Ometsey to showcase at Africa Fashion Week London under British Council’s Creative DNA programme
As part of the British Council’s Creative DNA programme, Ghanaian fashion brand Ometsey is set to showcase its design collections at Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) 2025, scheduled for August 9 – 10 at Space House, London.
Founded in 2017 by Darkwaa Edna, Ometsey is a contemporary womenswear label based in Ghana. Darkwaa’s designs are known for their clean cuts, impeccable finishing, rare detailing, and a minimalistic twist.
This international showcase will feature a dedicated British Council catwalk presentation and an exhibition pavilion spotlighting some of Africa’s most innovative emerging designers. The initiative will give these designers new international connections, access to fresh markets, and opportunities for cross-cultural learning, collaboration, and business growth.
Ometsey will be joined by nine other designers from Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. All participants are either alumni or current members of the Creative DNA fashion accelerator programme—a flagship initiative of the British Council’s creative economy portfolio in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Since its launch in 2020, Creative DNA has supported over 200 fashion entrepreneurs across Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Malawi through mentorship, business development, and showcasing opportunities. The programme aims to strengthen creative enterprises, foster inclusion, and build international connections between Africa and the UK.
In addition to the runway and exhibition, the designers will join business clinics and panel discussions with UK fashion experts and facilitators from Westminster University and the Fashion Retail Academy. They will also take part in retail and manufacturing ecosystem tours across London, gaining direct insights into ethical production practices, global fashion standards, and the dynamics of the international retail market.
The cultural exchange component provides designers with a rare opportunity to explore the UK’s fashion ecosystem, including supplier networks, sustainability models, and retail partnerships.
This year’s British Council Pavilion will also explore the future of fashion, showcasing innovations where fashion meets technology. The exhibition will feature the work of African designers and fashion weeks collaborating with AI labs and robotics engineers to experiment with tech-enabled storytelling and virtual reality runways using digital avatars—paving the way for cross-continental virtual fashion presentations.
Nii Doodo Dodoo, Country Director of British Council Ghana, emphasised:
“For Ghanaian designers navigating a growing but competitive fashion landscape, this kind of access is vital. Creative DNA is about turning creative potential into sustainable business, and opportunities like this help make that vision a reality.”
The engagement reflects the British Council’s commitment to placing creativity, cultural exchange, and enterprise at the centre of inclusive and sustainable growth across Africa and the UK.
Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, Founder of Africa Fashion Week London, added:
“This partnership with the British Council represents a bold step forward in our mission to elevate African fashion on the global stage. By showcasing these visionary designers in London, we’re not only celebrating their talents but also forging deeper cross-cultural connections within the global fashion ecosystem.”
Visitors to AFWL 2025 are invited to explore the British Council Pavilion and attend the Creative DNA catwalk show on Saturday, August 9 at 4:00 PM.
