As Africa’s biggest fashion show kicks off, several protocols have been put in place by organisers of the ARISE FASHION WEEK to ensure the safety of participants.
All participants, including designers, models and production crew at the event have been tested, and all results are confirmed negative.
A Covid-19 Safety Team who will be responsible for all Covid-19 related issues will be on-site.
The team is led by a certified manager whose duty will be to establish clear communication procedures with a line of command and control for COVID-19 related inquiries and issues.
The safety team will communicate health, safety and hygiene etiquette to everyone at the event.
ARISE FASHION WEEK will also ensure contact tracing is possible through proper record-keeping. Records will be maintained for at least 30 days following the event.
Some of Nigeria’s biggest stars, including Wizkid, Asa and Wande Coal, are set to take to the stage- or the runway- at the event.
Afro-soul singer-songwriter WurlD will open the catwalk on Friday, performing for the first set of designers. For the second set, multi-talented artist and fashion designer Wavy the Creator will take the stage. The creative, best known for her song “H.I.G.H” and as the official photographer of hip-hop artist Olamide, has seen a meteoric rise since her emergence on the Nigerian pop scene in 2017. For the next set of designers, Highlife sibling duo, the Cavemen, will take to the stage. The band introduced the Highlife genre to a new generation with the release of their debut album, ROOTS.’
And lastly, Wizkid, fresh from wins at the MOBO and Soul Train Awards, will close the show with songs from his acclaimed album ‘Made in Lagos,’ as well as older hits.
Falana, Wande Coal, Ré Olunuga and Asa are the huge names recruited for the final day of fashion week on Saturday. Music from talented Afro-soul singer Falana will accompany the first set of designers. The 27-year-old last week released ‘Teletele,’ a sorrowful song inspired by the EndSARS protests. Afrobeats titan Wande Coal, famous for hits such as ‘Bumper to Bumper’ and ‘You Bad’ will perform for the next batch of designers.
The final eight, divided into two groups of four, will showcase their collections in the grand finale. Befittingly, their models will strut to music from Ré Olunuga, a composer and cinematographer who has written the score for several films and TV shows.
Asa, famous worldwide for combining elements of soul, pop, folk, and reggae in her songs, will close the glitzy fashion show with a performance for the final four designers.
Previous editions of Arise Fashion Week have mainly focused on prominent fashion designers and spotlight a few rising stars.
This season, the main attraction is the “30 Under 30: The New Stars” competition, a showcase of work by emerging designers.
Fans can catch the exciting event live on the new ARISE PLAY streaming service and other ARISE and THISDAY digital platforms.
Rita Osakwe