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Hanifa's Founder Reflects on a Decade in Fashion with her Inaugural Show

Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa

Emerging designer, Anifa Mvuemba of Hanifa, set the bar high for her first in-person runway collection after creating her virtual 3-D fashion show during the pandemic and being worn by the likes of Beyoncé, Zendaya, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Tracee Ellis Ross.

Earlier this week, Mvuemba debuted her first cat walk show at the one and only National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. where hundreds of guests gathered to support. She called this season's collection 'Dream'—which summarizes the past 10 years of her business.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa

Backstage she explained, "every single piece reminds me of a time, like last year something that I designed, something that I designed 5, 10 years ago". A fan favorite? Hanifa's ribbed knit dress, seen in the collection but also worn by her celebrity friends sitting front row at the show.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa

Her secret ingredient is her team. "This is a moment for all of us, we all work so hard and I'm so grateful," she says. Mvuemba went on to explain that showing in D.C. was special, not only because that is where she got her start in fashion in 2011, but also because the self-taught designer assembled a team that is still based there today. "I wanted to inspire. We don't have to leave, there's so many creatives here," she says about living and working in the city. "I wanted to give opportunity to local artists, 80% of the models are D.C. based and I wanted to make sure we supported them".

Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa
Photo credit: Courtesy of Hanifa

Homage to her earlier knitwear pieces and tailored separates were shown in new ways, this time with volume and asymmetrical necklines. Mvuemba explained she's tried denim in the past, and this is the season she hit her stride. From high waisted wide-leg jeans with over exaggerated cuffs to an avant-garde denim finale dress that closed the show. There were of course new iterations of her knit dresses her fans buy in bulk, this season with color blocking and variations of sheer knit fabrics pieced together.

So what's next for this young designer? Another ten years, at least.

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