“Expect to be challenged”: Brand63Africa’s Eva Omaghomi on taking African design from London Fashion Week to Harrods
Following the launch of her Brand63Africa pop-up at Harrods, former royal insider Eva Omaghomi talks about the viral outfit that started it all, and her search for the next cohort of African designers to join the platform.
Eva Omaghomi doesn’t consider herself a fashion fanatic. Her background lies in anthropology, and after spending 17 years as an insider for the UK’s royal family, which included her promotion to the Royal Household’s first-ever Director of Global Community Engagement, she founded Forster Jones & Associates: a strategic communications and advisory consultancy company that works with the likes of King Charles III and Idris Elba. But after her coronation outfit – featuring a traditional Nigerian gele designed by Ghanaian brand Duaba Serwa – went viral on social media, Eva made it her mission to satiate an obvious appetite for designers of African heritage in the luxury market. Eva founded Brand63Africa in early 2026: a platform and incubator dedicated to furthering her cause.
Its name reflects that message, with the number 63 honouring the formation of the African Union in 1963. The brand currently carries five designers: Christie Brown, Abiola Olusola, Sukeina, Studio Namnyak and The Cloth. After debuting at London Fashion Week, the brand’s foray into the luxury world reached new heights with a pop-up at Harrods this month. Running until 27th of October, a curated selection of the brand’s AW26/27 offerings is available to shop on the iconic store’s 5th floor.
Following a successful launch in the UK-based luxury department store, Eva is intent on continuing her mission by inviting a new cohort of designers to join the brand, and plans for global expansion.
Following the launch at Harrods, Eva joined EE72 to talk her mission with Brand63Africa, and the moments from its inaugural year that have meant the most…
One moment that stuck with me was when I saw a customer trying something on. She had been following one of the designers online and saw that they were in Harrods and immediately rushed in. That was a very happy moment for me. I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s why I’ve done it.
Eva Omaghomi
Congratulations on the launch of Brand63Africa in Harrods. How did the launch day go?
It went really well. It was a whirlwind day, and very surreal.
Did you get any feedback that’s stuck with you?
The feedback has been really brilliant. One moment that stuck with me was when I saw a customer trying something on. She had been following one of the designers and saw that they were in Harrods and immediately rushed in to try them on. That was a very happy moment for me because that’s the whole point of the pop-up. I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s why I’ve done it.’
How did this concept of having five designers from across Africa under your umbrella come about?
The idea of having a group and doing something for designers of African descent came to me just after the coronation. I wore a Ghanaian designer to the coronation. I’m part Ghanaian, Nigerian and Sierra Leonean, and so I thought it was a moment to wear something I knew I’d feel 100% comfortable in. I know a few designers in Nigeria and Ghana, so I reached out to them and one of them was Duaba Serwa. She sketched something and sent it to me, and when I went to Ghana on holiday, and she measured me up. The image of me at the coronation, unbeknownst to me, was quite popular online. My nieces and nephews said to me, “Auntie, you’ve gone viral,’ and a lot of the commentary was on the fact I was wearing an African designer and I was getting lots of messages and I just thought, ‘Okay, there’s something here.’
The brand’s name is inherently political and rooted in culture. Do you think politics and culture influence the brand’s practice?
Looking for a name that encapsulates 54 countries and thousands of cultures and languages is really hard. I didn’t want to name it after me or anything like that. Actually, it was a working title. I was like, ‘What is the one thing that signifies Africa?’ And the formation of the African Union was one of those things…Culture and community influence us more than politics, really. We’re just being ourselves.
What made Harrods the perfect retail partner for you and your brand?
A number of the designers said they’d want to be stocked there. My background is in anthropology so I like to ask people. Sometimes I strategise based on a hunch, intuition or data. A lot of the time, I ask people, as I’m not a fashion expert. As I dug into it, I found out that Harrods works with Fashion Trust Arabia, and they have a platform for designers from China as well. So for me, it was unexpected. I didn’t think they would be such an innovative retailer, but I found them to be quite innovative in our dealings with them.
What should shoppers expect from the experience at the Harrods pop-up?
The reviews we’ve had so far from people who have done this are that it’s a really good edit. It’s a real range of things for people with different styles, levels of bravery, ages and sizes. I think they should expect to be challenged on what they might view as fashion from Africa. I hope it makes them curious to delve into designers of African descent.
It’s a real range of things for people with different styles, levels of bravery, ages and sizes. I think they should expect to be challenged on what they might view as fashion from Africa. I hope it makes them curious to delve into designers of African descent.
Eva Omaghomi
Your mission is to connect designers of African heritage with the global luxury mark. What do you think has been your biggest achievement with that mission?
Having all the designers present in a static showcase at London Fashion Week. That was huge for us. Some of those designers have been around 40 years. One designer had their 40th anniversary this year, The Cloth, and that was their first time showing at London Fashion Week. I think the other thing is that we’ve provided mentorship. We’ve provided sessions for the designers on communication, quality control and speaking to investors. The brand’s saying, ‘I’m learning a lot from this process with you guys,’ has also been very fulfilling for us.
What does the rest of the year look like for the brand?
We’re going to start looking at a new cohort for next year. We are looking for other retailers around the world, so we’re keen to create pop-ups in Paris, parts of Asia and the Gulf region if we can. I’ve got other things coming up personally, too. I’m executive producing a documentary coming out on Netflix with Idris Elba and the King’s Trust.
When you are selecting for a new cohort, what are you looking for from a brand?
There are a couple of metrics. In addition to beauty, we look at their business plan, innovation and community impact. How many artisans are you training and working with on the ground?
Back to basics: At Klein, Veronica Leoni does Calvin-core for today Back to basics: At Klein, Veronica Leoni does Calvin-core for today
Back to basics: At Klein, Veronica Leoni does Calvin-core for today
The joy of modernism: Michael Kors makes pragmatism of art The joy of modernism: Michael Kors makes pragmatism of art
The joy of modernism: Michael Kors makes pragmatism of art
An armour of optimism: Tory Burch finds power in opulence An armour of optimism: Tory Burch finds power in opulence
An armour of optimism: Tory Burch finds power in opulence
A prom king returns: Tommy Hilfiger reclaims his preppy American crown A prom king returns: Tommy Hilfiger reclaims his preppy American crown
A prom king returns: Tommy Hilfiger reclaims his preppy American crown
Inside the making of 72’s Made in the 90s covers Inside the making of 72’s Made in the 90s covers
Inside the making of 72’s Made in the 90s covers
Opulence with a sense of soul: Ralph Lauren’s taste for history Opulence with a sense of soul: Ralph Lauren’s taste for history
Opulence with a sense of soul: Ralph Lauren’s taste for history
Casting director Piergiorgio Del Moro on what makes a supermodel Casting director Piergiorgio Del Moro on what makes a supermodel
Casting director Piergiorgio Del Moro on what makes a supermodel
Collina Strada’s Copenhagen Fashion Week debut is a greatest hits remix Collina Strada’s Copenhagen Fashion Week debut is a greatest hits remix
