Africa Fashion Week London's annual catwalk and exhibition event is one of the world’s largest and longest-running showcases of African and African-inspired fashion & design. After 14 years, it has hosted over 1000 emerging and established designers and exhibitors to 75,000 visitors, including buyers, retailers, industry professionals, and global media.

The highly anticipated annual showcase returns during this year’s Black History Month with a jam-packed itinerary that starts with a free-to-attend UK Africa Trade Expo on Friday 11 October featuring speakers from African trade partners, education specialists, and industry leaders from across the continent. You can expect:

• Over 30 African-heritage vendor brands to browse and shop

• 3 Catwalk showcases featuring the best African designers in the world

• Cultural performances and entertainment

• UK Africa Trade Expo with discussions on African trade, fashion, culture, and heritage

Highlights of the fashion showcase include the latest fabric designs from the Adire Oodua Textile Hub, a tribute to African fashion icons, a showcase of sustainable fashion practices, and a marketplace featuring African fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands. Mary Martin London will open the catwalk at 1 pm with a special 45-minute retrospective showcase of her 10 years at AFWL and Samson Soboye will be closing out the VIP 7 pm catwalk with an incredible show of Black Majesty.