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African Fashion Week spotlights emerging designers

Tired of elite fashion houses borrowing from their textiles and aesthetic, a new generation of African designers is rising to prominence not just for their popular garments, but for the employment they provide to a struggling population.

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Adiat Disu, director of Africa Fashion Week, at a Soho party at Molton Brown. Disu supports African designers, who are attracting mainstream attention.

Helayne Seidman / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Young designer Theresa Frimpomaa, left, 21, and Adeyinka Adiatu,18, wearing a dress Theresa designed, at Molton Brown.

Young designer Theresa Frimpomaa, left, 21, and Adeyinka Adiatu,18, wearing a dress Theresa designed, at Molton Brown.

Helayne Seidman / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Model Tracey Beliard in a dress by Kachi Designs. Designers note that African fashion has moved beyond the animal prints that were once dominant.

Model Tracey Beliard in a dress by Kachi Designs. Designers note that African fashion has moved beyond the animal prints that were once dominant.

Helayne Seidman / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Model Chinedum Emelumea, left, wears a dress by Saint Wobil, and model Carrie Tudy wears Ethiopian designer Fikirte Addis. Wobil’s designs have been featured in Italian Vogue.

Model Chinedum Emelumea, left, wears a dress by Saint Wobil, and model Carrie Tudy wears Ethiopian designer Fikirte Addis. Wobil’s designs have been featured in Italian Vogue.

Helayne Seidman / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Model Carrie Tudy wears Ethiopian designer Fikirte Addis.

Model Carrie Tudy wears Ethiopian designer Fikirte Addis.

Helayne Seidman / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Detail of a dress by Saint Wobil, worn by model Chinedum Emelumba. Designer Darius Wobil says that fabrics rich with color and pattern are bringing African designers to prominence.

Detail of a dress by Saint Wobil, worn by model Chinedum Emelumba. Designer Darius Wobil says that fabrics rich with color and pattern are bringing African designers to prominence.

Helayne Seidman / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Designer Darius Wobil of Saint Wobil with model Chinedum Emelumba. Wobil praised African models’ “swan-like” posture.

Designer Darius Wobil of Saint Wobil with model Chinedum Emelumba. Wobil praised African models’ “swan-like” posture.

Helayne Seidman / FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Olatide Adeniyi, originally from Nigeria, designs clothes using African fabrics. She'll be showing her designs at African Fashion Week in July. She poses at her home in Silver Spring, Md.

Olatide Adeniyi, originally from Nigeria, designs clothes using African fabrics. She'll be showing her designs at African Fashion Week in July. She poses at her home in Silver Spring, Md.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

Some of designer Olatide Adeniyi’s original clothing hangs in her living room in Silver Spring, Md.

Some of designer Olatide Adeniyi’s original clothing hangs in her living room in Silver Spring, Md.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

Adeniyi has a sketchbook full of her original designs. Some of the sketches on this page have already been made into garments.

Adeniyi has a sketchbook full of her original designs. Some of the sketches on this page have already been made into garments.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

Some of the vibrant-patterned fabric that Adeniyi uses in her designs is stacked in piles at her home in Silver Spring, Md.

Some of the vibrant-patterned fabric that Adeniyi uses in her designs is stacked in piles at her home in Silver Spring, Md.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

Adeniyi’s labels are ready to be sewn into the clothing she designed for African Fashion Week.

Adeniyi’s labels are ready to be sewn into the clothing she designed for African Fashion Week.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

Adeniyi fits a dress to aspiring model Meron Abebe at home.

Adeniyi fits a dress to aspiring model Meron Abebe at home.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

Adeniyi is one of 21 designers who will show at African Fashion Week New York, which takes place July 14-16.

Adeniyi is one of 21 designers who will show at African Fashion Week New York, which takes place July 14-16.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

Designers such as Adeniyi are benefitting from the recent popularity of bright African-print fabrics. Even retailers like H&M, Aldo and Target are looking to African patterns for trendy items this summer.

Designers such as Adeniyi are benefitting from the recent popularity of bright African-print fabrics. Even retailers like H&M, Aldo and Target are looking to African patterns for trendy items this summer.

Katherine Frey / THE WASHINGTON POST

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