LOME, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The fourth edition of Elima international fashion festival in Lome kicked off on Monday, at the forecourt of Lome Congress Center, with the participation of 14 designers and stylists from different African countries.
The seven-day 2015 edition opened under the theme "let's be healthy to be fashionable" with the moto "Elima says no to street medicines".
Several activities will be held on special days dedicating to youths, media, African ladies and African integration.
The sessions will tackle, among other topics, the effects of social networks on fashion today, fashion marketing and the role of fashion journalists in the context of African cultural integration.
According to organizers, thirty models will go on urban show on Thursday and on a final show at the climax of the festival on Saturday.
They come from 14 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of central Africa, Senegal, Chad, Togo, Germany, France and Belgium.
"Elima embodies what we wish our youth to perform," Togo communication and culture minister Guy Lorenzo said in his speech at the launching ceremony.
"Fashion may be a real industry, as long as we provide the means to achieve it," he added.
According to Limda Awesso, chairwoman of the Festival, the 2015 edition theme has been motivated by the worrying phenomenon of street medicines that unfortunately threatens African countries, especially Togo.