its uniqueness is in its audience.

“So, for this particular edition we are expecting to go outside the shores of Port Harcourt city and we are making it a global affair,” he said.

The L’Afrique CEO mentioned that over the years, the brand has provided opportunities for designers and models, thereby empowering and providing employment for teeming designers.

“We have what we call the Face of L’Afrique competition, and the face of L’Afrique is always used for particular events, special appearances, bill boards, modeling. It’s a way of building your modeling career as a model.

“Secondly, the designers are benefiting greatly from L’Afrique. A lot of them build their clientele from L’Afrique. With the on-site and the online audience and the media as well, people who watch L’Afrique always want to identify with these designers,” Schneider said.

He further stated the platform has showcased different arts over the years. “We have been bringing people from Big Brother Nigeria, featuring Big Brother Nigerian stars. It has really helped the creative scene. And of course, it generates some level of employment as well because people are being contracted for the show.

“These models get paid for every edition. The models don’t walk the runway for free. Some level of empowerment, talent development from the models, the designers, selling globally on the e-commerce platform,” he continued,

Schneider further stated that models get paid for every edition. “The models don’t walk the runway for free. So, there is some level of empowerment, talent development from the models and the designers selling globally on the e-commerce platform,

“We have a large workforce, a paid workforce for the show, as well as the vendors we use here from the equipment. So L’Afrique is impacting in terms of manpower by generating employment.

“L’Afrique is empowering the models, helping them grow their modeling career. A lot of our models were able to hit international runways because of the exposure L’Afrique gave them,” he stated.

He also stated that this year’s event will be transmitted live in French, and called for sponsorships. He also pointed out that sponsors will have opportunity of showcasing their brands during the event and until the next edition of the festival.

Co-Director, L’Afrique Fashion Fest, Dr. Anita Okoi, said the decision to host this year’s festival beyond Port Harcourt was due to popular demand and effectively compete in the over $3trillion global market share of the fashion industry.

“For a long time in the capitals of Lagos and London people have always said when are you bringing L’Afrique to these cities and we thought okay, for the 10th edition, let’s extend what we already do in Port Harcourt, which is bring impact to our models, our designers, our sponsors and build this larger community where designers from London can meet with designers from Port Harcourt, can meet with designers from Cameroon.

“So, we just want to expand they experience from Port Harcourt into these cities and bring what is unique about L’Afrique,” she said.

The co-director revealed that L’Afrique is a wide community of people who are fashion entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and interested in the creative sector.

“The beauty of extending this beyond the city of Port Harcourt is also that, we get to collaborate with different brands, fashion law institute, people that are interested in what Africa brings. And so, we intent to collaborate with these organizations to ensure that Africa’s fashion and what we do as Africans have been highlighted,” she stated.

Also, the L’Afrique Lead Designer, L’Afrique, Jasmine Afrik, said the designers and the runway have been very competitive over the years.

She emphasised the need for child designers to partake of the event so as to build a future for the fashion industry, especially in Port Harcourt, adding that designers across Africa are expected compete in the event.