The strength of a woman is exhibited through many forms. Common among such is raising another human from pregnancy to adulthood but an educated woman has the power to change the world with a snap of a finger.
The fashion industry in Africa had a bright light beamed upon it when five exceptional women decided to create a the first and only dedicated platform that celebrates the creative, artistic talent, and rich diversity of culture from the continent.
With a vision of connecting Africa to the Middle East and those of the diaspora, Aser Levron, Thando Magumise, Badrriya Henry, Dina Yassin, And Amna Ahmed founded Africa Fashion Week- Middle East In 2020.
One goal that tied these women together was the idea of celebrating the diversity, untold stories and the endless connection between Africa & the Middle East through fashion, art and culture while creating a sustainable platform for creatives to explore endless opportunities, foster expression and harness talents within the continent.
Here are the founders of Africa Fashion Week Middle East.
Awo Aser Levron
She is a multi-lingual with over a decade of experience in the UAE. Founder of FiftyFour Creatives, a PR and Digital Marketing Company. Aser boldly wears the hat of a strategic communication & PR specialist as well as Brand Management consultancy and storytelling.
With her thorough understanding of the Middle East markets, she has built strong ties with local and regional media, & influencers alike; across industries and established unique dimensions to stay relevant in the competitive market.
Levron leads the Brand Communication, PR and Marketing for AFWME, with a vision to build a strong brand and establish AFWME’s unique value proposition and offerings within the market and across the right stakeholders.
Dina Yassin
Dina Yassin is a co-founder, Creative Director and Styling Coordinator for Africa Fashion Week Middle East (AFWME).
Born to Eritrean parents in Sudan and raised in the UAE, Dina brings on onboard her expertise of almost 3 decades in the fashion industry which includes: a high-fashion sense as a prolific stylist, designer, and luxury brand consultant who has lived in London & New York City, and travelling across the globe.
Her skill, beauty, and passion have led her to collaborate with prominent names in the industry and graced the pages of many top-tier magazines such as Harper's Bazaar Art, Marie-Claire, Conde Nast Traveller, Stylist, Vogue Arabia and many more. Dina has also worked on several advertorials and with top fashion visionaries.
Dina is the Founder & Creative Director of the streetwear fashion brand, Efro & Co.
Thando Magumisa
Thando Magumise is the Creative Director of Ntombi Couture, one of the most recognised African Inspired brands in Dubai with over a decade of operations. She is also the co-founder of The Ethnic Group.
With a background in Marketing, Finance and Art, Thando has grown many brands across Africa and given over 1500 ladies the opportunity to export their products into the global market.
Since 2013, Ntombi Couture has grown into one of the most recognised African-owned brands in the city and used their unique fusion of African patterns, clean lines and classic cuts to encourage positive mental health.
Badrriya Henry
Badrriya Henry is the founder of Fashion Foresight.
She has over 9 years of experience in the fashion industry with a background of working in the supply chain, consults, research and development to lecturing at Raffles Design Institute, Saudi Arabia.
Badrriya serves as a Dubai Future Contributor with the vision to evolve the fashion industry through technology solutions.
With technology gradually shaping the future of industries, Badrriya intends to explore solutions that amplify brands in retail spaces and assist them in connecting better with consumers with various digital touch points and experiences created both online and offline.
Amna Ahmed
Amna Ahmed is the Co-founder and Events expert at African Fashion Week Middleast (AFWME)
She is a highly experienced creative events strategist and project management expert with an international career spanning 15 years. Skilled at developing and leading high-profile teams, delivering complex initiatives and projects across multiple industries. Her expertise lies towards creating an experience showcasing Art Lifestyle and Culture.
She has produced and directed some of the best productions from Launch ceremonies, Corporate events, and 360-degree theatre acts, to multi-genre fusion concepts within Community events. Assisting several businesses with Marketing and Communication through brand activations and live events.
Amna is the Founder and Creative Director of Elation Avenue Event Management
