If you have shopped at Hanifa before or had a cart full of those bold, body-hugging knits, this news might sting a little.
Hanifa, the womenswear label founded by Congolese-American designer Anifa Mvuemba, has officially announced it is going on “pause”.
In a surprise email sent to customers on Monday March 2, 2026, the brand confirmed it will not be restocking pieces for the foreseeable future. The website will remain live, pending orders will be fulfilled, and customer service will continue operating, but there won’t be new drops anytime soon. 
For many, Hanifa isn’t just another fashion brand. It’s one of the most visible African-founded luxury labels in the diaspora.
Who Is Hanifa?
Hanifa was founded in 2011 by Anifa Mvuemba, a fashion designer born in Kenya to Congolese parents and raised in the United States.
Mvuemba began designing garments after taking a fashion design course in her junior year of high school. At just 21, she started creating dresses for friends and clients after posting a photo of a dress she made from fabric scraps on Instagram.
Over the years, the brand has built a loyal following for its inclusive sizing, bold colours, and sculptural knitwear silhouettes that celebrate women’s bodies. In 2020, Hanifa made headlines for its groundbreaking 3D digital fashion show.
Hanifa has dressed major stars including Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Zendaya, Cardi B, Bella Hadid, Lizzo, Padma Lakshmi, Kylie Jenner, and many more women. She also designed Savannah James’ look for the 2025 Met Gala.
Why Is The Brand Pausing?
In her message to customers, founder Anifa Mvuemba opened up about the decision.
“The last season stretched us in ways I’m still processing. There’s been a lot of learning” and “a lot of growth happening in real time,” she wrote.
The pause comes after months of backlash tied to the brand’s November 2025 “Hanifa Friday” sale. During the site-wide promotion ahead of Black Friday, shoppers were allowed to pre-order pieces at reduced prices, with expected shipping between late December and early January, but many of those shipments were delayed.
Disappointed customers took to social media to voice concerns, prompting Mvuemba to address the situation in a video earlier this year, saying:
“I am truly, truly sorry to anyone who feels frustrated, angry, disappointed, and confused. This was not our intention, and I hate that this is your experience,” she said in the video, which was filmed while she was on maternity leave.
In a follow-up video accompanying the recent memo, Mvuemba gave more insight into what’s happening behind the scenes.
“HQ looks so different right now. I walked in recently, and it hit me: it looks like a warehouse again,” she said.
“The business is so much bigger now. The volume is bigger. We crossed a mark with orders that we’ve never crossed before. We work with a fulfilment partner, and at this level there are intake processes, timelines, and checks.“
This isn’t the first time the brand has stepped back. In 2015, Mvuemba quietly put Hanifa on hiatus during another transitional period.
What Happens Next?
For now, the African fashion designer says she isn’t rushing anything.
“I’m just choosing to slow us down, for now,” she said at the end of her video.
In an industry obsessed with constant drops and endless momentum, that decision feels almost radical.
Mvuemba’s impact on African fashion has already secured its spot in modern fashion history, no doubt.
The brand is now focusing on getting the foundation right.
About The Author
Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News
