KENYAN DESIGNERS SET FOR NIGERIAN FASHION WEEK

Kenya’s designers John Kaveke (Kaveke) and Patricia Mbela (Poisa) will be representing the Kenya at the much anticipated ARISE MAGAZINE FASHION WEEK in Lagos, Nigeria. The event, which last year hosted 5,000 guests, 51 designers, 81 models, 5 musical acts over three days returns to Lagos this month featuring 77 participants from 6 continents – including designers as far away as India, the Caribbean, the USA and Europe.

The ARISE Magazine Fashion Week Lagos 2012 fashion extravaganza is running for an extended period of SIX days from Tuesday 6th March to Sunday 11th March 2012. The official launch takes place today, 8th March, in THREE tents on the grounds of the luxurious 5-Star Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria.

Kenyan Designer, Patricia Mbela (Poisa Fashion)

Kaveke will be showcasing his work late this afternoon on the runway, as Poisa will go on display early tomorrow morning.

So far, 66 of the 77 participants have been revealed including Adama-Paris (Senegal/France), Amine Bendriouich Couture and BS (Germany/Morocco), Amrapali (India), Grey (Nigeria), Chichia London (UK/Tanzania), Gavin Rajah (South Africa), Imane Ayissi (France/Cameroon), Kevan Hall (USA), Maki Oh (Nigeria), Sandra Kennedy (Jamaica), Taibo Bacar (Mozambique), Timo Welland (USA/South Africa) and Zekaryas Solomon (Eritrea/UK)

The event will end on the night of Sunday 11th March 2012 with the spectacular ARISE Magazine Fashion Awards where each designer will hope to secure a Golden Ticket to showcase their designs at the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week 2012 this September.

ARISE Magazine founder NDUKA OBAIGBENA says: “There has been a surge of interest from around the world including major UK and American brands this year, following our successful inaugural event last year, which is why we have decided to give even more designers an opportunity to participate. The world has recognised that Nigeria has much to offer in the way of vibrancy and extraordinary talent in abundance making it the cultural capital of Africa. Once more we are proud to be associated with nurturing new designers from the vast continent and continuing our support of those who are more well known in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.”