By STEPHEN KAPAMBWE –

ZAMBIA’S ChizO’ Designs, Bulongo Clothing and Fay Designs will be among fashion labels on display as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Education (UNESCO) hosts the global edition of the Africa Fashion Reception (AFR) in Paris starting today.

The reception is being held at the de Fontenoy headquarters.

The reception has been made possible by a new patronage and partnership between the Africa Fashion Reception and UNESCO, which is the world’s number one cultural organisation.

UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova in her letter to the organisation’s Permanent Delagate of Nigeria Mariam Katagum, she congratulated the organisers for such an important initiative.

She said the fashion reception falls into the mandate of UNESCO’s field of competence.

The AFR is a Pan African initiative. The global edition will gather fashion designers, dignitaries, ambassadors and media from over 30 African countries, in a celebration of cultural diversity expressed through the artistic fashion discipline with the proud theme ‘Africa is the New Inspiration of Global Fashion.’

The African edition was hosted by the African Union (AU) in its headquarters in Addis Ababa from September 13 – 15, 2016.

Activities lined up during the African edition were the first African Fashion Business Summit and exhibition by each of the participating countries.

The reception is organised and packaged by Legendary Gold Limited in collaboration with UNESCO, the Nigerian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, African Union Commission and Atunda Entertainment. AFC chief executive officer, Lexy Mojo-Eyes said the platform has been specially created for positive change.

“The AFR is not just an event. It is a movement,” Mojo-Eyes said. Participating designers will include Botocy of Botswana, Kaz O Zah Art of Burundi, Paradise Fashion from Ethiopia, Fanny Mandina of the DR Congo, Tekay Designs from Liberia, Classic Fashion of Namibia, Walove by Designs of Kenya and Kokonut stylist from Swaziland.

Others are Keto Couture from Nigeria, De La Sebure from Burkina Faso, Hall of Peters of Ghana, Alphao Fashion from Guinea, Inkanda of Rwanda, Fall Prov from Senegal, Diana Fashion from Tanzania, Arampapa by Santa Anzo of Uganda and Ghizlaine Bouzit of Morocco.

Zambia is being represented by ChizO’ Designs, Bulongo Clothing, Our Heritage Clothing, Fay Designs and Zarita Couture.