Anifa Mvuemba to Stage First Live Fashion Show in D.C. for Brand Hanifa
Media, industry friends, and customers are all invited.
Anifa Mvuemba, founder and designer of Hanifa, will present her first in-person runway show, “Hanifa Dream”, in her hometown of Washington, D.C. on November 16 at The National Portrait Gallery. The collection will be see-now-buy-now, and available for purchase immediately following the show on www.hanifa.co.
Hanifa changed the game in 2020 with her digital fashion show. In total, her collections generated about $3 million in volume last year. “We’re trying to triple that this year,” said Mvuemba, who has a team of 10 people.
“When I design Hanifa, I don’t talk about where I’m from. [Pink Label Congo] was my chance to tell people, I’m African and I’m also from Congo and we have this crisis back home,” she said. “A lot of times when you come out, being an African designer, you’re categorized as an African designer. I didn’t want to come out with tribal prints.”
Using the $50,000 prize money from the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund to finance her runway show, she said, “If they’re giving you 50 grand and you’re planning a show, it’s all going toward that.”
She believes being a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist will help open doors. “I’ll reach a wider audience, globally as well. I think that’s always good. If anything, it will expand Hanifa,” she said. As part of the program, she said she was assigned a mentor, Patrick Robinson, who’s given her great advice.
Next week, she plans to introduce footwear, which will be shown on the runway. The footwear, which ranges from sizes 36 to 42, is produced in-house.
In addition to her growing label, Mvuemba also launched and oversees CBYAM: a creative agency that pulls from her experience and working expertise in navigating the industry as both a businesswoman and creative. The platform offers practical mentorship and provides substantial input on strategic and technical initiatives emerging designers are pursuing. CBYAM is predicated on nurturing young entrepreneurs.
