As summer begins to peek its head through the doom and gloom of winter, festival season approaches too. The UK’s music festival scene represents something for every taste: the indie-electronic crossover of All Points East; the hip-hop stylings of Wireless; the dance focus of Lido Festival; the bit-of-everything approach of Glastonbury. Regardless of which festival(s) you’re attending this year, you’re no doubt thinking of what to wear to one of the biggest nights (or weekends, if you’re camping) of the year. With that in mind, here’s ADJOAA’s guide to some African clothes you should be packing in your suitcase if you’re stuck for ideas on what to wear.

Top It Off With Bold Statements

Starting off with tops: it all depends what the weather will be like on your visit as to what you should choose. (Plus, the UK’s unpredictable weather forecast generally makes choosing appropriate clothing a daunting task anyway.) If you’re anticipating hot weather – lucky you! – then this long-sleeve T-shirt from black-owned brand CRISP will be perfect for covering up while keeping cool, and the variety of colours it comes in means that you can mix-and-match to complement the rest of your outfit.

CRISP Unisex Round Neck Short Sleeve Shirt – shop here

If you’re expecting a cooler day of music, Olooh’s collared shirt is ideal and has a stylish striped pattern that will help you stand out from the crowd (literally). Olooh is one of the best African clothing brands for all genders, with everything from print dresses to shirts adorned in bold and striking colours.

Olooh Rayure collar shirt with bronze and brass alloy buttons – shop here

For the best of both worlds, why not take a look at this fold up top from ER-ZUM-AH? This has a bold design, and its fold up sleeves are versatile and perfect for the changing temperatures throughout the day.

ER-ZUM-AH Kiki Fold Up Sleeve Print Top

Sometimes, despite days being hot, the night sets at festivals can get particularly cold. With this in mind, you might be interested in these jackets from Boyedoe and Olooh respectively, which you can don as the sun sets and the temperature dips. If need be, you can tie it around your waist, which might be particularly useful if you plan to dance, like at Lido Festival which boasts headliners Charli XCX and Jamie xx.

Boyedoe Kantinka Cropped Jacket – shop here

Olooh Momo hand-dyed jacket with unique shades and patterns – shop here

This denim jumpsuit from Sarayaa is short-sleeve and has a loose fit, allowing the wearer to relax into the material. As a bonus, you save thinking time on what you might wear on the bottom, as this is an all-in-one piece.

Sarayaa Dindefelo Loose Fit Denim Jumpsuit – shop here

Sleek Bottoms For Big Energy

Now for the bottoms. Boyedoe’s double zip trousers are a striking statement suited perfectly for the trendy crowds of All Points East, which this year has acts such as Raye and Barry Can’t Swim headlining. What’s more, Boyedoe are one of the leading sustainable African fashion brands, using a mix of recycled and locally sourced materials.

Boyedoe Kantinka double zip and cut-outs trouser – shop here

If you’re more of a shorts person, we’ve got you covered too. Summer is the perfect time to celebrate with bright colours, and these shorts from Kahindo and Erilyn respectively do just that. These two brands specialise in designer African attire for women, with the below items offering just a taste of the range they have to offer.

Kahindo Aqua High Waist Shorts – shop here

Erilyn Bali hand woven Aso-Oke shorts with side zip fastening – shop here

Moreover, if you’re looking for a skirt that’s both stylish and breathable, this fringe skirt (which comes attached to a corset for a matching set) is tastefully arranged with hanging denim strips – making it look like you’re wearing a lot when you’re only wearing a little. This would be perfectly suited for Wireless; if you’re looking to get noticed by Drake, who headlines the festival all three days this year, then this corset-skirt combo (alongside some patient waiting for barricade) might be the key.

Odeneho Corset & Fringe Skirt – shop here

Festival-Ready Footwear

Shoes are a tricky one when it comes to festivals; you want something stylish yet durable, something that can withstand precarious standing areas (like the fields of Glastonbury) and being trodden on by other patrons. Moreover, looking online for luxury designer shoes can be a pain; these mules and cover toe shoes from Kkerele thankfully look the part and are sure to last, though you’ll want to choose carefully which colour you’d like them in – shoes are often the key to bringing any outfit together. 

Killa Mules with Detachable Flap – shop here

Gigi Cover Toe Shoe with Fixed Semi Circular Flap – shop here

Statement Bags with an African Twist

When it comes to what bag you’ll bring to the festival, you’ll need to be careful; many festivals nowadays have strict guidelines on what you can bring in, with festivals like Reading & Leeds prohibiting bags larger than A4. Luckily, these small bags from AAKS and House of Dot allow you to carry the bare essentials to the festival arena – and look stylish while doing it. 

AAKS Lisi Stripe bucket silhouette cross-body bag – shop here

House of Dot Circle Clutch Purse – shop here

If you’re only needing to bring your phone to the show, this compact phone bag - from African-owned designer brand XITA - will do the trick nicely.

XITA Ruri Leather Phone Bag – shop here

Chic Sunglasses

If you’re lucky enough to have the sun shining when you visit your festival, you’ll want to protect your eyes from those UV rays. Sunglasses will be particularly useful in the month of July, when BST Hyde Park takes place (this year, headliners range from Sabrina Carpenter to Stevie Wonder). Designer African brand Bôhten have an extensive range of sunglasses, and below are two of our favourites.

Bôhten Barklae Maple White Sunglasses – shop here

Bôhten Exstel Matte Eye Glass – shop here

Glow Kit for Festival Days

The final step to completing your look is an unexpected one: protections for your skin and hair. ADJOAA has a range of products online that you can use to maintain your routine even with questionable facilities and less-than-ideal sleeping conditions. You can keep your skin looking refreshed with Kira Organics’ glow oil, and top it up throughout the day with Suki Suki Naturals’ hydrating facial mist; meanwhile, your hair will surely thank you if you nourish it with Adeba Nature’s leave-in conditioner.

Kira Organics Chamomile Brightening Skin Glow Oil – shop here

Suki Suki Naturals Papaya Rose Hydrating Facial Mist – shop here

Adeba Nature Moisturizing Leave-in Conditioner for Natural Hair – shop here

Hopefully this post has given you some ideas on what to wear at the festival you’re going to this year; if not, ADJOAA has plenty of other excellent designs and styles to inspire you and help keep you looking and feeling cool, as you soak up the sun and listen to some of your favourite music among like-minded people.