Positioning African fashion as a leader in sustainable practices. This is the objective of the 17th edition of Swahili Fashion Week & Awards 2024, one of Africa’s largest and most prestigious annual fashion events, to be held from 6-8 December 2024 at the Parthenon Hall-Greek Hellenic Club on Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the theme ‘Discover what makes Africa beautiful’. With over 40 designers presenting their work, the event aims to celebrate African style, innovation and creativity. Organized in collaboration with the National Chamber for Italian Fashion and the Italian Embassy in Tanzania, Swahili Fashion Week will also bring sustainable Italian design brand Florania to present its collection in Dar es Salaam. Finally, this year’s event aligns with a broader purpose, embracing the theme of ‘Clean Cooking Energy’ to promote sustainable and eco-friendly energy solutions. The meeting aims to merge fashion with advocacy, highlighting the role of creativity in driving social and environmental change, say the organizers. The meeting aims to merge fashion with advocacy, highlighting the role of creativity in driving social and environmental change, say the organisers. Since its inception in 2008, Swahili Fashion Week has become a reference for designers from Swahili-speaking countries and beyond, offering a platform to showcase their collections, market their creativity and connect with the global fashion industry. Over the years, the event has consolidated its position as a key driver of African fashion, fusing cultural heritage with modern design. This year, designers will present collections that integrate eco-friendly materials, sustainable production methods and circular design, emphasising the ethos of ‘Made in Africa’ and the ability for the continent’s rich heritage to contribute to a greener global future. Among the featured artists this year will be designers from Italy, Mayotte, Trinidad and Tobago and South Korea, in addition to those from Swahili culture.
