How AfrisWish is spotlighting African fashion on the global stage

Tosin Clegg

As the world becomes more interconnected, thanks in great part to the internet, fashion is crossing boundaries with more people embracing designs and outfits from all over the world. Nigerian fashion has grown in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years and has moved beyond the shores of the country, garnering global appeal and appreciation. Africans in the diaspora have been its greatest proponent, effectively showcasing the best of African fashion all over the world.

Thanks to indigenous designers who are raising the ante daily, the industry is innovating in new ways with amazing designs that have gotten the world’s attention.

In the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of Nigerian fashion, AfrisWish is one of the designers standing as a beacon of innovation, cultural pride and stamping local fashion on the global map. Founded three years ago by Toyosi Osobu, AfrisWish is connecting Africans in the diaspora with their roots through fashion. AfrisWish didn’t come out of the blue however, as before it, there was OTY Afrique, birthed in 2017, specialising in unique African fabrics and ready to wear outfits. The success and acceptance of the older brand amongst fashion lovers seemingly paved way for the birth of AfrisWish a few years later.

Blending African heritage with sustainable fashion for a global audience, particularly catering to Africans in the diaspora who seek unique, cultural and eco-friendly clothing is not an easy task but AfrisWish seems to be bridging this gap easily, taking care of both Nigerians at home and abroad as well as the rest of the world.

Actively celebrating Africa, the people, culture and its boundless creativity, the brand has its collections on multiple channels, especially through e-commerce, making it accessible across different markets.

To make it even more of a global brand, AfrisWish needs to expand its presence further by tapping into more global markets, keep innovating in the space of sustainable, luxury African fashion, collaborate with international fashion houses and participate in major global fashion weeks to showcase the beauty and craftsmanship of African fashion on the world stage. To this end, the brand would be partaking in a number of shows and exhibitions in the coming months including African Fashion Week London (AFWL); Liverpool Fashion Week; Source Fashion in London; Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) and Cyprus Fashion Week taking place in Cyprus.

With a long-term vision to being synonymous with premium, eco-friendly African fashion, catering to both the African diaspora and fashion enthusiasts worldwide who appreciate cultural authenticity and sustainability, there is a lot of work to be done.

With an eye on promoting sustainability and traditional craftsmanship, as well as making it a truly global fashion brand, AfrisWish is actively using sustainable fabrics in its designs such as Aso Oke, a traditional hand-woven fabric originating from the Yoruba people in Nigeria. It’s known for its rich textures and vibrant colors. Others are Ankara, colorful cotton fabrics with bold, African-inspired patterns, often used in ready-to-wear pieces; organic cotton and Adire, a resist-dye fabric traditionally hand-made by Yoruba women, featuring intricate patterns and rich cultural significance.

With the collections the brand has put out in the last few years, fashion lovers are anticipating and looking forward to the new designs that would be showcased at the upcoming exhibitions in the coming months. If the new collections are anything like what has been shown in the past, fans of the brand and lovers of good clothing are in for a treat when they drop.