Hanifa: The Congolese Bridal Brand That Has Reinvented How We Think of Runway

by Brina Jeffries

May 25, 2020

Fashion is constantly changing. With many brands like Alexander Wang and recently Gucci, leaving the fashion calendar; the future of runway uncertain. What we can be sure of, is that with the growth of technology and the consideration of social-distancing; many more brands are reinventing the ways we view their seasons. Congolese Brand, Hanifa, is at the height of this change.

On Sunday, May 23, 2020, Haifa took instagram by storm when they went “live”, presenting their new collection entitled “Pink Label Congo”. What set this runway presentation apart from most is the obvious absence of one very important thing…models. At first glance, it appeared as if the designs were gracefully walking down the runway but as you continue to watch, you realize that the designs have an appearance as if they are being worn by a human, they just seem to be invisible.

The reaction for this collection was tremendous. On both instagram and Twitter, people were praising Hanifa for this futuristic look inside fashion. Hanifa themselves, describe their collection as:

“Riddled with a painful history, the beauty of Congo is often untapped and overlooked. The gentleness, beauty, history, poise, majesty, strength, power, and hope of the Congolese spirit inspired this collection. When creating each piece, I was reminded of the stories my mother told me of the women she knew back home in Congo. Women who suffered great loss but still, mustered every ounce of strength everyday to show up. My hope is that this collection inspires all women to stand tall in their power and like the Democratic Republic of Congo, to use their history, whether pretty or painful — to redesign their future. My country, the land of Congo, is ripe with an abundance of natural resources — the greatest of which are its people — its women. Hanifa presents.... Pink Label Congo. Now available at Hanifa.co”