DAR ES SALAAM: The Swahili Fashion Week and Awards has officially announced that its 18th edition will take place from December 5 to 7, 2025, at The Parthenon Hall, Greek Hellenic Club, along Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road in Dar es Salaam.
Recognized as one of Africa’s most prestigious fashion platforms, this year’s event is expected to bring together over 46 designers from Tanzania, Kenya, Italy, South Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, and other parts of the world.
Marking a significant milestone, the 2025 edition introduces a new logo, symbolizing transformation, creativity, and the dawn of a new artistic era.
Speaking to Daily News during the logo launch held at Bravo Hall, Coco Beach in Dar es Salaam, the Founder and Director of Swahili Fashion Week and Awards, Mustafa Hassanali, said this year’s theme focuses on the intersection between fashion and technology, exploring how African designers can adapt to the pace of digital evolution to create the “fashion of tomorrow.”
“As the world undergoes rapid technological transformation, Swahili Fashion Week 2025 aims to inspire designers to embrace technology as a tool for sustainable creativity—one that maintains and celebrates African identity,” said Hassanali.
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He noted that by 2024, over 60 percent of fashion consumers in Africa interacted with brands through digital platforms and social media—an indication of a new era in fashion engagement.
Hassanali further emphasized that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), 3D printing, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) are revolutionizing the global fashion industry, with African designers increasingly adopting them through an Afrocentric lens.
Since its inception in 2008, Swahili Fashion Week has served as a pillar of African creativity and innovation, providing a platform for designers from Swahili-speaking countries and beyond to showcase their work, network with industry stakeholders, and access global opportunities.
Over the years, the event has helped elevate African fashion by merging cultural heritage with modern expression, telling the story of Africa through style.
“Our vision has always been to elevate African creativity to international standards while celebrating our unique cultural identity,” Hassanali stated. “By unveiling our new logo and embracing the theme of Swahili Futurism, we reaffirm our belief that Africa is not only the birthplace of culture but also at the forefront of innovation.”
The Swahili Fashion Week and Awards 2025 will also recognize outstanding achievements in the fashion industry through 28 award categories.
The voting process will be managed transparently by Nexia Tanzania, ensuring credibility and respect for those making significant contributions to the growth of African fashion.
As the largest fashion event in East and Central Africa, Swahili Fashion Week continues to provide a powerful platform for both local and international designers to showcase their creativity, promote their brands, and connect with the global fashion market.
Founded by renowned African designer Mustafa Hassanali, Swahili Fashion Week underscores that fashion is not merely art—it is a vital creative industry that can drive economic growth and elevate the “Made in Africa” brand worldwide.
