We were recently invited to attend this HOT event this week. Bringing together industry leaders in the field of African fashion.

This Thursday 17th May will see the inaugural Design-Africa panel discussion take place in New York, to showcase and promote high design and opportunities coming out of Africa. Here they will create a unique platform to highlight the artistry and quality of African works across various disciplines and collectively devise solutions of how to communicate this message to a larger, global audience.

Consisting of a fluid series of discussions, the event will be centered around main 3 disciplines: FASHION (apparel/textiles and accessories) ART and INDUSTRIAL DESIGN (furniture). A luminous host(s) and a panel of industry leaders across each discipline will lead the event, all with links to Africa. The discussions will be the vehicle to create a social and dynamic forum for all those attending to talk openly, generate and share ideas and information and benefit from each other’s expertise.

WHEN:

Thursday 17th May

7PM to 10PM (DISCUSSION STARTS PROMPLTY AT 7:15pm)

WHERE:

Soho House NYC in The Library

29^th Avenue between 13^th and 14^th Streets

This invite only event is a must for guests- a mix of press, brands and industry influencers and insiders who have a mutual involvement and/or vested interest in elevating African trade, design and production, and want to be part of the wider solution to raise Africa as a trailblazer in fine design and production.

The Design Africa Panel discussion is the beginning of a series of conversations created to raise awareness and elevate the perception of design from the continent.  The discussion will cover Fashion, Art and Design with representatives from each discipline.  Topics will include first-hand experiences from our panelists, highlighting key areas of growth and challenges they face. Supply chain issues, current economic environment, and Africa as an emerging market will also be addressed.

PANELISTS include:

Yodit Eklund – Founder / Designer Bantu 

http://bantuwax.com/

Bibi & Ayse Seck – Co-Founders of Birsel + Seck

http://birselplusseck.com/

Enyinne Owunwanne – Founder, Heritage1960

http://www.heritage1960.com/

Fraser Conlon – Owner of the Amaridian Gallery 

http://amaridianusa.com/

Nadiyah Bradshaw – Head of Production SUNO 

http://www.sunony.com/

Scott Hahn- Co-Founder of Rogan and Loomstate

http://www.loomstate.org/

Design Africa Panel Discussion & Mixer – with a focus on ‘Innovations and Opportunities from the Continent’ will be hosted by Topaz Page-Green the Founder and Director of The Lunchbox Fund and moderated by Constance White the Editor-in-Chief of Essence Magazine as well as Chika Oduah, the Creative Director of Sahara TV.

There’s been a great deal of talk around Africa being “The Next China,” however; they aim to explore the pros and cons of the positioning of Africa as “The Next Italy (or France).”

It’s timely…

The discussion comes on the heels of Italian and Uomo Vogue’s Africa issues and the launch of “Discovered in Africa”on yoox.com in collaboration with the magzine’s editor and Goodwill Ambassador for Fashion4Development Franca Sozzani.  In addition, Suzy Menkes is leading the International Herald Tribune’s Luxury Conference to be held in November in Rome entitled “The Promise of Africa… The Power of the Mediterranean.”   

Now is the time!

Presented by Passion Projects – Bridget Russo, Henrietta Gallina and 4MaCoHa – Holly Dunlap