After six years away, Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW) is finally ready to reclaim the runway.
The fashion platform, which returned this week with a week-long celebration of creativity, culture and business, will culminate tomorrow, Saturday, September 5, with its Grand Finale Runway Gala at the Kampala Serena Hotel’s Victoria Marquee.
Beginning at 6pm, the gala will bring together an international cast of designers, Ugandan fashion heavyweights and industry insiders for an evening where African identity meets contemporary design.
Running under the theme “Fashion for Impact,” this year’s UIFW has positioned fashion as more than clothes and catwalks, exploring its potential to create jobs, open markets, drive innovation, promote sustainability and strengthen cultural exchange.
The international lineup has already begun adding colour to Kampala’s fashion scene, with designers including Kenya’s Hellen Tolbert, Nigeria’s Ikpen Yvonne Akwitti, Ghana’s Eunice Blessing, Zimbabwe’s Danayi Madondo, South Africa’s Kwenzi Nkomo and India’s Rahul Singh taking part in the week’s activities.
Their collections are expected to explore sustainability and cultural identity, with designers drawing from traditional techniques and locally available materials.
For Nigerian designer Ikpen Yvonne Akwitti, founder of IK-PEN, Africa’s cultural wealth provides endless possibilities for contemporary fashion.
“Sustainability is a very big subject in the world of fashion, and luckily Africa is blessed with all the natural resources essential to making strong fabrics. We have the best cotton here to make any type of clothing we wish. For IK-PEN, we incorporate Adire, Aso-oke, Kente and Akwete to blend Africa’s rich heritage with contemporary designs. I’m very excited and can’t wait to showcase my designs tomorrow,” she said.
The international designers will share the runway with some of Uganda’s most recognisable fashion names, including Lincoln Axarya, Anita Beryl, Natasha Rubadiri and UIFW founder Santa Anzo, the creative force behind Arapapa.
Ugandan collections will bring local identity into the spotlight through materials including barkcloth, kikoyi and kitenge, alongside modern silhouettes and contemporary styling.
But the runway is only the glamorous finale to a week built around a bigger ambition.
Earlier in the week, UIFW hosted a three-day Fashion and Business Expo designed to connect emerging creatives with customers, mentors and established players in the industry.
“We opened the week with a Fashion and Business Expo that happened for three days, simply because we wanted these young creatives to be connected to markets, and for the public to finally recognise and purchase their products. Our young creatives were able to get one-on-one mentorship and knowledge, as well as build relationships with experienced designers in the industry,” Anzo said.
For Anzo, Saturday’s runway should translate that investment in creativity into something tangible.
“On Saturday, every cloth showcased will be an inspiration that contributes to employment and dignified livelihoods for young creatives,” she said.
Behind the scenes, the models have been preparing under the guidance of South African fashion producer Andiswa Manxiwa, who is producing the grand finale alongside deputy producer Cindy Lee. Their preparation has focused on runway movement, presentation and performance, bringing an international production perspective to the showcase.
The gala will also double as a networking space, with designers, CEOs, investors, cultural figures and industry leaders expected to mingle alongside fashion lovers. Exhibitions, networking sessions and business-to-business connections will further push UIFW’s ambition to turn creative talent into sustainable businesses.
Tickets are available through the MTN MoMo App or by dialing 16520#. Platinum tickets cost UGX 250,000, Gold UGX 150,000 and Silver UGX 100,000.