Tallahassee African Fashion Weekend begins Friday

Tallahassee African Fashion Weekend
Photo submitted by Kalen Johnson

The third annual Tallahassee African Fashion Weekend will paint the city Ankara this Friday through Sunday.

Kuumba Creations, a local fashion design business, will be hosting the weekend of events that will promote both people and trends within the African diaspora.

From Friday to Sunday, events will take place that highlight African fashion, art, and culture.

Producer of TAFW, Kandis Maureen, said, “Tallahassee African Fashion Weekend will provide an opportunity for business owners, community leaders, and a myriad of other professionals to leverage their brand and expand their network.”

The weekend will kick-off on Friday with the Meet & Greet at The Alley Shoppe, located at 2029 South Adams St. The event will begin at 9 p.m.

The Ankara Fashion Show, the weekend’s main event, will take place Saturday at the Wyndham Garden Inn located at 1355 Apalachee Parkway. The dress code is all things Ankara, a colorful cloth with vivacious patterns that is also known as African wax prints.  

“I am excited to experience the weekend of events. Dressing to the theme is what I’m looking forward to the most,” said Tallahassee resident Ta’Kera Flowers.

The weekend will conclude Sunday at the Kuumba Pop Up Shop at Mocha Reign Natural Hair Studio located on 1815 South Adams St.

Florida A&M University alumna Jean Nwagbuo said, “Being Nigerian, I love to see the celebration of African culture. Our culture is beautiful and rich and it’s a proud moment to see people embracing it.”

TAFW is committed to cultural preservation of the African aesthetic and devoted to using the platform to raise cultural awareness and impact Tallahassee’s fashion industry.

When asked about the inspiration behind the event, Maureen said, “I wanted to connect all my fantasies, daydreams, visions, and bring them to life. I wanted people to see African fashion the way I visualized it in my head.”

Last year’s TAFW took place at the Tallahassee Community College Workplace Development Center and featured fashions from Trendi Apparell, Leave It to Lisa, Lmaria Creations, and Oh Sew Divine.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.tallyafricanfashionweekend.com/tickets.html.  

For more information, visit https://www.tallyafricanfashionweekend.com/.