It’s that time of the year when Trillion Looks store releases the schedule for the much anticipated Afri art and Fashion show. After successfully running three shows for three consecutive years, we are now geared up for an improved show this year.
Each year, the show seeks to display works of art and creativity from budding designers giving them a platform to launch their collections into the market. Launched in 2022, after the lifting of the covid19 restrictions, the Afriart fashion show was first hosted with a focus on empowering marginalized youth and women artisan designers. Graced by Mrs Grace Mbabazi Aulo the commissioner Ministry of tourism Wildlife and antiquities as the guest of honor, she highlighted her support to the artisanal fraternity and called for more support from both the government and private sector to support the local makers and fashion designers.
In 2023, the afri art fashion show was again hosted at Motiv in bugolobi with a theme Travel through Fashion . In this show designers made fashion and art products for the tourism fraternity in this edition, the show used its platform to show solidarity to people living with Vitiligo and fight stigma against Vitiligo. Models with Vitiligo where given an opportunity to work with fashion designers to showcase their skill.
In 2024,there was a ,rise in a number of talented designers who showcased their fashion products at the Afri art fashion show under the theme Timeless beauty. A number of designers showcased their products with a focus on preserving culture and heritage through fashion and art.
The 2025, Afri art and fashion show , has gone a notch higher and lined up exciting activities catering for all categories of designers whether budding, established and even buyers of fashion, art and accessories at different levels.
These activities include:
The Inter-University Art and Fashion Challenge
The Inter-university Art and Fashion Challenge is a precursor event for the annual Afri art and fashion show. This pre-event is a design competition that encourages students to create innovative and sustainable fashion and art pieces inspired by culture, heritage, creativity and innovation.
Fashion schools produce most of the fashion and art designers in the market, yet they rarely have a chance to collaborate and gain exposure within the industry. The inter University fashion challenge is an opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and gain exposure into an industry that will eventually accommodate them after school.
The inter-university fashion challenge is undoubtedly an exciting experience the fashion industry Afri Art Fashion Awards (AAFA)
We are excited to introduce the Afri Art Fashion Awards to the Afri art fashion show 2025. These are Innaugral awards in Uganda which will celebrate the Artisan designers, something that has never happened in Uganda. The Afri Art Fashion Awards seek to celebrate and recognise the creativity of young Africans in the creative sector in Uganda.
Below are the recognition Categories in both Fashion and Art
Fashion Categories
- Designer of the year. This Award recognises a Ugandan or international designer whose work has made a notable impact on the industry, defining the shape of global fashion. Nominees are recognised for creative excellence, outstanding collections and innovation.
- Ugandan Menswear Designer of the Year– This Award recognises a leading Ugandan menswear designer or business who has consistently made a global impact with their innovative and creative designs, shaping the burgeoning international menswear landscape.
- Ugandan Womenswear Designer of the Year- This Award recognises a leading Ugandan womenswear designer or business who has consistently made a global impact with there innovative and creative designs, shaping the burgeoning international womenswear landscape.
- Ugandan Accessories Brand– This Award recognises a leading accessory brand or business who has consistently made a global impact with there innovative and creative designs.
- Eco $ sustainable Fashions designer of the year This Award recognises designers who have created a new movement in Ugandan fashion designing fashion products from eco friendly materials, upcycling and recycling and have a sustained impact on the industry globally. Designers are chosen for their impressive showcasing of their collections, business growth.
- African Fashion styles designer of the year- This Award recognises designers who have created a new movement in Ugandan fashion desiging african fashion styles and have a sustained impact on the industry globally. Designers are chosen for their impressive showcasing of their collections, business growth, their prevalence on the red carpet and the international headlines driven by their collection.
- Male Model of the Year – This Award recognises the global impact of a Male model who over the last 12 months has dominated the industry. With an influence that transcends the catwalk, the Male Model of The Year has made an outstanding contribution to the industry, garnering numerous editorial and advertising campaigns throughout the year.
8. Female Model of the Year – This Award recognises the global impact of a Female model who over the last 12 months has dominated the industry. With an influence that transcends the catwalk, the Model of The Year has made an outstanding contribution to the industry, garnering numerous editorial and advertising campaigns throughout the year.
9. Art and Fashion Institution award – This award recognizes an academic institution that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the education and development of future generations of art and fashion professionals. The recipient will be an institution that will win the inter university fashion challenge , a pre activity for the afri art fashion show.
10. Fashion Photographer award – This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievement in fashion photography within the African context. The recipient will be a photographer who has demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, and a unique vision in capturing the essence of African fashion through their lens.
11. Special Recognition Award
12. Outstanding Achievement Award
ART Categories
1. Art Gallery Award – This award recognizes outstanding achievement and contribution to the African art scene by an art gallery either public or private art gallery.. The recipient will be an art gallery that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to showcasing, promoting, and supporting contemporary African art
2. Visual Art Award – This prestigious award recognizes outstanding achievement in the realm of contemporary African visual art. The recipient will be an artist who has demonstrated exceptional talent, innovation, and a unique artistic vision that pushes the boundaries of creative expression, reflecting and engaging with African culture, history, and contemporary issues in their work.
3. Make up artist award – This award recognizes outstanding artistry and innovation in makeup artistry within the African fashion industry. The recipient will be a makeup artist who has demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, and a unique vision in enhancing the beauty and impact of African fashion through their makeup artistry.
4. Creative Services Award – This award recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation within the creative industries including projects that prioritize sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility, highly effective and impactful advertising campaigns about culture and preservation, various artistic disciplines including music, dance, theater, film, and visual arts
5. Decorative Art Award (Interior & Exterior Designer)- This award recognizes outstanding achievement in interior and exterior design within the African context. The recipient will be an interior or exterior designer who has demonstrated exceptional talent, creativity, and a unique vision in transforming spaces through innovative and culturally relevant design.
Celebrating the 120 Afri Art Fashion Artisan Designers in Uganda
Uganda has great Artisan designers who intricately design authentic master pieces. A number of them have never hit the runway while others have used the Afri art fashion show platform to make their debut. This year 2025, We are all about celebrating Art and Fashion designers. We want them to know that they add life to the world by sharing their collections with us. These designers will be profiled online and a number of them will compete in the Afri art fashion Awards. Internet users can visit the Afri art fashion show website to view the artisan profiles and stories.
The Afri Art Fashion Play Ground – Exhibition Area Fashion, Art and Beauty
Afri Art Fashion show play ground is the center point where all exhibitors will meet to showcase their craft. The exhibitors will enjoy an opportunity to network with industry professionals , manufacturers, suppliers and consumers while gaining media exposure that helps in expanding and strengthening ecosytem relationships. This will be a three day event running from 20th to 22nd August
The 2025 Afri art and fashion show will be hosted under a theme My Heritage, My Hustle . We are excited to see new designers bring their craft to life while prerserving and promoting their heritage.