Beyond the Runway:  Building Global Pathways

Ethical Fashion Initiative

Join leading creatives from the diaspora, the US, and Europe for a dynamic conversation on reshaping the fashion and creative industries.

Corso Como, 10

<h2>Beyond the Runway: Building Global Pathways</h2> This conversation takes place as part of The Cotton Road, an exhibition program hosted by the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) at 10 Corso Como from September 25-28.As African creatives gain greater visibility on the global stage, the question is no longer only one of representation, but of ownership, authorship, and long-term influence. Beyond the Runway: Building Global Pathways for African Creatives brings together leading voices in design, art, and cultural entrepreneurship to explore how African and diasporic talent is reshaping the global fashion system on its own terms. This is a hybrid event. Participants can join us in person in Milan (limited seating) or online via Microsoft Teams from anywhere in the world. When registering, please select your preferred attendance option. Doors open: 3 PM Conversation: 3.15 PM Moderated by Teneshia Carr, founder and editor-in-chief of Blanc Magazine, the conversation will examine the role of design as infrastructure – from building media platforms and cultural institutions to creating ecosystems that sustain creative work. It will also consider what it takes for African creatives not just to be seen, but to own their narratives, their platforms, and their intellectual property.Joining the conversation are Richmond Orlando Mensah, Ghanaian scenographer and founder of Manju Journal and Manju Studios, whose work has grown from an online showcase of African creativity into a globally recognized cultural platform; Michelle Francine Ngonmo, founder of the Afro Fashion Association and the Black Carpet Awards, who has been at the forefront of building bridges between African fashion hubs and global capitals like Milan and Paris; Edward Buchanan, Milan-based designer and founder of knitwear label Sansovino 6, whose career spans from directing at Bottega Veneta to mentoring emerging BIPOC creatives; and Damien Ajavon, an Afropean textile artist of Senegalese and Togolese heritage whose tactile, hand-crafted works merge African craftsmanship with diasporic and queer perspectives.Together, these speakers represent a generation of visionaries who are expanding the reach of African creativity beyond the runway and into new global pathways. This roundtable offers an opportunity to reflect on the cultural, institutional, and economic shifts underway, and to imagine a more equitable and inclusive future for fashion.--ABOUTEFI is a program of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Its mission is to connect artisans and micro-producers in emerging economies with the global fashion industry, creating supply chains that are fair, inclusive, and environmentally responsible. In West Africa, EFI specializes in traditional and sustainable textile practices, from organic cotton and handwoven cloth to mud cloth, indigo dyeing, batik, and tie-dye, combining natural dyes with contemporary production to preserve heritage while fostering innovation.In West Africa, EFI is supported by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) under the ACP–Business Friendly Programme. 10 Corso Como, MilanThursday, September 26Doors open: 2:30 PM / Event begins: 3:00 PMFree entry | RSVP required(The roundtable is in english.) SPEAKERSTeneshia CarrTeneshia Carr began her career in 2005 as a photographer, creative director, and consultant for various brands in London, New York, and Tokyo. Her services included leading internal discussions on equity, diversity, and inclusion to help companies have challenging conversations. In 2011, Carr founded Blanc Media and Blanc Magazine in her London studio, where a diverse group of creatives and influencers sought a new way of working within the fashion industry. Blanc Magazine was created to provide a platform that celebrated otherness and gave underserved and underrepresented creatives a voice. Damien AjavonDamien Ajavon (they/them) is a textile craftmaker originally from Paris, now living and working between Norway and Germany. As a dedicated artisan, their creations are a testament to personal exploration and a passion for sharing stories through the transformative power and mutable qualities of textiles. At the core is a desire to merge cultures to create something new and beautiful. Rooted in their heritage, drawing on African and Western cultures and queer communities, Ajavon’s practice with textiles serves as a medium for culturally representative pieces that merge generations of African craftsmanship with diasporic and transoceanic perspectives. Their work explores the tactile manipulation of textile fibers, with a creative process deeply influenced by the interplay of visual and sensory experiences. Edward BuchananEdward Buchanan is an American designer and consultant based in Milan whose career has been defined by innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration. A graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York, he joined Bottega Veneta in 1995 as its first-ever ready-to-wear design director, shaping the house’s inaugural runway shows and establishing the design framework for its modern brand identity. Thirty years later, he returned to feature in the brand’s 50th anniversary intrecciato campaign.After exiting Bottega in 2000, Buchanan co-founded Leflesh, later worked in New York on celebrity collaborations, and eventually settled permanently in Milan. Under his consulting practice KSAT (Knitted Situations And Things), he has advised clients ranging from Pucci to Byredo, while also developing Sansovino 6, his knitwear-focused label produced exclusively in Italy. He collaborated closely with Virgil Abloh at Off-White and co-founded WAMI – We Are Made in Italy, an initiative supporting multicultural talent within the Italian fashion system. Since 2021 he has served as Milan correspondent for Perfect magazine, while continuing to mentor emerging designers. Michelle Francine NgonmoBorn in Cameroon, Michelle Francine Ngonmo arrived in Italy as a child and quickly discovered a passion for the world of communication. She founded the Afro Fashion Association in 2015, opening a satellite location in Cameroon in 2017 and offices in Ghana and Rwanda in 2023. She’s been recognized internationally, including as the winner in the ACTIVISM category of the first-ever Bulgari B.zero1 Aurora Awards. In 2023, the Afro Fashion Association launched the inaugural Black Carpet Awards, celebrating achievement in the global community to advance diversity &amp; inclusion. Richmond Orlando MensahRichmond Orlando Mensah is a Ghana-based creative consultant, cultural curator, and creative director with a specialism in photography, design, fashion, and contemporary art, with a focus on African heritage, archives, innovation, and underrepresented talent. His work bridges heritage with contemporary narratives through strategic collaborations, connecting progressive brands and institutions to authentic audiences while fostering meaningful growth opportunities. Combining curatorial insight, strategic thinking, and interdisciplinary facilitation, he supports artists, communities, and institutions in building sustainable creative ecosystems. Drawing on extensive expertise in the arts, visual culture, and cultural diplomacy, he provides guidance in curation, programming, editorial direction, partnerships, research, evaluation, creative and art direction, and marketing—managing both commercial and curatorial projects from conception to completion.

Beyond the Runway: Building Global Pathways

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Beyond the Runway: Building Global Pathways

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