Uganda’s leading fashion house, ARAPAPA by Santa Anzo, will headline the Pearl of Africa Night at the 37th Annual UNAA Convention & Trade Expo, taking place at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans from Friday, August 29 to September 1.
The showcase, staged in partnership with Inspire Africa Group (IAG) under the theme “Brewed in Uganda, Styled for the World!”, brings together two of Uganda’s strongest cultural exports—coffee and couture. The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, positions both as ambassadors for Uganda’s identity and enterprise.
As part of the event, ARAPAPA will unveil a limited-edition capsule collection titled “Coffee as Couture: Where Taste Meets Texture”, drawing inspiration from Uganda’s coffee culture. The collection will feature earthy tones and textured designs, symbolically weaving together Uganda’s heritage, style, and storytelling.
Traditionally, Pearl of Africa Night has celebrated Ugandan music and culture. This year, with ARAPAPA at center stage, fashion diplomacy takes the spotlight, marking a new chapter in the celebration of Uganda’s global identity.
The UNAA Convention is the largest annual gathering of Ugandans in the diaspora, drawing thousands from the United States, Canada, and beyond. This year’s showcase coincides with two major milestones: 25 years of ARAPAPA and 30 years of Santa Anzo’s leadership in the fashion industry.
“Headlining Pearl of Africa Night is both an honour and a responsibility,” said Santa Anzo, Founder and Creative Director of ARAPAPA. “For me, it is the culmination of three decades of resilience, creativity, and belief in the power of African fashion. Fashion is more than clothes—it is a language of identity and diplomacy. When we take the runway in New Orleans, we are telling the world: Uganda is ready, powerful, and beautiful.”
Looking ahead, ARAPAPA and IAG plan to expand their partnership into a broader campaign that connects coffee, fashion, and tourism, linking diaspora showcases to experiences that channel trade and visitor traffic back to Uganda.
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