YOUNG AFRICAN FASHION DESIGNERS DARE THEIR OLD FOLKS...SAYS WE HAVE ARRIVED

If the recent string of African fashion shows held in Johannesburg, Lagos, Ghana and Dakar are anything to go by, then it is fair to assume that Africa's young and vibrant designers are giving their older folks, a good run for their monies.

Young Africa fashion designers continue to hold their own against the fairly established ones, especially those who were into the business way before they joined.

Presently, the dynamics of the fashion trade in Africa suggest that almost all of the continent's names are on some form of equal pegging; it would be hard to distinguish who is superior and who is a weakling.

The world of African fashion has become a level playing field to an extent where even relatively smaller names as some still would want to tag them, are making waves.

Audrey NM

23-year-old Dutch-based Cameroonian designer Audrey NM is an example of Africa's young and creative fashion minds, who are giving reasons why the industry must come to terms with reality they've arrived, and learn to accommodate them.

Sometime last year, Audrey launched her own clothing-line Uzuri Couture, out of which she also rolled out her first collection, Beautiful Beginnings, in summer 2011. Beautiful Beginnings, a combination of African wax and European styles, which most fashion enthusiasts prefer to call Afro chic, was received well across the globe, and has become a favourite collection most of her clients identify with.

The reviews that followed beautiful beginnings were simply awesome, and gave her the needed leap that she required to get into the bigger leagues. Few months after Beautiful Beginnings, Audrey won the Dutch Music & Fashion Battle (MAFB) in Amsterdam, almost surprisingly; as most observers had totally written her off, given the caliber of persons who were also gunning for the top prize.