By Our Reporter
Johnnie Walker is partnering with Bold in Africa and Malembe Lifestyle to bring the inaugural Bold Fashion Week to life, as Kampala prepares to celebrate African fashion, creativity and the people shaping the continent’s Fashion landscape.
Taking place on August 21–22, 2026, at Motiv in Bugolobi, Bold Fashion Week marks 14 years of Bold in Africa’s work in championing African creative talent and will bring together designers, creatives, industry leaders, fashion enthusiasts and consumers for a celebration of contemporary African fashion.
The partnership is a natural extension of Johnnie Walker’s Afro Exchange platform, which was launched to celebrate, spotlight and create an exchange between Africa’s creative disciplines, ideas and people across music, fashion and art.
Fashion sits at the heart of this cultural exchange. Through Bold Fashion Week, Johnnie Walker is supporting a platform that does more than showcase clothes; it creates an ecosystem where African designers can connect with audiences, buyers, fellow creatives and new markets.
“Afro Exchange is about creating spaces where African creativity can meet, move and inspire one another, and fashion is such an important part of that conversation,” said Christine Kyokunda, Brand Manager, Johnnie Walker Uganda.
“Bold Fashion Week brings together exactly what we believe in – bold creative expression, collaboration and an exchange of ideas across the continent. We are excited to partner with Bold in Africa and Malembe Lifestyle to shine a light on the incredible talent coming out of Uganda while creating a space for that talent to connect with the wider African creative community.”
The inaugural Bold Fashion Week will feature ten African designers on a professionally produced runway, bringing together established Ugandan labels, emerging designers and international talent from across the continent.
The line-up includes Axarya, Discreet Street x Local, Good Fibre, Joan Jade, Kifahari, Kwesh, Lamara, Ofumbi, Shurea Yasmin and Nigeria’s Yemi Shoyemi, showcasing the breadth and diversity of contemporary African design.
Beyond the runway, the experience is designed to connect creativity with opportunity. A retail marketplace, held in collaboration with the Kampala Artisan Market on August 22, will give audiences an opportunity to discover and purchase collections directly from participating designers. The programme will also feature mentorship sessions and panel discussions focused on design, business development, branding and market access.
For Johnnie Walker, the partnership represents the brand’s commitment to creating meaningful platforms for Africa’s creative economy and facilitating exchanges that allow local talent to travel beyond borders.
For Bold in Africa, the event is the next chapter in a 14-year journey of supporting African designers and building the infrastructure needed to transform creative talent into sustainable businesses.
Bold Fashion Week runs from August 21st to 22nd, 2026, at Motiv, Bugolobi, Kampala, with the retail marketplace taking place on August 22 in collaboration with the Kampala Artisan Market.