Alphadi

Alphadi (Sidahmed Alphadi Seidnaly, b. 1957) was born in Timbuktu, Mali, but soon moved to his parents’ homeland, Niger. After studying art in Paris, he founded his own fashion label, Alfadi. Since 1985 the designer known as the “Magician of the Desert” has used clothing, perfume and artistic collaborations to show the world the beauty, boldness and expressiveness of fashion from across Africa, while building institutional support for African fashion designers and artists. In 1998 he founded the International Festival of African Fashion (FIMA), supported by UNESCO. The first edition, held in the Tiguidit desert in Niger, featured Chris Seydou, Pathé’O, Oumou Sy, Yves Saint Laurent and Kenzo.