On February 19, 2026, Brand63Africa marked a defining moment in its journey with its official debut at the British Council’s London Fashion Week Designer Showcase, hosted at the iconic Harrods in Knightsbridge London. The unveiling signaled more than a presentation; it announced the arrival of a powerful new platform dedicated to elevating designers of African heritage within leading global markets.
Rooted in the appreciation for African creativity, Brand63Africa is anchored in a vision that merges cultural legacy with contemporary relevance. It’s commitment to sustainability and advocacy for a circular fashion economy underscores a forward-thinking ethos that is both responsible and regenerative. The platform takes its name from 1963, the year the African Union was formed. A symbolic reference to the continent’s rich cultural inheritance and its enduring spirit of unity, innovation, and progress.
The inaugural cohort brought together designer brands from across Africa and the diaspora, each championing small-batch production and traditional craftsmanship while seamlessly blending heritage techniques with modern design language. This careful balance between preservation and progression defines the Brand63Africa identity.
During the British Fashion Council’s Designer Showcase, His Majesty was formally introduced to the inaugural Brand63Africa designers by Founder Eva Omaghomi CVO and Operations Director Lulu Shabell. Each designer presented a signature look from their collection, offering a compelling narrative of African excellence, artistry, and global ambition on one of fashion’s most prestigious stages.
Eva Omoghomi CVO Founder, Brand63Africa shared
“Africa has always produced luxury: What’s often been missing is sustained access to visibility at the highest level. Brand63Africa was created from a passion to give access and build meaningful, long-term pathways for designers of African Heritage to the global luxury market. This platform brings together heritage craftsmanship, contemporary design and responsible production, while remaining rooted in community, culture and creativity. We are proud to be amongst other pioneering platforms that have consistently highlighted creativity from the African diaspora and are excited to introduce our first cohort of exceptional designers or our retail partner Harrods”
The creative committee played a key role in selecting the 5 designers for the inaugural cohort from a list of 20 designers. Their role was to provide expert artistic counsel that would inform the final decision ensuring the selected designers aligned with the brands mission of expanding global market reach while championing cultural authenticity, fostering economic empowerment and promoting sustainable responsible production.
The Creative committee comprised of Global industry Leaders:
- Vanessa Kingori OBE – Luxury, Tech, Culture Transformation Specialist & Brand63Africa Creative Committee Chair
- Michael Ward – Managing Director, Harrods
- Nisha Kanabar – Founder & CEO, fashion platform Industrie Africa
- CaSandra Diggs – Immediate Past President, Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
- Anna Getanah – Former Ethiopian Supermodel; Founder & Designer, African Mosaique
- Walé Adeyemi MBE – Designer and Stylist
- Beth Teshome – Experienced Fashion and Textiles Manufacturer
- Vanessa Moungar – Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, LVMH
The first cohort of brands featured on Brand63Afria includes:
Studio Namnyak – Kenyan fashion brand that fuses traditional craftsmanship with innovative digital design. The brand explores the intersection of heritage and technology through small thoughtfully produced capsule collections. Drawing on traditional African techniques while utilizing 3d Design technologies. Studio Namnyak is rooted in the principles of slow fashion. The brand positions each garment as both design object and a narrative of identity, culture and mindful living creating minimalist sustainable clothing for the conscious global consume.
The Cloth – Founded in 1986 the brand is one of the Caribbean’s most influential fashion brand based in Trinidad and Tobago. Led by Trinidadian designer Robert Young and British anthropologist Sophie Bufton. At its core the brand redefines what “Made in Caribbean” represents beyond the region weaving its history, cultural memory and contemporary design into a distinctive fashion language presenting collection that resonates internationally while remaining deeply rooted in placing and positioning Caribbean designs within the global luxury fashion conversation.
Sukeina – Culturally the brand is rooted in the cosmologies of Africa, The aesthetics of Europe and the American canvas of reinvention. “Sukeina” means bright light. Founded by Omar Salim, the brands collections are created to evoke the myriad of emotions, experience, challenges and triumphs of the human condition. The brand is committed to innovation in their vision, craftsmanship, execution and sustainability in their consumption taking time to pause and reflect rather than rush and produce. Sukeina positions fashion as both an aesthetic and metaphysical tool for self-expression and empowerment.
Abiola Olusola : Luxury womenswear brand founded by Abiola A Olusola in Lagos rooted in elegant minimalism, refined femininity and cultural consciousness. The heartbeat of the brand is deep respect for craft, culture and quiet strength. The collections blends contemporary design with the richness of Yoruba heritage reimagining tradition through a modern global lens. The pieces reflect a balance of architectural tailoring and organic textures with subtle nods to ceremonial dress codes and traditional textile practices woven into the work. The brand designs for women who value timelessness, cultural authenticity and quiet power.
Christie Brown: Founded by creative director Aisha Ayensu, the brand is a leading African luxury fashion house headquartered in Accra and rooted in Ghanian craftsmanship. The brand designs, manufactures and retails women’s ready -to- wear and accessories managing its full value chain through an inhouse team of over 90 artisans and international manufacturing partners under her leadership. Christie Brown has redefined contemporary Ghanian Fashion by blending traditional textiles with modern aesthetics. With global showcases, international retail partnerships and talent development through the Christie Brown Academy, the brand is building a blueprint for globally scaled African Luxury fashion brand.
The partnership with Harrods champions established designers committed to sustainability and community empowerment. Michal Ward, Managing Director Harrods shared “The collaboration between Harrods and Brand 63 Africa provides an iconic stage for the exceptional group of designers. At Harrods, we recognize the importance of opportunities like these, and we are delighted to exclusively showcase key looks from their AW26/27 collections in-store. It’s an honour to have joined the creative community in selecting this inaugural cohort”