Mahlet Teklemariam, founder of Hub of Africa Fashion Week, addresses audiences at the opening of HAFW 2026 in Addis Ababa. (Photo courtesy of HAFW)
Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: January 15th, 2026
Hub of Africa Fashion Week Returns to Addis Ababa for Its 15th Edition
ADDIS ABABA (TADIAS) — Hub of Africa Fashion Week (HAFW) is underway in Addis Ababa, marking its 15th anniversary as one of the continent’s longest-running and most influential fashion platforms. The five-day event, which opened this week, January 13, runs through January 17, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa, bringing together designers, creatives, and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Founded by Mahlet Teklemariam and Natanem Teklemariam, HAFW has grown from a local showcase into a continental meeting point for African fashion, craftsmanship, and creative exchange. Over the past decade and a half, the platform has played a critical role in elevating emerging talent while strengthening Addis Ababa’s reputation not only as a diplomatic capital of Africa but also a creative hub.
This year’s edition opened with a luxury leather exhibition by SAMRA Leather, setting the tone for a program that blends runway presentations, exhibitions, and industry dialogue. From January 15–16, the runway will spotlight a curated lineup of designers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon, and beyond, including influential labels shaping contemporary African fashion.
HAFW 2026 continues its collaboration with key partners such as the British Council, through the Creative DNA (CDNA) 3.0 Programme, which supports emerging designers with international exposure and business development opportunities. The program underscores the event’s long-standing commitment to nurturing creative entrepreneurship across the continent.
Beyond the runway, the week places emphasis on conversation and collaboration. The Core Round Table Talk, hosted by Linda Murithi, convenes industry stakeholders to explore sustainability, market access, and the future of African fashion. Participants will also take part in The Fashion Tour, visiting leading design houses and creative spaces across Addis Ababa.
Now in its 15th year, Hub of Africa Fashion Week stands as both a celebration and a working platform — one that continues to connect designers to markets, ideas, and global conversations, while remaining rooted in the city where it began.
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Tadias will follow this highlight with a Q&A conversation with founder Mahlet Teklemariam, who previously served as Fashion Editor of Tadias, reflecting on the journey, impact, and future of HAFW.
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