Bigger and better than last year, Africa Fashion Week (AFW) burst into London at the weekend providing a welcome relief from the Olympic mania sweeping the city. Its key aim is to celebrating Africa's rich and unique cultural heritage through fashion and it provided an international platform for over 50 African inspired designers with the likes of Adebayo Jones

, Afro - Fanatic and House of Adjeiwaah putting in appearances.

Having attended last year's poorly organised inaugural event, I was pleased to note that the event organisers had learnt from previous mistakes. For starters, the venue choice- Spitalfields Market Hall - in the fashionable east end of London was spot on and hoardes of achingly cool fashion types could be seen milling around. There was also a definite buzz in the air whilst the crowds perused and bargained in the Afropolitan shopping paradise. Personally, I was won over by the resident DJ who pumped out the latest Afrobeat jams when I attended Saturday's showcase.
I arrived just in time to catch the second catwalk show of the day which highlighted the works of Trish. O Couture, L'emiral Couture, Bebe Grafiti, Lyze hats, Tee threads, Ozora and Da Viva. The commom trend amongst all the designers was the liberal use of embellishment. Sequins, beads, glitter and gem stones were used aplenty as was the mixing of different fabrics. Ankara was often mixed with chiffons, lace and slinky jersey fabrics in a contemporary blend of Africa and the West. Other key details include draping, dizzyingly low back neck drops on garments, peek a boo sheer fabrics, sweet heart necklines and hand cut floral appliqués. My favourite items of the show were the on trend jacquard cigarette pants seen at Bebe Grafitit, the beautiful pale green diamante 'peacock' fascinator at Lyze Hats and a mini shift dress at Ozora with a jewelled Masai Mara style collar and yoke.