Africa Fashion Up Maintains Its Momentum and Affirms its Status in Paris
Created in 2021 by Valérie Ka, Africa Fashion Up is the first big event devoted to contemporary African fashion in Paris. Thanks to the program, winners receive support to build a fashion brand in the long term. In addition, they will have access to business training at the prestigious HEC Paris management school, and will be assisted by Balenciaga for 4 months as part of a mentoring program. Finally, they will have the opportunity to display their work and sell their collection on an international online sales site. The winner of this year’s Best Designer Award is South African designer Rich Mnisi, who receives the accolade for his avant-garde take on his Tsonga heritage, which he tries to reconnect with. With a mix of bright colours, cultural inspirations and tributes to the LGBTQIA+ community, Rich Mnisi plays with proportions and shapes to create a wardrobe that stands out.
During the presentation on June 26th, which we were delighted to see in the middle of the Fashion Week, we met Valérie Ka, Ludivine Pont, Ann Caroline Prazan, Elisabeth Moreno, Yann Arthus Bertrand, Joey Starr, Vegedream, dressed by Ekantik, one of this year’s creators, Samuel Le Bihan and many others.
Photos: Ayka Lux
