Digital Fashion Show Brings Awareness

Just when we thought runway shows would be obsolete for the remainder of 2020 due to Covid-19, Baltimore based designer Anifa Mvuemba didn’t let this pandemic hinder her creativity.

Video Source: Twitter

A virtual fashion show hit instagram live on Friday, May 22 where the Congolese designer unveiled her latest collection using 3D models to showcase her designs. 

This innovative way of showcasing collections easily molds into our current shelter-in-place reality. Hanifa worked on her virtual collection long before the pandemic struck. According to Teen Vogue “ The news came out about how serious things were and I started to feel a bit anxious about everything going on. I started feeling like maybe it would be insensitive to create and share a new collection online while people were facing very difficult realities,” Anifa stated.

Along with her Pink Label Congo Collection being celebrated for its technology, her designs also serve to celebrate the beauty of Congo, while shining a light on the issues that locals face though illegal mining. This illegal mining process is riddled with unsafe conditions men, women and children endure to mine for 60% of the worlds supply of cobalt. The mineral is used to produce lithium-ion batteries used to power electric cars, laptops and smart phones.

Image Source: The Auto Channel

A statement on the Hanifa website reads: 

Le coeur de l'Afrique | The Heart of Africa
Riddled with a painful history, the beauty of Congo is often untapped and overlooked. The gentleness, beauty, history, poise, majesty, strength, power, and hope of the Congolese spirit inspired this collection. When creating each piece, I was reminded of the stories my mother told me of the women she knew back home in Congo. Women who suffered great loss but still, mustered every ounce of strength everyday to show up. My hope is that this collection inspires all women to stand tall in their power and like the Democratic Republic of Congo, to use their history, whether pretty or painful — to redesign their future. My country, the land of Congo, is ripe with an abundance of natural resources — the greatest of which are its people — its women.
     Hanifa presents.... Pink Label Congo.

​A designer on a mission to shed LGHT on issues that are usually hidden is exactly what we stand for as a platform and we couldn’t be more excited to share her story and to be on the lookout for what she debuts next! 

To support her latest collection and see more of her designs be sure to visit her site at the link below.

 Hanifa

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About Hanifa: 

Anifa is a designer that is known for creating a space for black women. She creates pieces that are made to include women of all sizes. Through her platform, she hopes to be apart of the change when it comes to relieving the expectations placed on black women and hopes to be part of the change that breaks down barriers.