What’s the hype about African Fashion?

Lately, African fashion is the in-thing. Men and women clad in clothes made of African fabric, craft sandals, danglers and bracelets are quite popular along the street. In the fashion industry, there is a lot of glamour value and fashion magnitude added to African fabric. Unlike in the past, it is so trendy to wear something that is African. In most cases, clothes made of African fabric are more expensive than those that are not. Celebrity fashion trend-setters like Michelle Obama and Rihanna among many others have been well-liked in the fashion magazines while wearing African fabrics. In Rwanda, lots of women today wear clothes made of ‘kitenge’, the African fabric, with African leather sandals and danglers. Men have also fallen for this craze because most of them love wearing shirts made of African textile and patterns. “I am mostly into the African jewellery and sandals. Every time I see a crafts shop, I check out the danglers, bangles and sandals. There is that cool and vibrant African look they give you that just got me hooked,” Sandra Mugabe, a third year University student said. Mugabe adds that Africans have begun to appreciate who they are and what they have. Majority are no longer crazy about the Western fashions but the continents very own sense of style. She says that the Western people are surprisingly the biggest purchasers of African stuff. “If you go to an African craft shop and asked the sellers who their biggest customers are, no doubt they will say it’s the Westerners,” she adds. Linda Kamikazi, an addict of African fashion, anticipates on having an African-themed wedding with the whole bridal entourage clad in African wear. “Most of our fabric is beautiful, colourful and creative compared to most of the other stuff we import from other continents. There is this indescribable glamour that comes along with African fashion,” stated Kamikazi. Kamikazi says that there is an increase in demand for African made apparel in the fashion world and those that are dealing in them are making great sales. Emmanuel Mulangira, a Rwandan living in the USA says that people should invest more in African fashion. “African fashion currently has high demand on the international market and is very lucrative. Let’s embrace and flaunt African style. We ought to be proud of the richness of our African culture and fashion and promote it,” he said.m.kaitesi@yahoo.com