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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.
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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

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