From Elevate Africa, an institution founded by Ogiame Atuwatse III and Olori Atuwatse III, the Olu and Queen consort of the Warri Kingdom, comes exciting news for fashion designers in Africa. They stand a chance to win $5000 in “Threads of Africa”, a competition that will celebrate fashion and craftsmanship on the continent, telling the story of its bright future.
Accepting designers in three categories: sustainable fashion, traditional influences, and futuristic design, intending contestants can submit media links to sketches, videos, pictures of their designs and creations for a chance at stardom and incredible gain. Threads of Africa will honour African tradition while improving the future of fashion on the continent.
There can only be ONE winner of this cash prize, and to make the choice, Olori Atuwaste III has enlisted the help of experts in the fashion industry. The winner will be announced at ‘The Africa We See’, a convening of world leaders by Elevate Africa in October 2024.
Meet the judges
Olori Atuwatse III
“Let’s keep pushing, let’s keep elevating Africa to its rightful place on the global stage”
Hosting the event, the Queen consort of Warri Kingdom is committed to empowering African women and children through multiple initiatives. Through Elevate Africa, she and her husband, the king, are taking active steps to empower Africa and uphold its values using media and in collaboration with other African leaders.
Olori Atuwatse III brings her compassion and thirst for empowerment to the fashion industry with Threads of Africa.
Busingye Matsiko-Andan
“Threads of Africa is a celebration of our resilience, creativity, and the powerful narrative woven into the fabric of African fashion”
Popularly called Busie, her work as a serial entrepreneur and global strategist has put her at the forefront of top organisations including African Union, Afrexim Bank, the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network, Lalela Project, and the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa. She also founded one of the first fashion technology companies, Fashion Indie, the popular website for bloggers that was acquired by Nylon Magazine in 2014.
Here, Busie will bring her expertise in leadership and development in the business of fashion to the contestants.
Banke Kuku
“Fashion isn’t just about clothes; it’s about telling culture stories that celebrate our heritage”
Fashion designer Banke Lawson started her brand in 2011 to promote African fashion with a modern twist. With her bachelor’s degree in textiles, Banke’s business creates contemporary fabrics that serve other fashion designers, interior decorators and accessory makers. Her designs have been worn by Michelle Obama and Lupita Nyong’o, and she worked on the 2010 Royal Collection showcased in Buckingham Palace.
Banke Kuku’s years of study and business contribution makes her a perfect juror to select the top designer for the Threads of Africa prize.
Sandrah Tubobereni
“As a fashion enthusiast who loves looking sophisticated and classy, I am passionate about changing the narrative of the fashion industry in Nigeria and setting the pace for young fashion entrepreneurs”
The brand Tubo is widely renowned for its corset silhouettes and flattering designs that scream “powerful woman”. The creative director Sandrah Tubobereni has spent the last ten years building the brand, but her foray into fashion has spanned longer. She was inspired by her seamstress mother, going on to create clothes during her university years. Now, she makes outfits for sophisticated women, redefining what elegance and fashion in Nigeria looks like.
Sandrah’s career has seen steady growth. She is a perfect blend of determination and success, just what Threads of Africa competitors need.
Ugo Monye
“Fashion is not [just about] a fabric, it’s a story we tell without saying a word”
Ugo Monye designs clothes that draw heavy influences from traditional fashion practices but with intricate details that make each piece unique. For the past ten years, Ugo Monye has honed his craft, growing his fashion brand to become a household name synonymous with classy male appearance, focusing on wedding couture. Ugo’s astute eye for detail makes him a wonderful addition to the Threads of Africa lineup of judges.
At the Threads of Africa, contestants stand to gain from the wealth of experience of its judges as well as the chance to showcase their designs far beyond their immediate sphere of influence. Join in now by visiting Elevate Africa’s website because entry closes on September 20.
