Whether it is worn by Hollywood celebrities or proudly showcased on social networks, African fashion is a booming industry that has seen gradual growth and popularity within the past couple of years. On Instagram, the hashtag #africanfashion is highly active with over 2.7 million posts. In Canada, events like African Fashion Week Toronto are helping to shine a light on African creativity by showcasing the work of designers and other professionals within the fashion space especially those that are inspired by the continent. I have definitely got my eyes wide open and I am on the lookout for both established designers and rising talent. Here is a list of some African fashion brands and a marketplace in Canada that are worth watching.
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Ofuure
Established in 2015, Ofuure has been designing versatile pieces in African prints and bold patterns for the everyday Queen. The name is derived from “Ofure” which means “It is well” from the language in Edo state, Nigeria. You will fall in love with their dresses that will have you looking like the best dressed and more. Shop stylish outfits for every occasion such as crop tops, jumpsuits, blazers, headwraps and also remember to browse through their swimwear and sleepwear collections, which come highly recommended. To get a 10% discount off your purchase, use this code at checkout: JKFASHION
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Sirani’s Fashion
Sirani’s Fashion aims to meet women where they are by bringing exquisite African style into every wardrobe – from casual clothing items to evening wear and more. Established in 2017, the brand is a product of Fatim Sylla’s love for African fashion, which started during childhood and can be traced back to Ivory Coast.
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Kaela Kay
Find your inner print diva with classy, sophisticated ready to wear or custom-made apparel for women from Kaela Kay. Discover stunning, exquisite high-end dresses for your special event or occasion. You can also visit their fashion store and studio in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) at 857 Wilson Avenue, North York.
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Andrea Iyamah
Operating out of Toronto, Lagos and New York, Andrea Iyamah has a massive following on social media and caters to females who want to make a style statement. Mostly known as an African resort wear brand, and recognized for its eccentric designs in swimwear, the brand also offers ready to wear and bridal collections.
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Rahyma
Featuring a dynamic range of high-low tops, maxi dresses, jackets and jumpsuits, Rahyma’s clothing is a conversation starter on all things bold, beautiful and vibrant in African fashion. You will love her distinctively African looks for everyday styling.
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Fusionola
This brand is based out of Kitchener, Ontario and uses colourful handmade scrunchies and headbands to help women and girls make a style statement with their hair. The venture is spearheaded by Funmilola Folarin who merged her love for stitching and fashion into a unique business venture and as a result, Fusionola was born.
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Anisah by Tabia Charles
The brand believes in being your own kind of beautiful with colourful silhouettes made out of exclusive prints that compliment every body shape and size. Anisah by Tabia Charles is using fashion to help women connect with their inner goddess while looking effortlessly chic.
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Precious Threads by Abiola
Designed for the style and silhouette of the modern woman, Precious Threads by Abiola takes into consideration luxury, femininity and quality. Abiola draws her inspiration from clean lines and the structure associated with modern, contemporary architecture – a trait that highly reflects her Nigerian values.
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Zeena Kay
Based in Kitchener, Ontario Zeena Kay’s designs carry a unique Afro-western flare. She combines her Cameroonian roots with a love for couture and high-end fashion to create one-of-a-kind pieces that make you look and feel good.
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Trendy Ankara Place
Also based in Kitchener, Ontario is Trendy Ankara Place, the home of quality, affordable and trendy Afrocentric fabrics and ready to wear clothing. You can schedule a virtual consultation for your fitting and styling session upon which you will be given recommendations for how to curate a closet filled with African print apparel.
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Kwesiya
Founded in 2013, Kwesiya ia sustainable fashion brand based in Toronto that inspires women to embrace bold colours and playful prints rather than settling for the status quo when it comes to personal style choices.
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Beni Boo
With a motto known as “well made, well priced,” Beni Boo is dressing up some of the most fashionable women in Toronto. Their outfits will help you uncover your perfect fit in a way that highlights your best features without compromising on your personal sense of style. Shop the biggest African fashion trends at affordable prices.
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Kyle Gervacy
This brand is owned and operated by Toronto-based, St. Lucian designer Kadeem Faustin. It is a fusion of African and Asian influences that showcases the design aesthetics that the brand has come to be known for. Visit the website to shop high fashion statement pieces for men.
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Bohten
Bohten is an eco-luxury eyewear line that uses use reclaimed materials for manufacturing their eyeglasses. CEO, Nana Boateng Osei draws inspiration not only from his love for nature but also from his Ghanaian roots and late grandfather Andrew Hanson Osei, who was Ghana’s first land surveyor in the 60s.
