Paris Fashion Week has concluded, but London’s latest fashion extravaganza has just kicked off, garnering accolades from a renowned designer for elevating African fashion to new heights.
The fashion event showcased distinctive African-inspired attire crafted by emerging designers, accompanied by an Afrobeat music runway. Esteemed luxury designer and Forbes Under 30 honoree Veekee James graced the spectacular show at The InterContinental London, Greenwich over the weekend.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the growing recognition of African fashion, Veekee remarked, “We are diligently working to showcase our creations globally, and it brings me immense joy to witness our impact expanding beyond our borders. Africans are truly revolutionizing the fashion landscape on a global scale. I am thrilled to see talents from Africa gaining recognition worldwide.”
RAFT X, a full-day affair, featured a fashion runway, a talent competition akin to X-Factor with a £2,000 cash prize, and facilitated networking between businesses and clients, including British-Nigerian food enterprise Puff Puff Ministry, renowned for its delectable doughnut-like pastries.
RAFT X, a newly inaugurated annual event, is dedicated to celebrating arts, culture, and community. DJ Abass, a talent show judge, commended RAFT X for hosting a groundbreaking event, emphasizing the platform’s role in propelling African culture into the limelight, leading to inevitable recognition.
The talent competition winner, spoken-word artist Jessica Edgar, known as Poetess Jess, impressed the judges with her captivating performance, expressing her overwhelming gratitude for the honor and the opportunity to showcase her talent among a community of exceptional Black creatives and entrepreneurs.
Radio host Tolu Adepegba, popularly known as Lady T and a talent show judge, lauded the multicultural event, highlighting the remarkable influence of African culture across various nations and industries, particularly in arts and fashion.
Organized by Harvesters UK, a multi-center church creating impactful community experiences, RAFT X was described by Pastor Dayo Ogunrombi as a culturally rich and beautiful event that provided a platform for talents to shine. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and nurturing individuals’ hidden potentials beyond their visible attributes, aiming to support and uplift them.
Mr. Ogunrombi shared his vision of expanding RAFT X to a larger venue next year, aiming to attract more brands and sponsors to the event, fostering greater opportunities for talent recognition and collaboration.