Africa Fashion Week London Renews its Partnership with the British Council
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- April 7, 2026
AFWL welcomes back its partnership with the British Council’s Creative DNA Programme as part of Africa Fashion Week London 2026, a collaboration that continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of African fashion.
In the lead-up to the AFWL2026 live shows, the British Council offices in Stratford will become a dynamic hub of creativity and exchange, hosting four days of activations designed to support, challenge and elevate participating designers.
Across the continent, there is no shortage of creativity. What is often missing, however, is structured access to industry knowledge, international markets, manufacturing networks and sustainable pathways to scale.
The Creative DNA Programme responds directly to this need, supporting designers not just as creatives but as entrepreneurs navigating a complex global industry. It is this kind of intentional investment that is critical to unlocking Africa’s full creative and economic potential.
AFWL will be curating and powering this entire week-long programme, supercharging the British Council’s Creative DNA support and amplifying it into a high-impact platform for real industry access, visibility and growth.
The programme begins on Monday 17 August with Immersive Workshops grounding participants with new skills in heritage, craftsmanship and cultural narratives. These sessions are not just about technique, but about reconnecting design to identity and legacy. In the late afternoon, we will host the AFWL Press Conference, where all are welcome to hear about the AFWL2026 programme and how we bring about global designers and creatives to the London stage.
On Tuesday 18 August, the focus shifts to dialogue and exchange through a series of Panel Discussions. These include hearing about the Manchester Metropolitan University Adire Project, in which the BA Fashion & Textile students explore innovation through heritage textiles. We hear insights from The Paul Smith Foundation on another Creative DNA programme nurturing emerging talent. A critical conversation on Scaling African Fashion into Global Trade sees industry professionals discussing what is needed across the continent to compete in international markets, and finally, a talk on African Futures – exploring digital creativity, AI and new frontiers in fashion.
By Wednesday 19, the programme will feature a dedicated AI Fashion Lab for designers led by Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, a globally recognised specialist in Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4Dev). Founder and CEO of Rise Networks, a Lagos-based data and AI social enterprise, Dr. Toyosi is a leading voice in AI safety, governance and digital innovation. In this hands-on session, designers will be introduced to AI-assisted design, new creative workflows and the opportunities technology presents for scaling their businesses, equipping them with the tools to compete in an increasingly digital global fashion landscape.
On Thursday 20 August, as the designers and exhibitors flow into London in preparation for the live shows, attention turns to refinement, growth and how to bridge creativity and commercial success. The AFWL Designer Surgeries will provide all participants one-on-one access to industry professionals who will be offering practical advice on design, production, branding and market positioning.
As the week builds, we will move away from the British Council offices and relocate to the AFWL2026 venue, where the showcasing designers and exhibitors step into the spotlight. On the 4pm catwalk on Saturday 22 August, the 10 Creative DNA designers will present their work on the runway in a defining moment of visibility and celebration. On Sunday 23, visitors can continue to engage with the British Council exhibition stand and experience or purchase the collections.
The journey continues beyond the runway. On Monday 24 August, the designers take part in a curated supplier go-see, connecting directly with manufacturers and retail partners in a crucial step in translating collections into scalable businesses.
Together, this programme reflects what Africa Fashion Week London does best: creating a supportive ecosystem that goes beyond the catwalk to provide designers with the tools, networks, mentorship and opportunities they need to succeed. Through our continued partnership with the British Council, we are proud to support a new generation of African designers as they move confidently from local excellence to global impact.
AFRICA FASHION WEEK LONDON 2026
CATWALK & EXHIBITION
Monday 17 – Thursday 20 August
The British Council, Stratford Cross, London E20 1JQ
Saturday 22 – 23 August
AFWL2026 Live Show Venue TBC
About The British Council / Creative DNA
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024-25 we reached 600 million people.
Creative DNA is a flagship programme of the British Council’s creative economy portfolio in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2020, it has supported over 200 fashion entrepreneurs across Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Malawi through mentorship, business development, and showcasing opportunities. The programme is designed to strengthen creative enterprises, foster inclusion, and build international connections between Africa and the UK. Paul Smith’s Foundation, Projekt, and The British Council recently announced Creative DNA x Studio Smithfield. This new peer-to-peer exchange residency programme brings together fashion designers from the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa to collaborate, learn, and build long-term creative and professional relationships.
