Estree Bridges Heritage and Luxury as House of Estree Shines at 16th Africa Fashion Week London
Mary Nnah
London’s fashion calendar had a distinctly African heartbeat this year as Esther Olorunfemi, designer, serial entrepreneur and Creative Director of House of Estree, popularly known as Estree (@estree16), commanded the 16th edition of Africa Fashion Week London with her brand, House of Estree.
The UK-based Nigerian creative delivered a dual-impact moment that set her apart.
On the main runway, she unveiled a bold 12-look menswear and womenswear collection. Off the runway, she anchored the AFWL exhibition floor, giving buyers, critics, diaspora leaders, and style enthusiasts an immersive, up-close encounter with House of Estree and her newly launched activewear label, KOWRI.
The runway was where the statement was made. Before an international audience, House of Estree redefined what Ankara could be in 2026. Rather than limiting the vibrant African textile to traditional silhouettes, the 12-look collection pushed it into contemporary tailoring.
Structured jackets, belted outerwear, tailored trousers, blazers, skirts, bomber jackets, winter coats and sharp separates moved Ankara and Aso-Oke out of expectation and into everyday global luxury.
That approach is core to House of Estree’s DNA. Founded in London in May 2025, the brand was built to transform African fabrics into modern pieces that travel across cultures without losing their origin story.
The result is a clear meeting point: African textile heritage speaking fluently in the language of international fashion.Sharing the runway spotlight was KOWRI, Estree’s new activewear brand. KOWRI brought a different energy – T-shirts, jerseys, hoodies and jogger pants designed for movement, but rooted in symbolism.
The name is a deliberate stylisation of “cowrie,” the shell historically used as currency across Africa and long linked to wealth, value and protection. For KOWRI, that legacy becomes a brand ethos for a contemporary generation.
The label will expand next with a gym wear collection including sports bras, leggings and other fitness-focused pieces.“African Fashion Week London provides an important international platform to showcase the depth, sophistication and global potential of African fashion,” Estree said. “Bringing our 12-look collection to the AFWL runway, while also presenting KOWRI to an international audience, is both a celebration of our heritage and a statement on where contemporary African fashion is headed.”
The presence didn’t end when the lights went down. Both House of Estree and KOWRI maintained a strong activation on the AFWL exhibition floor throughout the weekend. It created space for fashion influencers, retail buyers and the public to touch the fabrics, study the tailoring, and understand the craftsmanship behind the collections.The AFWL showing also signals what comes next for KOWRI.
Following its UK launch and strong reception in London, the brand will officially enter the Nigerian market on 15 September 2026, while continuing worldwide delivery. It’s the next phase in Estree’s ambition to scale KOWRI across international markets and make it accessible to customers globally. House of Estree itself is envisioned as more than retail. It is a cultural and creative hub based in London. Beyond housing the brand’s womenswear, menswear, accessories and lifestyle collections, the expansive space is designed to platform African and diaspora designers who may not have access to their own physical showcase. With dedicated retail and creative zones, visually curated areas for photography and content creation, and rooms for exhibitions and cultural experiences, House of Estree is building a destination.
The goal: for African creativity to be discovered, experienced and celebrated in the UK and beyond, with doors opened wider for new talent.AFWL 2026 marks another milestone in that journey, following the brand’s participation in AFWL 2025 and its growing presence through fashion, retail and cultural programming in London.The moment also highlights the breadth of Estree’s work beyond fashion. She is an established serial entrepreneur and Founder and Managing Director of Enablement Care Services, a UK-based care organisation providing specialist support for adults with autism, learning and physical disabilities, and mental-health needs.
Her portfolio further spans hospitality, short-let accommodation, events, media, fitness and music. Across every venture, the throughline is the same: championing creativity, culture and enterprise.
That cultural commitment travels with her. Estree has participated in the historic Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria – a vibrant celebration of Yoruba heritage, fashion and tradition.
Her involvement reflects the same philosophy driving House of Estree and KOWRI: to celebrate African identity in ways that are authentic, vibrant, contemporary and globally relevant.
From the colour and community of Ojude Oba to the structure and scale of Africa Fashion Week London, Estree continues to position House of Estree and KOWRI as formidable bridges. Bridges between heritage and modernity.
Between Lagos and London. Between African fabrics and international luxury.With a full 12-look collection on the runway, a commanding exhibition presence, and the introduction of KOWRI to a global audience, AFWL 2026 cements another significant chapter for House of Estree. For Estree, it is further proof that contemporary African fashion is not waiting for a seat at the table. It is building its own.