With the African continent slowly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the global fashion arena, many are wondering which African country has the best fashion. Africa has long been known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse traditions, and of course, lively fashion scene.
The emergence of trendsetting designers and young, up-and-coming talent in Africa have captivated the attention of fashion enthusiasts from all parts of the world. Join us in this breathtaking journey as we explore the continent’s fashion scene in-depth and find out which African country has the best fashion.
Table of Contents
What Is the Fashion Capital of Africa?
From Nigeria’s economic capital, Lagos, to South Africa‘s bustling city of Johannesburg and Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, various cities in Africa vie for the title of fashion capital of Africa. However, Lagos slightly edges the others and is considered the fashion capital of Africa.
Lagos Fashion Week features designers and some of the most recognized models. Photo/ ELLE.
Often dubbed the ‘New York of Africa’, Lagos is the driving force of Africa’s fashion scene. Fashion in Lagos is fearless and locals have embraced rich colour and pattern, and are always on the lookout for emerging trends. The city, which is home to over twenty million people, boasts a bustling street style scene, thanks to the creative energy of the young people.
The Lagos Fashion Week, which takes place once a year in October, attracts thousands of fashion enthusiasts from all parts of the world. This provides opportunity for emerging designers to showcase their talent and gain recognition on the global scene.
Which African Country Has the Best Fashion Style?
Italy is arguably the world’s most fashionable country. This shouldn’t be a surprise to any fashion enthusiast considering the fact that the country features legendary names in the fashion world, including Valentino Garavani, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Gianni Versace and Giorgio Armani.
France, which has been a powerhouse in the fashion industry for many years, is ranked second. France often embodies embodies a country of art and luxury, which is why major fashion brands have been existing here for many years. Some of the brands originating from France include Dior, Channel, Saint Laurent, and Givenchy.
In Africa, the country which has the best fashion style is Nigeria, thanks to the influence Lagos has on the continent’s fashion scene. Lagos has been dominating Africa’s fashion for the past few years and has earned approval from renowned fashion editors.
Nigeria has the best fashion style in Africa. Photo/ Naija Nation.
Which African Country Dresses the Best?
Finally, this is the part where we answer the question of which African country has the best fashion. Fashion in Africa has evolved over the years, but designers have made sure our traditions are not completely forgotten when we adopt the Western style. Throughout the continent, various countries are still taking pride in their traditional attires and are arguably the best dressed.
Ghana with its traditional clothing kente takes pride as the African country that dresses in the best manner. For starters, kente is a classic unisex African garment that is very common among the Ashanti people. The clothing, which was worn as a toga by Ghanaian royalties, is now very popular overseas.
Ghana’s kente cloth. Photo/ Gallivant Africa.
Nigeria with its Boubou also deserves to be mentioned when talking about the African countries that dress the best. Boubou is a garment won by both men and women and is common not only in Nigeria but also in Mali, Mauritania and Djibouti. It is considered an outward sign of wealth in other communities.
What Is the Most Fashionable City in Africa?
The trendsetting fashion capitals in Africa are some of the biggest cities on the continent. Below are the most fashionable cities in Africa:
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Dakar, Senegal
- Accra, Ghana
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Casablanca, Morocco
- Abidjan, Ivory Coast
- Cairo, Egypt
If you want to see the best that these cities have to offer then attend at least one of the fashion weeks. As mentioned earlier, the Lagos Fashion Week kicks off in October. The five-day event is one of the biggest showdowns on the continent and features designers and some of the most prominent models.
