Anifa Mvuemba

Anifa Mvuemba
Born1990 or 1991 (age 34–35)[1]
Nairobi, Kenya
OccupationFashion designer
Years active2011–

Anifa Mvuemba (born 1990 or 1991) is a Kenyan-born American fashion designer of Congolese descent best known as the founder of womenswear brand Hanifa.

Early life

Anifa Mvuemba was born in Nairobi, Kenya to parents of Congolese origin and immigrated with her family to the United States at age three, in 1993. She is one of seven children.[2] Mvuemba was first exposed to fashion by watching her mother get dressed every morning. In 2005, her brother was murdered in Maryland.[3] She attended Gaithersburg High School and then Morgan State University, where she studied fashion merchandising. She later dropped out of college and quit her retail job at Nordstrom, citing a rough transition to adulthood as the cause.[4][5][6]

Career

Mvuemba began designing garments after taking a fashion design course while in her junior year of high school. She began creating dresses for friends and other clients in 2011, at the age of 21, after posting a picture of a dress she made out of fabric scraps to Instagram. Mvuemba then taught herself the technical knowledge of sewing by watching YouTube videos and examining her aunt, a seamstress, while working. She launched her own fashion brand, Hanifa, in 2012.[1][7][8][6]

In 2020, she presented a digital fashion show via Instagram Live entitled "Pink Label Congo".[6] In 2021, her debut in-person fashion show "Hanifa Dream" was held at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. That same year, she was named as an awardee of the annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, as well as the recipient of InStyle's Future of Fashion Award.[1][9][10] In 2022, two of Mvuemba's designs were included in "Those Who Dress Better", a fashion exhibit curated by Black Fashion Fair and the estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat.[11] In August of that year, she confronted fast fashion brand Fashion Nova for copying the design of her Jax Knit Gown, which resulted in the removal of Fashion Nova's version from their website.[12] In 2023, Hanifa debuted its first bridal collection in Middleburg, Virginia.[13]

Mvuemba's garments have been worn by celebrities such as Beyoncé, Gabrielle Union, Ashley Graham, Sarah Jessica Parker,[4] Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae,[8] Michelle Obama,[3] Zendaya,[2] Iman,[11] Cardi B,[14] Bella Hadid, Lizzo, Padma Lakshmi,[15] Fantasia, Kylie Jenner,[16] and Ciara.[17] She additionally designed Savannah James' look for the 2025 Met Gala.[18]

Personal life

Mvuemba is based in Washington, D.C.[1] She has one child, a daughter born in 2023.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ishmael, Aiyana. "For Hanifa's Anifa Mvuemba, The Limit Does Not Exist". teenvogue.com. Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Grossman, Eric. "Worldwise: Fashion Designer Anifa Mvuemba's Favorite Things". barrons.com. Barron's. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b Baker, Brea. "Anifa Mvuemba on the African Diaspora and Black Innovation". elle.com. Elle. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Ward, Priscilla. "Local Fashion Designer Anifa Mvuemba Knows No Limits". washingtoncitypaper.com. Washington City Paper. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Petrarca, Emilia. "Designer Behind Beyonce-Approved Brand Hanifa on Starting Her Heirloom Diamond Collection". naturaldiamonds.com. Natural Diamond Council. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Mau, Dhani. "HANIFA'S ANIFA MVUEMBA COULDN'T GET THE FASHION INDUSTRY'S SUPPORT. TURNS OUT SHE DIDN'T NEED IT". fashionista.com. Fashionista. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  7. ^ Freestone, Camille. "This Closet is Dedicated to the Statement Piece". coveteur.com. Coveteur. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Ware, Asia Milia. "Teen Vogue Generation Next Designer Anifa Mvuemba Is Dedicated to Creating Space for Young Black Women". teenvogue.com. Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  9. ^ Khan, Aamina Inayat. "CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund 2021: Meet the 10 Finalists". teenvogue.com. Teen Vogue. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  10. ^ Mitchell, Skylar. "This rising star designer is embracing her Congolese heritage on her own terms". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Cubit, Brea. "Anifa Mvuemba, the trailblazing designer behind luxury brand Hanifa, is aligned and in full bloom". businessinsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Wei, Angela. "FASHION NOVA REMOVES DRESS AFTER HANIFA COPYING ACCUSATIONS". fashionista.com. Fashionista. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  13. ^ Marcellus, Kerane. "Hanifa Is Officially Entering The Bridal Market". essence.com. Essence. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  14. ^ Salaudeen, Aisha. "Fashion designer showcases the future of the runway with 3D models". cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  15. ^ Wasilak, Sarak. "From Jess Sims to Gabrielle Union, "Women Without Limits" Are Wearing Hanifa". popsugar.com. PopSugar. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  16. ^ Bobila, Maria. "HANIFA'S ANIFA MVUEMBA KNOWS HOW TO CREATE HYPE AROUND FASHION IN THE DIGITAL AGE". nylon.com. Nylon. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  17. ^ Howarr, Nandi. "How Anifa Mvuemba Reset The Fashion Industry". essence.com. Essence. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  18. ^ Murden, Kiana. "Savannah James Reclaims the Harlem Zoot Suit for the Met Gala 2025". vogue.com. Vogue. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
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