LONDON — Harrods is throwing its weight behind African and diasporic luxury, teaming with social enterprise Brand63Africa for a dedicated pop-up space on the fifth floor of its Knightsbridge flagship.
Running from Monday to Oct. 27, the pop-up features a selection of pieces highlighting craftsmanship, cultural storytelling and contemporary design from five labels: Christie Brown from Ghana, Studio Namnyak from Kenya, Abiola Olusola from Nigeria, Sukeina from Senegal and The Cloth from Trinidad and Tobago.
Brand63Africa was founded by Eva Omaghomi in 2025 as a platform to “connect extraordinary designers with the opportunities, networks and visibility needed to grow globally, while remaining true to their heritage, craftsmanship and creative vision.”
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Omaghomi said the idea for the enterprise, named after the year the African Union was founded, came about in 2023 after she left her role as director of community engagement at the British royal household to launch her own consultancy, Forster Jones & Associates.
“During the king’s coronation, I wanted to wear a designer from Africa, but in London it was difficult to walk into a store and find something suitable, so I ended up having to order a piece from Ghana. It got me thinking, ‘Why isn’t it more accessible?’ And I started to do the research into it,” she added.
Omaghomi said the Brand63Africa pop-up at Harrods demonstrates that African and diasporic designers have always “belonged within the global luxury conversation.”
For Harrods, the project represents a continous push into new talent and geographies, following iniciatives such as the Chinese New Year pop-up with Shanghai-based retailer Labelhood, and hosting the winning designers of Fashion Trust Arabia.
“At Harrods, we are proud to champion emerging talent and provide our customers with access to the most exciting voices shaping the future of luxury,” said Clemmie Harris, the store’s head of buying for contemporary, sport and essentials, adding that the partnership with Brand63Africa reflects a shared commitment to celebrating creativity, craftsmanship and innovation, while creating meaningful opportunities for designers to connect with a global audience.
“The pop-up represents a unique opportunity to introduce these remarkable brands to our customers, offering not only the chance to discover and shop their collections, but also to engage with the inspiring stories, perspectives and cultural influences behind each designer’s work, and contribute to the increasingly global dialogue shaping the fashion industry today,” she added.
Through Brand63Africa curator Lulu Shabell’s eye, the pop-up features a mix of evening pieces, daywear and gender-fluid silhouettes.
“We wanted to bring together a variety of different brands, so that the consumer, depending on their style and their age group, can find something that suits them,” Shabell explained during a walk-through, noting that many of the labels are widely known at home but far less visible on U.K. shop floors.
For The Cloth, founded in Trinidad and Tobago by Robert Young and marking its 40th anniversary, the Harrods pop-up marks the second time the brand is having a London presence, following a partnership with Simon Burstein’s retail concept The Place earlier.
The brand is known for its use of rare West Indian Sea Island cotton and extensive patchwork and appliqué, and Young’s approach to fabric as a vehicle for social history and political commentary.
After this first Harrods outing, Omaghomi said Brand63Africa is already eyeing a sequel.
“The next step after this pop-up is finished is that we will start to pick the next cohort for Harrods for next year,” she said, adding that the ambition is to scale the model globally, exploring pop-ups with other luxury retailers in the U.S., Middle East and Asia, while keeping designers rooted in their own cultures and communities.
