Never allow age to become a dress code.
Confidence doesn’t have an expiry date.
Elegance doesn’t retire, and personal style doesn’t come with an age limit.
These were Margaret Akullo’s words during the Helmet & Armour panel conversation on fashion at the AfriVision Talent and Culture Gala 2026. Under the theme Talent. Leadership. Afrika. the evening brought together music, theatre, fashion, African cuisine and conversations that showcased the range of African creativity.
After years of participating in UN panels and international engagements, finding herself on a fashion panel was certainly not something she would have expected! Yet perhaps it was not as different as one might think. Both involve identity, confidence, visibility and knowing what one brings into a room.
Margaret spoke about what drew her to the iconic green Helmet & Armour coat she wore: its colour, design, individuality and elegance. It made a statement without having to shout. Helmet & Armour’s philosophy of Luxury. Purpose. Exclusivity. is reflected in its distinctive designs, which celebrate individuality and combine African inspiration with European craftsmanship. Its commitment to creating unique garments, never to be reproduced in the same design or material, makes each piece particularly special.
The conversation also prompted Margaret to reflect on something she has explored in her The Diaspora Within writings: identity is not fixed. It evolves as we move through different places, experiences, cultures and stages of life. Perhaps this is another dimension of the diaspora experience. People spend so much of their lives navigating different spaces, adjusting to expectations and sometimes negotiating which parts of themselves to reveal. Yet, there is something liberating about becoming increasingly comfortable with who we are. Sometimes, it simply means allowing more of ourselves to be seen.
Margaret extends her thanks to Hannah Acquah and the Helmet & Armour team for creating space for conversations that celebrate individuality and self-expression in fashion. Her appreciation also goes to Lynette Penkner, the entire AfriVision Austria team and everyone who contributed to making the Gala’s celebration of talent, culture and community a reality.
AfriVision supports young women of African heritage through a talent, leadership and culture programme. Being recognised and valued enriches the societies we are part of. As Maya Angelou famously said: “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.”
