A model presents a creation during the Swahili Fashion Week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Dec. 2, 2022. (Photo by Nurdin Pallangyo/Xinhua)
Swahili Fashion Week, the annual fashion event in Africa, kicked off in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam on Friday night, attracting over 50 fashion designers, mostly from Swahili-speaking countries and beyond to showcase their creations.
DAR ES SALAAM, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Swahili Fashion Week, the annual fashion event in Africa, kicked off in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam on Friday night, attracting over 50 fashion designers, mostly from Swahili-speaking countries and beyond to showcase their creations.
The fashion and accessory designers showcased their talent and creativity to their clientele and the international fashion industry.
"Swahili Fashion Week is a huge platform for models like me. I am grateful that tonight I have been presented with an award," said Rio after receiving a prestigious award at the launch of the three-day 15th edition of the Swahili Fashion Week and Awards 2022.
Rio was among winners in 29 fashion categories that were voted by the public and audited by an audit firm. "My journey to the fashion industry is still long, and this is just the beginning. I am looking forward to receiving more awards and participating in every fashion show here in Tanzania and abroad."
Models present creations during the Swahili Fashion Week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Dec. 2, 2022. (Photo by Nurdin Pallangyo/Xinhua)
Mboko Uswege, an up and coming fashion designer, who was participating in the Swahili Fashion Week for the first time, said the event is an amazing opportunity, especially for up and coming designers to be able to showcase what they are doing.
Mustafa Hassanali, founder of the Swahili Fashion Week, said the fashion week intends to encourage talented designers to use the platform as a stepping stone to the next level into the fashion world.
Themed "Celebrating 15 years of Swahili Fashion Week", Hassanali said Swahili Fashion Week has been the premier creative platform for designers from Swahili speaking countries and beyond who showcase their collection to the global audience.
Kedmon Mapana, the executive secretary of state-run National Arts Council, urged the public to support the fashion industry. "The local talents need to be nurtured to evolve into globally recognized brand names."
Swahili Fashion Week is a platform founded and created by celebrated Pan-African couturier from Tanzania, Mustafa Hassanali in 2008. ■
