“Life isn't perfect but your outfit can be.”  Anonymous

The business of fashion is at the core of her brand, Adama Paris, which Senegalese fashion designer and entrepreneur, Adama Amanda Ndiaye, has created as her freedom of expression.

Falling in love with fashion in Paris, at an Yves Saint Laurent show, which she attended with her mother at the age of 9, Adama is excited by the possibilities that African fashion presents, paired with the opportunity to meet new designers and uncover and experience new trends along the way.

Adama feels that fashion encourages the youth to be different, passionate and creative; and creating Senegal and Dakar Fashion Week fifteen years ago, it is these fashion platforms that have shaped and moulded her as both a designer and an entrepreneur. She looks forward to African designers claiming a greater space in the world of fashion in years to come.

With her greatest style icon being French model, Katoucha Niane , it is Adama’s grandmother who has been her mentor and greatest inspiration on her fashion journey. Having recently conceptualized Fashion Africa TV, a television channel solely dedicated to fashion made in Africa, Adama  foresees African fashion growing bigger, better and bolder.

When she’s not designing, you can find her outdoors, soaking up the sun and sea on a surfboard, or improving her handicap on the golf course. Despite the many rewards she has reaped, fashion entrepreneurship is a challenging creative path to walk, and her greatest challenge has been finding financial backing to expand her business.

Representing Senegalese style and sophistication, Adama Paris’ current Collection is inspired by the Sapeurs – a high fashion group of men that emerged from the Congo twenty-five years ago called SAPE (La Societé des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes/ Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People.) The Sapeurs of the Congo are a band of men who have turned the art of dressing into a cultural statement, as they are ordinary working-class men clothed in elegant attire, creating flamboyant identities for themselves through their luxurious style and bold, beautiful suits.

Adama’s feminine interpretation of the Sapeurs has resulted in an artistic, cultural vision of marrying bold African prints with bright colours and juxtaposed with sequins and sparkle to bring an element of refined elegance.

We look forward to experiencing Adama’s art of dressing as a cultural statement with Adama Paris at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town 2017 taking place from the 23rd-25th March.

Follow AFI on Twitter and Instagram: @afi_sa for constant Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town updates as well as show schedules and ticket information.

#AFI #MBFWCT17

Follow @maccosmetics and @ghd_southafrica to get the #MBFWCT17

looks locked down.