One of Nigeria’s biggest fashion events, Arise Fashion Week was founded in 2008 by Arise Magazine founder Nduka Obaigbena to showcase the work of African designers. It was one of the first design initiatives to bring major brands including Lisa Folawiyo and Tiffany Amber to a global audience and has since grown in scope and influence, after relaunching its platform in 2018 in partnership with supermodel Naomi Campbell. AFW's 2020 edition marked a turning point in its history with the launch of the Arise Fashion Week 30 Under 30 competition.

Held annually at the Tribe Hotel, Tribal Chic Nairobi is one of Kenya's most well-respected fashion events. Founded in 2010, the initiative worked to showcase the best of East Africa’s design talent, exposing them to a community of local fashion insiders through curated runway presentations. The event also offers creatives across the visual arts an avenue for exposure by recruiting them to aid in aspects like set design and music, all while supporting a variety of causes and charities.

Established in 1995 with its globally acclaimed conference that attracts thousands of attendees from all over the world, the Design Indaba brand has evolved into a multidisciplinary platform that champions all creative sectors. Founded in 1995 by Ravi Naidoo, DI is powered by an ethos of creating a better world through creativity, and their initiatives most notably the Emerging Creatives Program, have served as a launching pad for some of South Africa’s most promising young design talent.

Founded in 2007 by Precious Moloi-Motsepe, African Fashion International is a seasonal showcase of African fashion brands aimed at propelling them onto a global stage. The event has been instrumental in growing the careers of a number of local designers, presenting them with the opportunities to gain exposure and experience through their popular Fast Track program, while its AFI boutique offers the designers who show a way to connect directly with the consumer as their collections are revealed.

A trade, promotional and artistic fashion forum, Cairo Fashion Week was established in 2015 by Egyptian businessman Omar Madkour and today is considered one of the premier events on Egypt’s fashion calendar. Enabling local and regional designers and brands to present their collection to global and regional buyers, media, and the general public, CFW also offers young designers a chance to showcase their products, market themselves and attract the right audience for their burgeoning businesses.

Founded in 1996 by Lucilla Booyzen, South African Fashion Week is held seasonally in Johannesburg and Cape Town and is seen as a driving force behind the growth of the country's vibrant fashion design culture. South Africa’s only Business-to-Business fashion platform, it comprises runway shows, incubator programs, and a trade show, and in 2020 was celebrated by South Africa’s museum of contemporary art, the Zeitz Mocca, in an exhibition titled “Making Histories with South African Fashion Week.”

Founded in 1996 by Lucilla Booyzen, SAFW is held seasonally in Johannesburg and Cape Town and is seen as a driving force behind the growth of the country's vibrant fashion design culture. South Africa’s only Business-to-Business fashion platform, it comprises runway shows, incubator programs, and a trade show, and in 2020 was celebrated by South Africa’s museum of contemporary art, the Zeitz Mocca, in an exhibition titled “Making Histories with South African Fashion Week. Now in its 24th year, this season’s digital event will see 28 designers show collections, including the finalists of the New Talent Search 2021 Competition.

Africa’s only stand-alone platform dedicated to menswear, South African Menswear Week provides a platform for menswear designers and brands to showcase their collections. Established in 2015 by Simon Dein and curated by leading industry experts, the biannual event is held in Cape Town and consists of a series of runway shows that take place over 3 days. Modeled off of London Men’s Fashion Week, SAMW has proven pivotal in the development and promotion of menswear designers from the region.

An annual retail showcase created in 2017 by entrepreneur Femi Olayebi—founder of FemiHandbags—and the first event of its kind in Africa, the Lagos Leather Fair aims to promote and raise awareness of the value of the leather industry within and outside of Nigeria. The initiative provides a platform for designers who work closely with the material to showcase their goods to buyers, consumers, and retailers, the ultimate goal being to highlight the value of the neglected West African leather industry.

Rwanda Fashion Week (formerly known as Collective Rw Fashion Week) was established in 2016 by a group of East African creatives known as Collective Rw. Made up of designers and brands like House of Tayo, Haute Baso, Inzuki, K’tsobe Jewels, Moshions, Sonia Mugabo, and Uzi Collections, the collective hosts a series of runway shows, seminars, and pop up events in Kigali annually with the aim of showcasing Made-in-Rwanda fashions to a diverse audience and encouraging collaboration amongst African designers.