08/09/2026
Zambia Mission in Paris today received a delegation of three Zambian fashion designers who included the President of the Zambia Association of Fashion Designers (ZAFD), Ms Faith Kabende, of FAY Designs, Chuma Musutu, Treasurer of Dodo Wear, and designer Christine Kapenda of Kuwala CKC Fashions, who are currently in Paris to attend the WHO’s NEXT fashion exhibition, supported by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, Zambia.
The Association is focused on supporting, promoting and developing Zambia’s fashion and creative industry through strategic raising of the local fashion industry into a globally competitive partnership and collaboration at both local platforms such as the Zambian Fashion Week and International platforms such as the French Fashion Week. The visit provided the designers an opportunity to explore avenues for strengthening cooperation and creating greater international exposure for Zambia’s fashion sector.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to France, H.E Ms Judith Mulenga, commended the Association for its commitment to advancing the fashion industry and acknowledged the importance of empowering small-scale entrepreneurs and their role in contributing to economic growth.
The Ambassador emphasised the importance of mobilising and organising themselves into a structured association that provides the fashion industry with a united strong voice for all the designers in Zambia whether established or start-ups, support each other in capacity building, knowledge sharing, marketing of their products and attracting investment.
She further encouraged the Association to work closely with the Mission in Paris in identifying and leveraging opportunities presented by major fashion exhibitions annual calendars, including Paris Fashion Week, UNESCO’s Africa Week and other related calendar events to showcase Zambia’s contemporary art, fashion, designs and creative talent in France and the wider European market.
The Mission reaffirmed its readiness to support initiatives aimed at promoting Zambia’s creative industries and facilitating partnerships between Zambian and French stakeholders in the fashion and creative sectors.