Full House for first Africa Fashion Week Show - London

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Three ladies from Sierra Leone with hand crafted Paku Art bags from Ghana at the inaugural London Africa Fashion Week event.

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Designer Adebayo Jones at the Gala Fashion Show.

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Africa Fashion Week founder Ronke Ademiluyi with Sola Odebaye the event's production manager.

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Designer Adebayo Jones, Pauline Long of BEFTTA with make up artist Christelle Kedi at the London's Africa Fashion Week.

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Rosemary Chileshe at AFW. The former Miss World contestant has been nominated to carry the Olympic flame in 2012. The Zambian model & property surveyor was nominated for her HIV & Aids charity campaign work.

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Edna Agbarha at the Africa Fashion Week. Edna was one of the candidates competing in The Apprentice 2011 to win Lord Sugars investment in a business.

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Model Chariese Elizabeth shows of her attire after the Africa Fashion Week Gala show.

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Ugandan designers Racheal Kisti and Zaina Riech.

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Models at an impromptu shoot before the Africa Fashion Week Gala Show.

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Celebrity hairstylist Verona White with the latest edition of Blackhair magazine that features model/designer Nana Afua.

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Designer Adebayo Jones with Ronke Ademiluyi Africa Fashion Week founder.

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Edna Agbarha with Sola Oyebade CEO of Mahogany Model Management.

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Front row at the Gala Fashon Show.

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Pauline Long founder of the BEFFTA Awards at Gibson Hall for London's Africa Fashion Week.

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At the Jewelley by Abike stall.

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Sadia, Mariam and Taeko, the Sixoone Media team after the Gala Show.

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Models backstage with Nigerian designer Es Anozia of the Bebegrafiti fahion label (3rd left) at the London Africa Fashion Week.

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Catwalk front row. All eight shows were over subscribed for the two days.

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Dionne sorts out the afro of a fellow model.

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The Prima Rouge fashion label was set up in 2009 with the intention of filling a unique gap in the art of dress making in Nigeria.

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Africa Fashion Week founder Ronke Ademiluyi of Rukkies Concept with Frank Osodi head designer at House of Bunor (Nigeria). He was one of the more established designers with over 20 years experience in the industry.

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Rosemary Chileshe at AFW Galla event. The former Miss World contestant has been nominated to carry the Olympic flame in 2012.

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A musician entertains at the Africa Fashion Week Gala show at Gibson Hall

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Sola Oyebade of Mahogany production who managed the event's production promised a larger venue for the next event in 2012.

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Africa Week production manager Sola Oyebade poses with New Africa Woman Editor Regina Jere-Malanda and a guest after the two day Africa Fashion Week event at Gibson Hall

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Gibson Hall in Bishopsgate was the venue for the inaugural London Africa Fashion Week which opened its doors for a two-day showcase of emerging African designers with all shows being heavily oversubscribed. UK. 6th August 2011

Gibson Hall in Bishopsgate was the venue for the showcase of over 50 emerging, graduate and established African as well as a few European designers with four catwalks shows in the two days.

The featured designers came from all corners of Africa from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Congo and Uganda.One notable participant was the designer behind Adopted Culture, Ghanaian Nana Afua who not only presented her collection but was also on the runway modelling for other designers for the length of the two day.

The chance to showcase in a show of the calibre of Africa Fashion Week London when Africa print attire is slowly going mainstream was described by many of the emerging designers as a window to the world for there work.

The East African region was represented by Rachael Kirsti, Maureen Amooti from Uganda, Zekarya Solomon from Eritrea and Chiro, Ann Rose and Vishali Morjaria from Kenya.

Africa Fashion week aka AFW aims to create networks which will inspire the growth of Africa fashion.
Africa Fashion week aka AFW has been in planing for the last year by it founder Ronke Ademiluyi and her brother Kamari and produced by Mahogany production, the production company run by Sola Odebaye famed for the annual Top Model of Colour beauty pageant as well as The Mahogany bridal Show.

Sponsors include Arik Air, 806 Restaurant, Twisted Fashion, CNN, Real Hair by Clara, Mink make up amongst others.