ANNA WINTOUR

Editor-In-Chief US Vogue and Artistic Director, and Global Advisor of Conde Nast

For the first time ever in the African continent, the ARISE Fashion Week brand got a nod of approval from the most powerful woman in the fashion world, Anna Wintour. Not only did she send this message via video, she also showed her rarely seen eyes to the public who most times, only see her in her famous black glasses! It was a moving speech as she spoke about ARISE Fashion Week, and how the brand has drawn even more awareness to the talent within the African continent which is a welcome change!

That this act of hers is a major feat for the AFW brand which cannot be undermined! And of course, the woman who made this possible is none other than the Queen of Catwalk herself, Naomi Campbell who has continued to lend her influence, name and connections to promote the AFW brand and maintain its relevance on the global platform.

“One of the great joys of my job at Vogue has been to spotlight each new successive generation of designers. For the longest time, those designers came from the United States, and from Europe and Asia. That’s why I am so honoured to be a part of this year’s ‘ARISE Fashion Week ‘30 Under 30: The New Stars. This initiative will bring young design talents from Africa and beyond to the fore, showcasing their work and allowing them the chance to receive business and development support.

All of us have been through the most incredibly difficult year. But there have been some remarkable lessons, which have come out of it, experiencing moments of joy and optimism and looking competently to the future. Now, more than ever, we all understand that we share a collective responsibility to lift up talents, all over the globe, not just on our doorstep.