A total of 27 fashion designers have confirmed their participation at the forthcoming Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) 2022 slated in Kigali from May 16-21.

The annual international fashion event, which last took place in Kigali, returns after almost two years because of covid-19 restrictions.

It attracts some of the arguably best fashion designers on the continent and globally with organisers in Kigali having their eyes set on establishing it as one of the biggest fashion events in Africa.

This year, designers who have shown interest in taking part in next month’s fashion event will be presenting their finest fashion collections making headlines in their respective countries namely the United States, Canada, Ghana, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, United Kingdom, Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria, France and host nation Rwanda.

Among planned activities at the fashion event include fashion summits, masterclasses, workshops, Music meets Fashion event, gala nights and runways show feature local and international designers with a special showcase of Rwanda's emerging designers and the event will be at different venues like Norrsken, M-Hotel, Mercedes-Benz showrooms Kigali and Crown Conference Hall.  

Some of the biggest names in the African fashion industry and beyond the continent expected in Kigali include South Africa’s Georges Malelu, Ghana’s Arshia Wilson, Stallion Outlook, Zulera Couture, Abrantie the Gentleman and Bushai Weave, United Kingdom's Mary Martin London, American designer Qaal Design and Darsh Couture and Canada’s Lord Gilles.

Others include Tanzania’s Zado Design, Kenya’s Bylilly, Nigeria’s Neopele Concept, Cheddars Clothing, and Saint Calypso as well as Malawi’s Lily Alphonso among others.

They will join household designers and other Rwandan designers doing fashion in the diaspora including the likes of Boldy Bonza, Delphinez, Kamakiza Couture currently making his own things in Canada, Fathia Collections who does fashion in Ghana and Izubaa by Elomelo, another creative designer doing fashion in France.

Before, more than 100 international guests who are expected to attend a series of activities which are on the agenda of the event, over 20 local and international models were selected to showcase the finest collections from renowned designers coming for the event in Kigali.

The event will also give a chance to upcoming fashion designers to make use of the platform and showcase their creative designs so they can catch the attention from established fashion coming from different parts of the globe to participate at the event.

"We want this time round, to give exposure to upcoming but talented and creative designers through this event,” said Daniel Ndayishimiye, the Executive Director of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Kigali in an interview with Weekender.

"We hope, by giving them an opportunity to showcase the best of their works at the event, will help them show the world of fashion what they can offer to the industry we want to see them growing and we have confidence in them that they could be the next superstars in this game,” he added.

Mercedes Benz Fashion week is rated as one of the biggest fashion week events on the globe, and Kigali was the second city in Africa to host Mercedes Benz Fashion Week after Accra, Ghana.

Other cities that host the Mercedes-sponsored event include Istanbul (Turkey), Brisbane (Australia), Mexico, Malaysia and Tbilisi (Georgia) among others.