Master Class in Fashion Design and Business

Africa Fashion Week "Off the Runway" Master Class

Speech - Africa Fashion Week NY

There are times when we dare to hope for something good, perhaps something that seems unreachable, but we fear that saying our wish aloud may jinx it somehow. So we protect our fragile dream with words. We say, "If the stars are in alignment, our hope will be realized. If the stars are in alignment, our wish will come true." And to our surprise, the stars do sometimes line up perfectly, leaving us feeling as though a small miracle has happened. Africa Fashion Week is one of those miracles; it was born in 2009, just on the cusp of the founding of Adiree PR & Communications here in New York City. While Africa Fashion Week was one of Adiree's earliest projects, the event grew right along with Adiree, which is now the premier public relations and communications firm for branding and promoting African and global business leaders across many industries. Adiree's deft hand helps to structure Africa's fashion industry and promote global economic partnerships for luxury brands from Africa. Shining like a beacon, Africa Fashion Week NY may soon be part of a constellation of fashion capitals eager to host Africa Fashion Week around the world -- in Miami, LA, London, Paris, Milan, Berlin, and Tokyo.

Adiat Disu & Associates have partnered with the United Nations Foundation and are delighted to bring the Master Class, "Off the Runway," to this fifth annual celebration of Africa Fashion Week. The "Off the Runway" Master Class is a rising star in its own right, revealing the unique perspective of experts who intimately understand the fashion industry, both on the runway and off the runway. The Master Class provides a close up look at the business side of fashion that the media rarely mentions. "Off the Runway" is an opportunity to hear directly from fashion industry experts, who examining their behind-the-scenes experiences with attendees and foster a level of insider perspective designed to promote success in the fashion industry.

The speakers in the Master Class are leaders committed to the advancement of women, entrepreneurship, and Africa. Just as they have had a significant impact on the lives of many Africans, and they will collectively have tremendous impact on those who participate in the Master Class. We are fortunate to have these talented, renowned fashion experts with us. I've had to compress the very long list of their talents, accomplishments, and accolades in order to keep this introduction reasonably brief. What I tell you now about each of these incredible people who have agreed to speak for our Master Class is simply too amazing not to share. So here we go.

Adiat Disu is the founder, chief communications officer at Adiree PR & Communications, and the director of Africa Fashion Week. Most importantly, Adiat is a tireless ambassador -- the wind beneath the wings -- of African fashion entrepreneurs, and she is always focused on positioning entrepreneurs for success and contributing to economic growth in Africa through fashion. The synergy between Adiat's business acumen and passion for fashion has been widely recognized. She shared the stage with Diane van Furstenberg when speaking to African Women Delegates at the United Nations, during the African Women Entrepreneurship Program. Following Hillary Clinton's keynote address, Adiat spoke about the challenges and opportunities of competing globally to African Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Washington D.C. Adiat's trajectory from the diaspora to one of New York City's movers and shakers in fashion has covered in mainstream media by CNN, Forbes magazine, the L.A. Times, and the Washington Post, and by Arise TV and Black Enterprise. Prepare to be awed by Adiat's incredible story and her commitment to changing consumer thoughts and behavior towards Africa.