Threads of Influence II: Colonial Dandyism and the Politics of Dress
From the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, as European colonial powers carved up Africa, a sartorial uprising simmered beneath the surface. In the shadow of Union Jacks, tricolores, and Belgian crowns, African men—across Lagos’s humid docks, Accra’s dusty streets, Leopoldville’s riverfront markets—took the European suit, that rigid emblem of imperial control, and stitched it into […]
Kuza Africa: Building the Future of Fashion from Kigali Outward

In 2022, three Rwandan visionaries—Bruce Sakindi (Lead, Sales), Grace Ussenge (Lead, Operations), and Maximilien Kolbe (Lead, Strategy)—came together with one unshakable belief: Africa’s creative future deserved more. More opportunity. More visibility. More support. With that conviction, they founded Kuza Africa, a platform designed to bridge the gap between untapped creative talent and the tools, networks, […]
The Resurgence of African Menswear Global Dialogue

In Kumasi’s Bonwire, loomers weave kente into vests that hum with royal lineage. In Cape Town’s ateliers, Xhosa-inspired capes ripple, their beads chanting warrior tales. From Lagos to Addis Ababa, African menswear is shredding colonial threads—stiff suits, muted ties—and stitching a vibrant, homegrown identity. Mudcloth jackets pulse with Mali’s ancient glyphs; ankara blazers blaze with […]
Threads of Influence: Pre-Colonial African Menswear and the Power of Style

Before silk lapels, velvet loafers, or custom-tailored suits graced the red carpet, African men were already masters of refined, intentional dress. In pre-colonial times, menswear across the continent was more than fabric — it was storytelling. Rich with symbolism, steeped in meaning, and crafted with care, clothing served as a powerful expression of identity, community, […]
A Lucid Abidjan Dream: Leslie Barbedette’s Hybride Studio Redefines Minimalism

A carefree scroll through Hybride Studio’s Instagram account leaves one thing lingering in the mind – a lucid Abidjan dream. Perhaps it’s the portraits of models in black off-shoulder blouses or flowing overlay pants, posed with poise against warm, monochrome backgrounds. But above all, it’s the effortless elegance that speaks loudest, boldly telling Guzangs that […]
Nene Yaya: A Legacy of Luxury with a Soul

Marième Gaye remembers the first time she saw her sister, Nene, cradle a handbag the way one might hold something precious—a delicate heirloom, a piece of history wrapped in fine leather. Even as children, Nene had a discerning eye. While others indulged in fleeting trends, she believed in permanence. “A great handbag,” she often said, […]
How African Streetwear Brands Are Rewriting the Narrative and Amplifying African Music

Streetwear started as a shout—a way for kids to break free from fancy runways and stiff rules. It grew up with hip-hop and skate vibes in places like New York and LA, all about realness and attitude. Now, Africa’s taking it and making it its own. From Lagos to Johannesburg, brands like Daily Paper, Free […]
How Influencer Culture Rewrote the Story of African Fashion

We rarely pause to reflect on what it meant to run a fashion business decades ago. Before the rise of social media—and even before the internet itself—African designers relied on tangible, high-effort avenues to drive sales: showcasing collections at fashion weeks, selling through physical retail stores, and promoting through magazine spreads. Television placements, though rare, […]
Guzangs Joins the UN Fashion and Lifestyle Network

Fashion is more than fabric. It is history, movement, and resistance stitched into silhouette. It is storytelling in motion, a language spoken through thread, texture, and the way a garment shapes the body. At Guzangs, we have always believed that fashion is a cultural force, an archive of identity, and a bold statement of where […]
Beyond the Rack: Africa’s Concept Stores Changing the Game

Aby Concept Store. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Across Africa, a quiet revolution is unfolding—not just in the hum of sewing machines or the flash of runway lights, but in the intimate, electric spaces where fashion finds its heartbeat. Concept stores like Lagos’ Alára, a glass-walled masterpiece refracting the city’s energy into art, or Kigali’s House of […]