From July 14-16, Manhattan's financial district played host to Africa Fashion Week New York for a second year. Founder Adiat Disu and the Adiree (A-di-Ray) agency she heads, brought together a superb group of African designers, 30 of them to be exact. The shows were spread out over a three day period, all taking place at the Broad Street Ballroom. AFWNY has become an important platform for designers on the continent and throughout the Diaspora. It is important because of the visibility it provides to designers who often go unnoticed by the main stream fashion world. While Ms. Disu acknowledges the criteria of the mainstream fashion world she is committed to showcasing what is uniquely African with regards to fashion and body image. "We understand that the fashion industry has it's standards that in some ways shape or form, and we have to abide by that. At the same time we do have a responsibility to represent what it means to be from Africa. There are different shapes sizes colors and those things are represented here and we're proud of that."

This year there was more media attendance including major players such as CNN. There was even a real live wedding courtesy of  reality TV program "The wedding show" a unique finale to the collection of  Korto Momolu. A complete designer list is available on the AFWNY website with additional information on the organizers of the event. bebegrafiti, William Witherspoon were two of the designers that showed collections last year, in addition to first timers like Jo Black Craze, Washington Roberts, Kiko Romeo, Danielle Cicero, and Sarafo of Styles to name just a few.

The success of this second AFWNY  says a lot about the founder/director Adiat Disu, and the Adiree team. "Where fashion began" is one of  the tag lines promoting the event. Ms. Disu feels expresses the cultural influence that the designers bring to their work, " Its a spin on the origins of where things began, the art, the culture is essentially Africa. So I think the tag line really embodies what you're seeing. A lot of the designers are using elements of their origin and  culture in their design esthetic."

These cultural origins include the Caribbean, Haiti, and other parts of the Diaspora as they have since the first AFWNY. With Caribbean Fashion Week falling so close to AFWNY many Caribbean designers were unable to ready their collections for this event. Adiat is committed to having a Caribbean presence in the show, and intends to reach out to more Caribbean designers. " I think next year we're definitely going pull more designers from the Caribbean. I welcome that because they are a part of us we are a part of them."

The fashion world is taking note of AFWNY, coverage in Elle magazine this summer was yet another indication that the fashion world is watching. There is also more cooperation with the various embassies responsible for granting visas to visiting designers.  This has been a major boost to the event, Many of the designers come over just for this event. Ms. Disu and the Adiree team are currently in planning mode for AFWNY 2012 and I can honestly say I can't wait.

For more info on AFWNY :

http://www.africafashionweekny.com/

http://www.adiree.com/

Photo Credit : Roy Anthony Morrison / Photosoul Media