The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s misfortunes have often eclipsed its good news, with ongoing armed conflicts and most recently an Ebola outbreak. Much of the world knows little of the country’s vibrant arts scene, and last weekend in the capital, Kinshasa, models showed off daring new looks dreamed up by local designers on the catwalk. The main organiser of Congo fashion week, Nancy Kondo, said: “We’re using fashion to change people’s mindsets. Congolese people are the frontrunners of African fashion. We have so much talent here. The event allows us to get people talking about something else, instead of focusing on the negative”. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





Pride in appearance is a big part of the Congolese identity. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





Models receive a pep talk from their coach ahead of the show. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





Model Cynthia Ikapa says modelling is about more than clothes, it is an expression of the love the tailors put into their work. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





Model Norha Ngandu Kazadi says: “Fashion for me is a way in which I can express everything – joy, sadness, shock, pain. It is my passion above everything else”. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





One tagline of fashion week was: “Congo: au royaume des sapeurs” (“the kingdom of the sapeurs”). (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





Models take a selfie as they wait behind the catwalk. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





Models relax in the make-up room about three hours before the show. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)





Action on the catwalk during the Congo fashion week. (Photo by Olivia Acland/The Guardian)