Africa Fashion Week London pays tribute to icon, Grace Jones

On a less than beautiful summer’s day, Africa Fashion Week London took over the Riverside Terrace at Southbank Centre for Meltdown Festival and a fashion extravaganza inspired by Grace Jone’s iconic fashions.

Continuing AFWL’s dedication to promoting and uplifting design graduates of colour, the show started with three mini-collections apiece from the Universities of Northampton and West London.  Themes of protest were evident in both universities’ collections.  Black Lives Matter and awareness of misogyny- the unique discrimination faced by black women, featured in powerful graphic print.

The main show brought drama,rain,  African haute couture and elaborate accessories. Prestige designers: Adebayo Jones, Elfreda Dali, Sista by Eyoro, Soboye, Mary Martin London and Kalikas Armour, showcased glamour, command of design and tailoring and meant that Southbank had never been well-dressed.