East Coast Radio presenter and award-winning voice over artist, Carol Ofori, at the AFI Fashion Experience launch at The Pencil Club in Umhlanga, Durban.

Inside the AFI Fastrack soiree at Durban’s The Pencil Club

Glamour in Durban: Fashion Designers, Editors, and Media Unite for AFI Fastrack 2023 Launch Event

Get Ready for a Fashion Extravaganza: AFI Fashion Experience Returns to Hollywoodbets Durban July!

High above Durban’s famous coastline, African Fashion International hosted an exclusive gathering of fashion designers, fashion editors and media to fete the AFI Fastrack 2023 finalists.

With sprawling 180-degree views of Durban, Umhlanga’s The Pencil Club was the perfect venue to begin the festivities ahead of the AFI Fashion Experience with Gemelli at the Durban July. The event was MCed by radio presenter and globally renowned voice over artist, Carol Ofori, dressed in a luxurious black gown by Tumi Captivating.

Invited guests enjoyed canapés, designer cocktails and AFI’s famous hospitality, while meeting the AFI Fastrack 2023 finalists and the designers for AFI’s in-house brand, House of Nala- Keneuoe Mhletswa and Thulani Mlambo.



As part of a AFI Fastrack 2023 challenge, the finalists will be taking part in the Durban July’s Raceday Fashion Awards. Having created garments inspired by the Durban July theme "Out of this World”, they will compete against each other and other young designers and fashion entrepreneurs for a chance at fashion glory at the most important equestrian event on the continent. 


The House of Nala by AFI brand is also taking part, having created two show-stopping looks with the hopes of catching the eyes of the competition judges.

AFI Fashion Experience

For the second consecutive year, AFI is will hosting the AFI Fashion Experience with Gemelli at the Hollywoodbets Durban July .

Drawing people from all over the globe, the Durban July is an ideal platform for AFI’s mission of providing African designers with stages to exhibit their talent locally and internationally.

The event will feature a fashion showcase with garments from the AFI Fastrack 2023 finalists, the latest capsule collection from the House of Nala brand, and select garments by Pan-African designers under the AFI platform- Taibo Bacar (Mozambique), Kaylaamiel Creations (Botswana), Masa Mara (Rwanda) and South African designers: Scalo, Imprint, K.Moraba & Collective, Gvllvnt and Malondie. 

Durban’s Creative Economy

This fashion show also provides AFI the opportunity to invest in Durban’s creative economy. The production team, led by one of South Africa’s leading producers, Derrick Mhlongo, models, photographers, videographers as well as those supplying hair and beauty services are all based in Durban.

"We are thrilled to be part of this important equestrian event in the continent. The Hollywoodbets Durban July provides a unique opportunity to showcase of African fashion talent. It is a major event on the African calendar, and it is an opportunity for us to display the best of African fashion to a global audience,” says Roshnee Pillay, Marketing Manager of African Fashion International.



“We are also proud to be contributing to the city’s economy by using local talent for our fashion show. Through our development programme, AFI Fastrack, we are nurturing the next generation of designers and entrepreneurs, and we are proud to see them take part in this prestigious competition.”

The AFI Fashion Experience will be shared on AFI’s social media platforms, where you can follow the events as they happen.

 


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For more information on the event, please visit our website: https://africanfashioninternational.com/pages/durban-july

 

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