Shwanda's work will appear on the Next Gen Catwalk on Saturday, August 9.
She joins a dynamic lineup of ten rising African designers selected through the British Council’s Creative DNA initiative — a program celebrating culture-driven innovation, sustainable design, and emerging creative entrepreneurship.
For Shwanda, whose signature brass jewellery line blends East African artistry with minimalist elegance, the invitation marks a significant milestone.
A 2024 cohort winner of the Creative DNA 2.0 programme and an alumna of the Bold Woman Fund, she’s long been known for her commitment to ethical design and craftsmanship.
“Each piece is handmade from recycled brass by local artisans,” Shwanda says of her work.
“I’m inspired by the stories people carry, by heritage, and by the power of adornment to transform how we feel about ourselves.”
Shwanda Kollection’s latest lookbook features elegant earrings and refined fringe designs that exude strength, femininity, and a deep respect for cultural heritage.
Her brand, which operates between Uganda and Kenya, is more than jewellery—it’s wearable storytelling steeped in identity, sustainability, and style.
She’s not alone on the AFWL 2025 stage. The British Council’s Creative DNA platform will showcase nine other designers from across the continent, each offering a unique lens on African fashion and culture.
These include:
- Rungano Rwedu from Zimbabwe, a luxury leather brand named after the Shona phrase “Our Story.” Each piece draws on traditional craftsmanship and African symbolism, celebrating Ubuntu and artisanal legacy.
- Black Fine & Fly, a Lagos-based denim collective turning everyday wear into Afro-European statements. With bold African carvings etched into high-quality denim, they centre West African storytelling in a bold, sustainable fashion narrative.
- Dagmawit, founded by Ethiopian designer Dagmawit Tesfaye, modernizes her country’s intricate embroidery traditions. Her brand supports stay-at-home mothers by employing them in ethical production of striking, heritage-rooted garments.
- Guzo Technologies, based in Ethiopia, merges fashion with cutting-edge tech. Their “TechStitched XR” project uses Extended Reality (XR) and generative AI to create immersive storytelling experiences in design—pushing fashion into the future.
The diverse cohort exemplifies the evolving face of African fashion—one that’s globally competitive, ethically rooted, and unapologetically original.
Their presence at AFWL 2025 is more than a catwalk—it’s a cultural statement and commercial opportunity.
“This is not just about fashion,” said Margaret Kafeero, head of public diplomacy at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ms Kafeero, an arts and culture aficionado, added: “It’s about empowering start-ups and creatives to access global markets and tell their stories internationally. We thank the British Council for initiatives like Creative DNA that continue to spotlight gifted Ugandans like Yvonne Shwanda.”
Africa Fashion Week London, now one of Europe’s largest and longest-running events spotlighting African design, continues to amplify new voices from across the continent.
This year’s British Council showcase promises bold silhouettes, ancestral storytelling, and future-forward design across disciplines—from textiles and tailoring to jewellery and immersive digital experiences.
Yvonne Shwanda’s participation offers a proud moment for Uganda’s fashion scene.
As she prepares to take her brass statements to an international audience, her journey reflects a larger movement—where African designers, empowered by programs like Creative DNA, are no longer just participating in the global conversation but reshaping it on their own terms.
Africa Fashion Week London 2025: Next Gen Catwalk
📍 Saturday, August 9, 4:00 PM
📍 AFWL Exhibition Hall, London
🌍 Featuring 10 emerging designers from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Ghana, and Zimbabwe
Follow @shwanda_kollection and #AFWL2025 for updates.