FIAFA 2017 was one of the most anticipated events on the fashion calendar this year and boy, did it deliver! This year’s event wasn’t like the previous, it had more class, structure and entertainment.
Fashion bloggers, fashionistas, top celebrities, business gurus and the media in Cameroon had looked forward to a fashion show highly publicized on social media and they were not disappointed.
Alfred Nemfor, founding CEO of Fredash International Annual Fashion Avenue (FIAFA) and Fredash Modeling Agency selected his team to work on a project very dear to his heart. It was his seventh edition of an initiative born to celebrate Cameroon’s arts and culture as well as her dynamism in her fashion and style.
“It’s never easy putting up such an event and I have been doing this for the last seven years with or without sponsors. At a point, I almost gave up but I am lucky to have good people; friends and family who encouraged me never to give up on my dreams but to always look for ways to conquer fear,” Nemfor disclosed to DCODED TV.
This year’s event was more of a challenge to the young entrepreneur whom perhaps was almost giving up on a project he felt no one wanted to support. But it was top class, elegant, apt and more over well organized! An event, he will never forget because he didn’t just get the support of a his team but landed a sponsorship deal with Orange Cameroun S.A and got taps on the back by successful businessmen such as Bony Dashaco, Alenne Menget, Gelam Dickson and many others.
ALSO READ: FIAFA 2017: Lima T. Jasino rebuilds confidence in sexy chic at showcase
Nemfor came well prepared. With his experience and knowledge gained from attending and participating at several fashion events in Africa plus, running his own modeling agency to match international standard, the boss knew what he wanted and went for it.
The lighting on the runway was key! He spent a fortune to set a runway which made photographers, spectators as well as models and designers felt they were at an international fashion week event. The hall was properly arranged to welcome and respect every guest and although the show kicked off slightly behind schedule, every person who showed up left satisfied with the richness in the designs and how professional the models behaved.
FIAFA 2017 went to three different major cities in Cameroon scouting for the best models and then chose RnBibow Makeup and Cosmetics brand to handle the beauty of the runway stars. A match made in fashion heaven!
When it came to selecting which fashion designer showcases at this year’s event, the FIAFA 2017 team made no mistake. From Senegalese super star, Dio Ali to fast rising designers, Amah Fashion House and Afrik Fashion Trend, FIAFA was the idle avenue for the best in the fashion business.
The event was well lit, red carpet on point and fully attended and those who showed up were simply the right crowd to push the show forward. With the right music, well organized runway, an expectant crowd and phenomenal MCs – Qualar Ifaana and Oboy Da Comic, FIAFA was ready even before it was ready.
“It was a magnificent show,” RnBibow Makeup founder tells us. “He [Alfred] did a great job this year. It was well put together, properly structured and look at how it turned out… fantastic. I hope to be part of this event next year and want Cameroonians both home and abroad to know FIAFA exists for the right reasons.”
One designer in mind, Ngwane Liz, a fresh graduate from the Institute University of Technology in Ngoundere, left the audience in shock with her ‘Margo Collection‘ by using waste products and nature to create clothes.
“The textile industry uses a lot of chemicals in their fabrics. If littered into the environment it could cause a lot of environmental pollution. So if the fashion industry is growing in Cameroon, we should be aware of something called pollution. So, I was just trying to pass a message at FIAFA to fashion designers and consumers with my Margo collection. It’s good for us to start using organic products in our designs.
“When I use something like paper, it will be bio degradable… In future terms I’m looking forward to come up with a type of textile made out of waste… papers or plastic. A waste of one product can be a raw material for another product. There’s nothing called waste in fashion or in the textile industry,” Ngwane explained her incredible collection to DCODED TV.
ALSO READ: Amah Fashion House bags ‘Best Young Designer’ at FIAFA 2017
The fashion could have been enough but again, what is fashion without music? The Alpha Better Records crew pulled a surprise to their dear friend Alfred Nemfor and his crowd when not only did the guest artist, Salatiel show up but he brought along his record label mates, Mr. Leo and Blaise B to perform their hit tracks to the delight of the already excited crowd.
FIAFA was an event to remember – for not only the ambiance but for the messages it sent out to the corporate world and other young entrepreneurs – that no matter where you find yourself, you have to speak like you own it, do your best, surround yourself with the best in the business, dream big, act now, dress to impress and party like a rock star!
We look forward to an even greater FIAFA 2018!
