Six years after its last edition, the Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW) made a long-awaited return to the runway on Saturday, September 5th, evening, at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The grand finale gala brought together fashion enthusiasts, designers, creatives and industry players from Uganda, East Africa and beyond.
The event was run under the theme “Fashion for Impact,” reflecting UIFW’s ambition to position fashion beyond the runway as a pathway to creativity, employment, entrepreneurship and dignified livelihoods. Opening the evening, UIFW founder and Arapapa Fashion House lead designer, Santa Anzo, said the platform was created to give young Ugandans an opportunity to demonstrate their talent and be able to connect with stakeholders who might offer opportunities that could shape their futures.
“The Uganda International Fashion Week is here to show how much talent young Ugandans have. We want to give the public a glimpse of that talent and connect these young people to future partners, investors, managers and even mentors,” Anzo said.
She added that the broader vision was to support women and young people in turning their talents and skills into dependable careers and sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.
That vision was echoed by Dr Ruth Aisha Biyinzika, coordinator of the “Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises” (GROW) Project, one of the event’s partners.
“Our goal is to support women enterprises and ensure that women are guided onto the path of creating comfortable livelihoods and employment opportunities for themselves. We are here to shine a light on the different activities women are undertaking to eradicate poverty, provide for their families and change the status quo,” she said.
On the runway, Ugandan designer and Johnnie Walker influencer Lincoln Axarya opened the showcase with his brand, AXARYA, presenting contemporary designs built around the idea that fashion can be both comfortable and beautiful.
Other Ugandan designers who took to the runway included Natasha Rubadiri of Natwe Fashion House, Joanita Nabasegera of Lulungi Couture, Dutah Muhangi Bomukama, and Abbas Kaijuka.
They were joined by an international line-up that included Kenya’s Hellen Tolbert, Nigeria’s Ikpen Yvonne Akwitti, Ghana’s Eunice Blessing, Zimbabwe’s Danayi Madondo, and South Africa’s Kwenzi Nkomo.
The highlight of the evening was India’s Rahul Singh, who added an Asian perspective to the predominantly African showcase.
Despite their different creative identities, the designers shared a strong appreciation for culture and sustainability, drawing inspiration from their heritage and incorporating locally available materials and traditional techniques into collections that blended heritage with contemporary fashion.
The response to the collections was equally telling. According to Anzo, all the designers had sold the pieces they presented on the runway, reflecting the growing appreciation for locally and regionally produced fashion.
Beyond the designs, the evening also reflected UIFW’s commitment to inclusion. Persons with disabilities and refugees participated in different areas of the fashion week, including modelling, design and photography, creating opportunities for a wider range of creatives to develop and showcase their skills.
Mary Nakimuli, a deaf model, said UIFW had been a transformative experience that strengthened her confidence and belief in her potential.
“This has been a very good platform for me because it has built my confidence and made me believe that I can achieve my dreams. UIFW was my first platform to ever walk on, and it has been a game changer for me. I now plan to pursue modelling as a career,” she said.
The models also gained runway training, mentorship and exposure to international fashion standards from industry professionals, including Lincoln Axarya and South African fashion producer Andiswa Manxiwa.