Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Partner Content

How Afro Fashion Association Empowers Underrepresented Designers

Michelle Ngonmo’s talent incubator, founded in Italy in 2015, platforms and supports BIPOC fashion talent and creatives while building bridges between hubs in Cameroon, Rwanda and Ghana to fashion capitals like Milan, and soon, Paris. BoF sits down with Ngonmo to explore the association’s mission and impact.

A diverse group of fashion designers from the African Fashion Association (AFA) pose together in a studio setting against a neutral beige backdrop. There are twelve individuals in total, showcasing a wide range of styles, personalities, and expressions. They are arranged in a balanced composition, with some standing, others sitting or perched on props like stools, ladders, or the floor.
The designers wear eclectic outfits that highlight various fashion aesthetics—from structured and tailored garments to fluid, printed, and layered looks. Their clothing features rich textures, bold prints, and thoughtful detailing, reflecting creativity and individuality. Several dress forms and mannequins with garments or accessories are positioned throughout the scene, along with sewing machines, spools of yarn, and fabric, evoking a studio environment that merges craftsmanship and design.
The atmosphere is poised and confident, celebrating cultural identity, inclusivity, and innovation in fashion. — Italy's Afro Fashion Association platforms and supports BIPOC fashion talent.

BoF Studio

16 July 2025

In Partnership With

The Italian fashion industry has long faced heavy criticism for its lack of diversity and failure to support underrepresented talent. Back in 2013, designer Stella Jean became the first BIPOC designer to show during Milan Fashion Week since its founding in 1958. She later criticised the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) for the Italian fashion authority’s lack of diversity efforts — an issue she has

Please sign in to ensure you can read our agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice. Or get in touch at support@businessoffashion.com if you experience difficulties.

In This Article

Topics

Entrepreneurship:Founders

How to Build a Profitable Handbag Business From Scratch

With profitability now within reach, the London-based luxury leather goods brand Metiér is raising fresh capital to fuel its next chapter.

How Some Founders Are Redefining Fashion’s Idea of Success

As the pipeline to scaling a fashion business grows more precarious, some designers are ditching the pursuit of global prestige in favour of a slower approach to growth they say is more sustainable — and more fulfilling.

Opinion: What Investors Won’t Tell You About Fund Raising

When it comes to raising capital, the gap between what fashion and beauty founders believe is happening and what is actually happening is often enormous, writes Olivier Rivard-Cohen.

How Hong Kong Bridges Local Talent With Global Markets

As the region’s creative and design scene drives economic growth, BoF sits down with the next generation of talent in Hong Kong to understand how they are navigating its growing presence on the global stage.

Adwoa Beauty to Enter Liquidation

A Texas court ruled that the hair-care label’s bankruptcy filing be converted to Chapter 7.

How Chanel Became the Hottest Brand in Fashion

As the French couture giant cruised into Biarritz this week, surging interest in its revamp under designer Matthieu Blazy scored it the top spot on the Lyst Index. But could Blazymania go too far?

Building Connection Through Luxury’s Sensory Evolution

Luxury fragrance house Amouage, together with The Business of Fashion, convened leading creatives for an evening of open dialogue on the evolution of the luxury industry — from visual symbol to deeper emotional connection.

The BoF Podcast | Inside Dries Van Noten’s Venice Manifesto

After stepping back from his namesake brand, Dries Van Noten has opened a foundation in a Venetian palazzo dedicated to craft, beauty, and the things made by hand and soul. BoF's Tim Blanks speaks with the designer about why, in ugly times, making something beautiful is the only real form of protest.

The Business of Fashion