African Fashion International (AFI) Fashion Week has drawn to a close after an action-packed three days of designers showing their latest collections, among other activities the organisers hosted.
Under the theme African Fashion Unite, designers from parts of the continent – including Cameroon, Congo and Madagascar, among others – gathered in Johannesburg to show their latest creations. African prints, celebrities and statement tshirts were no rare sight at this fashion week.
With sustainability and climate being a top talking points across the world, we saw these issues referenced on the AFI runway. On another fashion hot topic is diversity and we can safely say this local fashion week gave its international counterparts a run for their money. We were pleased to see a variety of women being represented on the runway.
Circling back to the actual collections, these are the top trends we spotted on the runway.
Taking up space
Volume was one of the key agendas on the runway – ruffles, trains and puffs. Designers, House of Jahdara, Masango by Siphosihle and KlûK CGDT showed how to command space with voluminous fashion.
Hello summer!
A new version of Matte Nolim’s much-loved crop shirt that marries the exposed midriff with a daring cleavage made its way on the runway. Similar concepts are seen twice more on the AFI runway.
Ostrich leather and more
Leather made a few appearances on the runway, featured in corsets, dresses and skirts – while varying from patent to ostrich textures. Following the rave around Thebe Magugu pink faux ostrich coat that made it to a F.I.T Museum exhibition, the faux ostrich leather texture made its way on this fashion week in black.
Stripes and prints
As the mixing print trend is at its peak, designers at AFI didn’t disappoint in delivering multi-coloured stripes and prints.
The corset
Designer Eric Raisina from Madagascar shows a textured corset. As the corset aesthetics is on the trends list, this is a piece that you could add to your look. The designer added a bright knit belt to the statement piece.
Extended lashes
The feathered beauty look has once again hit the runway, as seen before on the Valentino Spring/Summer 2019 runway. David Tlale created his own look with black feathers on the models who walked the runway.
READ MORE: Face jewellery as seen at NYFW - Is this the next bizarre trend we're all going to get in on?
David Tlale model at AFI fashion week in Johannesburg:
Valentino Haute Couture Spring/Summer '19 show by designer Pier paolo Piccioli.
Statement handbags
Under the theme African Fashion Unite, these guests accessorised with a statement handbag. Handbags have become more elaborate with interesting textures, shapes and colours – and a boombox-shaped handheld bag is right on trend.
Offbeat accessories
Speaking on statement accessories, designer Marianne Fassler had her models walk down the runway with ornamental cattle head necklaces around their necks.
Floral headpieces
A trend spotted on the runway that will help as summer hits us is the flora as hair accessories.
READ MORE: This AFI Fashion Week we're b(l)ending the makeup rules and this beauty authority approves
ALL IMAGES BY GALLO
What were your favourite collections at AFI Joburg fashion week? Let us know here.
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