To most fashion addicts the names Chimwemwe Ngugi, Lilly Alfonso, Mabel Banda Khonje and Alinafe Mapwesera are familiar names that exists in the Malawi but also global fashion industry. However, not everyone is familiar with them so here is a breakdown of Malawi’s leading giants in the fashion industry.
To begin with, Chimwemwe Ngugi Buleya is the founder and CEO of Ngugi Designs who cemented her demeanor as the most versatile designer in Malawi but also across the Sourthern Africa’s region. So far, she has been likened to international fashion designers like Kanye West, Guccio Gucci, Gianni Versace and Donatella Francesca Versace.
Following up on the list is Lilly Alfonso, the founder of Eponymous Malawi-based fashion label which has a global customer base. In her early steps of her journey in fashion, she won as the fashion designer of the year award at the Fashion Malawi Edition in 2010. Shen then again won the International Fashion Designer Award in Cairo, Egypt. For three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020. Since then she has grown her customer base and has distribution partners in Egypt, South Africa and Europe.
Lastly is Mabel Banda Khonje, the owner of a lingerie line called Boudoir Lingerie by Doll Mable. She is a former beauty queen who is currently based in Netherlands. She launched her lingerie line in 2020 at WestCord Fashion Hotel in Armsterdam, Netherlandsa and they are being sold in Malawi and Europe.
These 3 Fashion Designers are the pride of Malawi and although they might not be recognized as they deserve to be, they still carry our Malawian flag across international borders. Kudos girls!
