In Kampala, Ikpen Akwitti highlights the challenges of African fashion circulation
Traveling from Abuja with her collections, the Nigerian designer discovered that exhibiting, selling, and processing payments from one African country to another remains more complicated than simply walking the runway.
In Kampala, Ikpen Yvonne Akwitti did not just showcase clothing. Traveling from Abuja for Uganda International Fashion Week, the Nigerian designer had to justify the amount of fabric she was carrying at the airport and then find a local solution to receive payments from customers interested in her pieces.
Her experience sheds light on a very concrete paradox. African designers can move from fashion week to fashion week, gaining visibility and attracting new audiences, yet they still lack straightforward channels to sell from one country on the continent to another. The Daily Monitor reports that Akwitti had to rely on a trusted person in Uganda to process some sales.
The stylist runs IK-PEN, a brand founded in 2006 and based in Abuja. The brand specializes in contemporary women’s clothing made from African textiles, featuring hand-painted or dyed prints and embroidery inspired by the traditions of northern Nigeria. Her vision is not to reserve these materials for ceremonies but to incorporate them into everyday wardrobes.
In Kampala, this ambition played out as much off the runway as during the shows. IK-PEN organized a pop-up where visitors could see, touch, and purchase the clothing. For the designer, this direct contact with customers is as important as the visibility of a runway show, as it allows her to test the cuts, uses, and the brand’s ability to truly find its market.
The Uganda International Fashion Week, returning this year after a six-year hiatus, has placed commerce at the heart of its 2026 edition. In addition to the gala, the program included a Fashion and Business Expo aimed at connecting young designers, markets, mentors, and investors, with participants from several African countries and India.
On its official website, the organization now presents its work as a means to transform creative talent into jobs and viable businesses, particularly for women, girls, and youth. It emphasizes training, mentorship, and market access among its priorities.
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