About 2023 Edition

AFWN X GELE EXPO 2023

Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) is the biggest and most laudable fashion show in Nigeria while GELE EXPO proudly holds the distinction of being Africa’s foremost and largest gathering of headgear fashion lovers & enthusiasts. We are thrilled about this collaboration between African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) and GELE EXPO, an initiative set to pioneer a groundbreaking event that pays homage to African fashion, culture, and heritage.. This partnership seeks to showcase the richness of African fashion through runway shows, exhibitions, workshops, and networking opportunities. By combining the strengths of AFWN and GELE EXPO, we mission is to create an unparalleled platform that not only celebrates African identity but also fosters economic growth and cultural exchange.

CONCEPT OF THE THEME

“AFRICAN FASHION: BEYOND IMAGINATION ” represents the transformative power of African fashion. It signifies a departure from conventional norms and an embrace of innovation, creativity, and the limitless possibilities within the African fashion landscape. This theme aims to challenge pre-conceptions, re-define boundaries, inspire fashion enthusiasts and industry stakeholders to explore uncharted territories that are valuable to the African Fashion Industry

OUR UNIQUE DRIVE

Promoting Cultural Celebration: AFWN and GELEEXPO collaborate to celebrate and promote the diverse and vibrant cultures of Nigeria and Africa through fashion and gele (headgear) styles.
Fashion Education: provide educational/vocational opportunities, workshops, and seminars that will educate participants about Nigerian and African fashion, headwrap techniques, and their diverse cultural significance.
Empowerment: AFWN X GELEEXPO will empower individuals by encouraging self-expression through our creative fashion programs, before and after the Event. fostering self-confidence and personal style.

It’s fact that aside the Tech industry, Fashion and Creative Industry is one of the highest employer of youth’s. We have set aside a laudable program that will discover, groom, project and establish distinctive creative youth’s in the fashion and creative industry.

This program would also support distinctive creative youth’s in the fashion and creative industry with seed capital as a pedestal to sustain their business plans.

Sustainable Fashion: AFWN X GELEEXPO will promote sustainable fashion practices, highlighting eco-friendly materials and ethical production methods in Nigerian and African fashion.
Heritage Preservation: we will emphasizes the preservation of traditional Nigerian and African fashion and gele tying techniques while encouraging their modern interpretation and evolution.
Cultural Exchange: AFWN X GELEEXPO will facilitate cultural exchange by inviting international participants and attendees to experience and appreciate Nigerian and African fashion and culture.
Community Engagement: AFWN X GELEEXPO will engage with local communities, potentially leading to economic empowerment and support for artisans and small-scale fashion businesses.
Entertainment: we will incorporate elements of entertainment, such as fashion shows, cultural performances, music performance,poetry, documentary, to engage,educate and entertain audiences.

STRATEGIC ACTIVATION PLAN

DOCUMENTARY ON THE EVOLUTION OF HEADWRAPS IN AFRICAN FASHION (THE SYMBOL AND REPRESENTATION)
CULTURAL FASHION SHOWCASE
A WIDE DISPLAY OF AFRICAN CULTURE AND ITS ELEMENTS ON THE RUNWAY AND OUR EXHIBITION BOOTH.
ONLINE COMPETITION (THE ARTIST POV)

We will launching a seed program tagged: The Art, The Artist and The Artistry

Fashion skilled youths will benefit from this program. These program is designed for skilled youth in fashion related fields to present 2 extraordinary MASTERPIECE that will drive sustainable solutions to our everyday socioeconomic decadence

Participants are Gele Artist, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Designer, Makeup Artist, shoe/accessories designers, Fashion Illustrator etc. We have three(3) phase for these laudable program

First Phase: We would generate over 100 entries during the first phase of the program. Participants would range from all fashion value chain. At the end of the systematic selection process via social media platforms by our teeming audience, 3 participant’s would be selected from each skill fields.
Second Phase: Qualified participants would submit their BUSINESS PITCH via designated platforms or email
Third Phase: Top participants would be merged from individual fields to collaborate and showcase eight (8) pieces AVANT GARDE collection during AFWN X GELE EXPO 2023 in line with the theme: AFRICAN FASHION: BEYOND IMAGINATION.

INCLUSION

We exist to increase the VISIBILITY and awareness of designers of African heritage, providing an accessible platform for presentation and insertion to global markets.
At AFWN we will ensure that our designers have the same PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, access to buyers and display in a world-renowned location.
90% of the AFW circuit workforce is made up of Youths, Fashion Students, Fashion graduates, Fashion Entrepreneurs, Fashion Stylists and Fashion Photographers.
To also support, foster and promote changes in the style standards of the textile sector to make it accessible to consumers who want to synergize fashion with their culture, lifestyle and well being

BLACK FASHION INNOVATION

Africa Fashion Week Nigeria x GELE EXPO will dedicate an interaction space for emerging Africa heritage designers and SMEs.
SUCCESS in business is a feature of the AFW circuit. To this end, we will carry out a matchmaking work, using state-of-the-art technology that will ensure the meeting of the interests of buyers and suppliers in B2B meetings.
We will count on INVESTORS AND INVESTMENT FUNDS for INNOVATIONS and START UPS projects of the fashion production chain.
We will promote the meeting of GENERATIONS between established designers and new creatives, in a disruptive exchange of knowledge and technologies applied to success in the fashion market.

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