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Kejeo Designs
Kejeo is a word in Mina language from Togo and Benin in West Africa. It means “something that looks good on you.” Truly so, Kejeo designs are created with beauty in mind and to suit the needs of the wearer. All designs are handmade and carefully sewn in Benin and parts of West Africa with only premium quality African print fabrics.
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Ace Kouture
Aiming to be the ace in African fashion in Canada and a pace setter in the industry, Ace Kouture creates contemporary, trendy looks from African print textiles. You will love this brand if you are not afraid of injecting colours and prints into your daily wear. Find out more information about what they have to offer online.
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Michnat Fashion
The Michnat brand promotes the richness and beauty of African culture while helping Africans connect to their heritage. Michnat fashion knows that African prints are unique and that most people love them. With full fabric selections and options for customized styling available to all sizes, Michant aims to make all women stand out in their style.
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Omi Woods
The name of this brand is an amalgamation of words, which pay tribute to founder Ashley Alexis McFarlane’s Jamaican-Ashanti-Maroon heritage. Each piece of jewellery is ethically handmade from fair trade African gold and conflict-free fine metals that are globally sourced. Their jewellery is designed for everyday wear, as gifts for special events and can also become heirlooms.
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Africanizeit
Africanizeit is an artisan-driven collection of clothing for both men and women. The brand is committed to building up and elevating the work of artisans, as well as expanding production and jobs in Africa.
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Niella’s Creation
Founded by Adaeze Niella Obijiaku, this brand creates simple and stylish pieces for the everyday woman. Their product lines include ready-to-wear clothing and hair accessories that are made with vibrant African print fabrics.
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Tignon Headwraps
Tignon is a French Creole word for headwrap. According to the brand, it is “a madras handkerchief used especially in Louisiana as a headdress.” This piece of clothing is steeped in rich culture and history. With Tignon, you can expect to discover headwraps that will help you express your creative personality.
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Esteri Collections
Since it was founded in 2018, Esteri Collections has remained passionate about helping women feel good about themselves by finding their distinct personal style. The brand carefully selects its fabrics and styles in order to create elegant looks for its clients.
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Zoba Martin
Chizoba Udeh-Martin founded Zoba Martin in the spring of 2016 – a clothing brand that specializes in semi-formal, luxury, evening and bridal wear – masterpieces in their own right and all of which are created to embody both elegance and character.
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Ephatha Fashion
The name is derived from the bible in Mark 7:34 from the word Ephphatha, which means “be opened.” As a brand, Ephatha fashion is redefining fashion by combining African fabrics with contemporary western designs, making it versatile and affordable for young professionals to feel comfortable wearing it.
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Stylz Afriq
It is not just the fact that Stylz Afriq believes style is elegance but the way in which they take pride in creating beautiful and iconic pieces for clients is what makes the brand special. On her journey to Nigeria from Canada, the founder fell in love with prints and decided to bring the vision for Stylz Afriq back with her.
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RYCloset
Transform your child into a fashionista that would surely make mommy and daddy proud by dressing them up in RYCloset for everyday wear and special events. RYCloset is a ready to wear kids’ clothing brand which focuses kids clothing from ages 0–10 years. The brand encourages all kids in the Diaspora to embrace African heritage through fashion while looking grand and full of glam! Make sure you are following the brand on Instagram to view photos of their kids clothing collections and learn more!
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Sumbu Apparel
Sumbu Apparel is a Black-owned company led by Ike Daniel and established in 2022 in Toronto, Canada with a focus on African print motifs and design. They offer a wide range and selection of clothing, lifestyle products, home accessories and more for almost every need at awesome prices. Consider this brand a one-stop-shop for everything in African prints and patterns. Find all you are looking for – from casual clothing and home décor to lifestyle accessories and so much more! Visit their website today and get immersed in a world of African print.
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Ayinke Fashion
Building a corporate closet has just gotten easier thanks to Ayinke Fashion. Whether your style is office casual, classy or a bit more sophisticated, you will find something to love at Ayinke. Fall in love with their chic clothing and budget-friendly prices. Note: This brand is currently on a hiatus.
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Papaya & Co
It all started with a demand for minimalist African fashion goods and not finding any so Papaya & Co was born to fill the gap. The brand has a range of products to choose from such as kitchen aprons, tote bags and more. Their African print ties and pocket squares for men are the perfect accessory to complement any formal outfit. Note: This brand is currently on a hiatus.
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Kuwala
More of a marketplace, Kuwala was started by two women who wanted to create an international platform for African designers to showcase and sell their designs. At Kuwala, you can shop carefully curated piece sourced from socially responsible, African-inspired fashion brands. Note: This brand is currently on a hiatus.
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Updated: October 2022
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I’m a seasoned communications and marketing consultant with a penchant for all things stylish and chic. Follow me on social media and subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates on industry trends and much more!