What is Hanifa?
Hanifa is a brand for all women. If you haven’t heard about their work yet, try picking up an issue of InStyle or Essence or Elle or Vogue! Hanifa is everywhere and for good reason.
They make fashion-forward clothes with a focus on vibrant colors and patterns to “illuminate natural curves” – All curves. Unlike most other luxury brands, Hanifa’s sizing goes up to 20; makes sense for a brand that designs clothes “for women without limits”.
More specifically, Hanifa makes clothes for the woman you want to be. Every garment they create is bold, contemporary and feminine. Like great fashion does, their each piece sends a signal of an elevated style-minded eye. The brand is the brainchild of someone who clearly knows fashion: Anifa Mvuemba.
Who Founded Hanifa?
Anifa Mvuemba. She is a Congalese fashion designer based in Washington D.C. She was born in Kenya; and her family relocated to the DMV area when she was 3 years old. Other than a short stint in Dubai, she’s been in D.C. her whole life.
Mvuemba worked in retail before she decided to start her own brand. The work aligned with her interests in fashion and design, but she was tentative to take it further for a while.
The usual concerns of whether starting her own brand could sustain her delayed Hanifa. It was actually the positive response from her self-designed 21st birthday dress that instigated the brand. After Mvuemba received affirmation that people liked and would wear her designs, Hanifa was born!
Now Hanifa is worn by celebrities, influencers and reality stars all over the world! Most recently, they had their first live runway show in D.C. at the National Portrait Gallery.
There they debuted ”Dream” their Fall/Winter 2021. Celebrities and influencers in attendance were lucky enough to witness beautiful, bold designs glide down the runway live and in a gorgeous outdoor setting.
While I didn’t go to their premiere runway show (Despite living in the DMV area!! Hanifa, hit me up!!) I know even following the brand from a distance is a privilege.
The first Hanifa design I saw was their Soraya II Maxi (below). I loved (and love) everything about this stunning dress. The color, the print, the chest to ankle buttons!
Even the collared halter neckline which I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I do. To me this was a perfect dress and I needed to look further into the mind behind it. Once I looked into Hanifa’s other designs I was shocked to find their every garment was exceptional.
I love Hanifa because I want to own every single piece they release.
That’s a rare characteristic for a fashion brand to have! Pair their gorgeous designs with the fact that it’s owned and operated by a Black woman? This is a brand I want to follow.
Hanifa excels at making flattering, joyful, luxury women’s apparel. Their every piece’s hue is vibrant and their every design is singular. Knowing the brand is operated out of Washington D.C. with a tight-knit group of creatives also adds to their appeal.
Hanifa’s designs are inspiring and flattering. They offer a top, pant, dress or skirt for every body type and every woman. They’re founded and operated by a Black woman. What’s not to love?
I can’t reverse time to find this incredible brand any sooner, but I will vow to keep up with them from now on! They’re only 10+ years old now and they’ve already created a memorable legacy. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years brings!