Fashions Finest, the platform celebrated for recognising and promoting diversity and inclusion within the fashion industry, returns for the AW22 season later this month.

Founded by Deborah St. Louis in 2010, the Fashions Finest showcase, which typically takes place during London Fashion Week, supports emerging and more experienced designers as well as fashion creatives from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, lower socio-economic groups, and self-taught designers.

Five questions with: Fashions Finest’s Deborah St. Louis

Having relaunched as a community interest company during the pandemic, Fashions Finest continues to provide mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for creatives in the fashion industry from stylists, makeup artists, models, model trainers and more.

An important aspect of taking part in Fashions Finest and their sister endeavour, the annual Britain’s Top Designer Awards, is their commitment to increasing awareness of the designers’ brands, both nationally and internationally. This year, guests will have the opportunity to see huge talents from all around the world.

“I made my first skirt at seven years old” says KOYAWO designer

Designers showcasing this season have come from Europe, Scotland, England, Canada, India, and Africa. The catwalk will show collections by Akka, Isadora, Tribal Hotel, Toomey & Koko, Milena Sayad Knitwear, George Amua, Szn Swim, Seronga, Psych Apparel, Soleil Atelier, Pretty Affluent, Almara, and Midé.

Learn about three of the designers showcasing at Fashions Finest AW22 lineup

Toomey & Koko

Born in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, the cultural birthplace of the Yoruba people, Koko grew up being inspired by the unique colours, textures and fabrics of her culture. From a young age she was drawn to creative design, often drawing, painting and decorating from a young age. In her teens she moved to the UK to further pursue her passion and share her love for her culture in her designs.

Her brand – Toomey & Koko presents their premiere collection – Collection I. The designs are brought to life in vivid Adiré fabrics, which use a resist-dyeing technique involving indigo and other natural dyes to create bold, eye-catching patterns. Adiré originated in southwestern Nigeria and the tradition of indigo dyeing goes back centuries among the women of West Africa. The collection is a unique mix of old and new, reimagining traditional Nigerian fabrics and clothing in modern styles, creating wearable, fashion-forward designs.

Seronga

Precious Seronga is a Tanzanian artist, currently based in London doing her MA in Fashion Entrepreneurship and Innovation at London college of Fashion.

On what inspired her collection, she said: “As an African living in the western world, I noticed the lack of positive representation of Africa on the mainstream media, mainly advertisements of charity and poverty. I chose to use to my creative skills to create art that conveys the underrated beauty of the continent and my home country. These pieces showcase my designs in collaboration with the amazing beadwork skills of craftswomen from Tanzania. The craftswomen normally specialise in creating vibrant beaded jewellery but seeing the potential of the women skills to create more elaborate pieces, I designed the pieces to be styled as accessories, but as fashion outfits as well. The designs have the flexibility for the owner to style to their own taste as well as support this beautiful traditional skill.”

Midé

Nigerian born Ayomidé studied fashion design at Istituto di Moda Burgo after attaining her Master’s degree in Management from Durham University and now works from her Lagos based studio.

Midé is a brand driven by classic design and style. Known for feminine detailing, Midé garments are hand made with the finest fabrics and hand finished to perfection. The emotion of love and fairy tale feeling are materialised through the garments, exuding unobtrusive beauty and elegance.