Uganda International Fashion Week returns after six-year hiatus

After six years of waiting, the Uganda International Fashion Week (UIFW) returns on Sunday, August 30, at the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) Multipurpose Hall in Lugogo.

Prior to its six-year sabbatical, the UIFW had positioned itself as more than a fashion showcase, using visibility and creativity to drive skills development, job creation, business growth, and economic empowerment for young people in Uganda.

With this year's edition held under the theme "Fashion for Impact," the organizers are looking at the ever-growing role of fashion as a driver of economic development within our society.

Arapapa, the organizers, say the event promises to showcase Ugandan creativity, talent, and innovation through a series of activities taking place throughout the week.

To bring this vision to life, UIFW will open with the Fashion and Business Expo, which will offer free entry to the public and run from August 30 to September 1.

The three-day expo will provide an opportunity for more than 10,000 young creatives to access a physical marketplace and networking platform where they can showcase and sell their products. The UMA Multipurpose Hall will become a meeting point for creativity and commerce before the runway on the Grand Finale Gala on September 5 at Kampala Serena Hotel, featuring the top 100 models who were unveiled in May this year.

Santa Anzo, the founder of Arapapa, describes the initiative as more than a runway event, but a platform for transformation, empowerment, and inclusion.