After what seemed like an eternity, Uganda’s fashion calendar has come alive again. This time, it opened with Bold Fashion Week, a two-day event that brought together established and emerging designers under one roof, reminding Kampala of just how much talent exists within the country’s fashion and creative industries.
Held at Motiv in Kampala for two days, the event brought together designers, creatives, exhibitors and fashion enthusiasts for a showcase of African design, with an impressive lineup of designers taking over the runway.
The runway featured Ugandan designers Axarya, Discreet Leather, Good Fibre, Joan Jade, Kifahari, Kwesh, Lamara, Ofumbi and Shurea Yasmin, alongside Nigerian designer Yemi Shoyemi. Their collections explored African heritage, contemporary identity, craftsmanship and modern design, highlighting the depth and diversity of fashion talent across the continent.
Nunu Mugyenyi, co-founder Bold in Africa, said the event was created to give African designers greater visibility while strengthening the relationship between fashion talent and consumers. The successful debut also demonstrated Kampala’s potential as an emerging destination for African fashion and creative enterprise.
Day two of the event opened with a public market day on August 23, held in partnership with the Kampala Artisan Market. Consumers meet designers, experience their collections up close, and buy directly from participating brands, creating a more meaningful connection between African design and the local market.
Lamara UG made its runway debut with a collection that felt like a burst of sunshine. Bold, colourful pieces dominated the runway, with each look carrying enough personality to make it clear that this brand is unwilling to play it safe.
The collection was vibrant, confident and full of personality, delivering exactly the kind of energy a returning fashion week needed.
Meanwhile, Joan Jade used her moment on the runway to continue pushing her advocacy for sisal, but this time, she wrapped it in colour.
Intricate sisal detailing featured across the collection, proving that sustainable, locally rooted materials can be every bit as striking as imported alternatives. The collection married craftsmanship with purpose, showing that sustainability need not come at the expense of style.
A favourite
If there was one collection that got the room talking, it was Kwesh UG, and it was my favourite of the night.
Metallic fabric took centre stage, reworked across a variety of cuts and silhouettes that gave the collection impressive range. From sharp tailoring to fluid, statement-making pieces, Kwesh transformed metallics into something wearable, covetable and a must-have. It was the kind of collection you leave a show still thinking about.
Representing Nigeria, designer Yemi Shoyemi delivered a striking collection that incorporated braille into the designs, a bold and tactile choice that added texture and meaning to the line.
Shoyemi also brought a modern, relaxed take on women’s suiting, softening structured silhouettes without losing their power.
Bold Fashion Week reignited Kampala’s fashion calendar. The debut made one thing clear: Uganda’s fashion scene is building momentum and there is more to look forward to.