Beyond the Runway: Building Global Pathways for African Creatives

Beyond the Runway: Building Global Pathways for African Creatives

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.

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.

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ABOUT

EFI 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, Milan

Thursday, September 26

Doors open: 2:30 PM / Event begins: 3:00 PM

Free entry | RSVP required

(The roundtable is in english.)

SPEAKERS

Teneshia Carr

Teneshia 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 Ajavon

Damien 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 Buchanan

Edward Buchanan is an American designer and consultant based in Milan whose career has been defined by innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration. Born in Ohio and 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. In this role he shaped the house’s inaugural runway shows and established 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 with Manuela Morin, a short-lived but influential label that attracted international attention. He later worked in New York on celebrity collaborations with partners including Jennifer Lopez before settling permanently in Milan.

Richmond Orlando Mensah

Richmond 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.