Kibonen Nfi Redefines African Fashion at New York Fashion Week with "Bimbia II" Collection
"Our stories are underestimated if we do not use visual representation,” said acclaimed designer Kibonen Nfi, as she made a powerful return to New York Fashion Week (NYFW) on September 11, 2024.
The co-founder of the African Fashion Council debuted her latest collection, Bimbia II, at the Chelsea Factory, where supermodel Maria Borges opened the show, stunning the audience with her presence. Fashion enthusiasts, media, industry leaders, and cultural icons like Constance White, former Editor-in-Chief of Essence, Adeline sede Kamga of FabAfriq magazine, Khanyi Mashimbye of Africa Export-Inport Bank, Irene Kakooza from Jaguar, South Africa were in attendance to witness the visionary showcase.
Bimbia II is more than a fashion statement, it's a cultural narrative. Inspired by African history, particularly the often-overlooked African slave trade and Bimbia, a former slave port in Cameroon, Kibonen shines a spotlight on Africa’s rich and complex heritage. The collection, driven by the spirit of Sankofa, urges us to learn from the past to shape a better future. The designs celebrate the resilience of pre-colonial African civilizations like Mali, Ghana, and Great Zimbabwe, blending traditional artistry with contemporary fashion.
The event also highlighted the 2024 Jaguar South Africa x GiveHerACrown designers, a showcase supported by the South African Consulate-General. This collaboration marked 30 years of South African freedom, giving five emerging South African designers a platform to share their talent with an international audience.
Reflecting on the event, Kibonen said, “‘Bimbia II’ is a tribute to the strength of our ancestors. I’m proud to share these stories through my designs. Fashion is a way to honour and preserve history.”
Kibonen’s global influence continues to grow, from representing Cameroon at the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange to speaking on sustainable fashion at institutions like Columbia University and NYU. Through the African Fashion Council and her garment production plant, MADE IN CAMER, she remains committed to nurturing the next generation of African designers.
About Kibonen Nfi
Kibonen Nfi is internationally renowned for her modern interpretations of traditional Cameroonian garments, especially the Toghu. She leads the Kibonen Sustainable Creative Hub (KISCH), which provides employment to forcibly displaced individuals. Her work has been featured in CNN, Vogue, Essence, Forbes Africa, and FabAfriq and she has dressed celebrities like Lupita Nyong’o and Gayle King.