Female entrepreneurs are rewriting the narrative of fashion, taking center stage at events like Dakar Fashion Week. While Western fashion weeks often highlight male designers creating clothes for women, a powerful shift is occurring in African fashion hubs like Dakar, Nairobi, and Lagos. Here, fashion is increasingly becoming a woman’s business, driven by the creativity, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of women designers.
Dakar Fashion Week: A Platform for Female Empowerment
At Dakar’s 17th annual fashion week, which recently concluded, a remarkable 80% of the featured designers were African women. This impressive statistic reflects the leadership of Adama Ndiaye, a female Senegalese designer and entrepreneur who runs the show. Ndiaye’s decision to prioritize female designers was a natural one. She believes women possess a unique understanding of the female form, which translates into the quality and aesthetic of their designs.
Beyond the Runway: Lifting Up Female Entrepreneurs
For Ndiaye, Dakar Fashion Week is more than just a showcase of beautiful clothes; it’s a platform for lifting up other female entrepreneurs. She recognizes the challenges women face, particularly in Africa, where they are often seen as less capable than their male counterparts. “Women are always seen as less, no matter where we are, but it’s even worse here in Africa,” she explains. She notes that young girls are often expected to stay home and learn domestic skills, while their brothers have greater access to education.
A Conscious Choice: Creating Opportunities for Women
Ndiaye’s commitment to female empowerment is evident in her choices. “So if I can give women the opportunity to be in the fashion show, then I do,” she says. “Because it’s not a democracy, it’s me who gets to decide.” Her deliberate act of inclusion creates opportunities for women to showcase their talent, build their brands, and connect with a wider audience.
Lupita Swagga: A Feminist Fantasy
Tchianna Pembey, a Congolese designer who participated in Dakar Fashion Week, embodies the spirit of female empowerment through her brand, Lupita Swagga. Inspired by an imaginary world run by women, Pembey’s designs reflect her feminist vision. As an African female entrepreneur, she acknowledges the extra effort required to succeed in a male-dominated world. But in her dream world, women reign supreme.
Afro-Futuristic Designs: Wings to Fly High
Pembey describes her clothes as “afro-futuristic,” featuring elongated shoulder pads and flowing materials that resemble wings. These design elements symbolize her ability to transcend the hardships of life and soar into her feminist fantasy. “In my world, I’m the queen, and I can fly,” she says. “Remembering that is what gives me the strength to deal with things in real life.”
A New Era of Fashion: Celebrating Female Creativity
Dakar Fashion Week and designers like Ndiaye and Pembey are at the forefront of a new era in fashion, one that celebrates female creativity, entrepreneurship, and empowerment. By providing a platform for women designers, they are not only changing the face of the industry but also inspiring a new generation of female leaders.
Checkout our fashion category for more news on fashion.
