Africa Fashion Up 2023 : young african fashion designers on showcase in Paris
For its third edition, Africa Fashion Up launched on 15 February 2023 a call for applications open to young Africans who want to showcase their original creations. The best works will be highlighted during a major fashion shoẃ organised on 7 July at the Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac Museum.
Young African fashion designers will be « in fashion » during the third edition of the Africa Fashion Up programme-show, dedicated́ to contemporary African fashion and organised by Share Africa. The best will be selected after a process that was launched on 15 February 2023 with a call for applications intended for theḿ. Until April 15, 2023, young African creators, stylists and designers submitted their works to the appreciation of an international jury.
Africa Fashion Up allows young African designers to rub shoulders with the greats of global fashion and benefit from coaching
The aim is to identify the best, the « Discoveries of the Year », who will be invited to Paris. In the French capital, and during a week known as the « immersion week », these young shoots of African fashion will participate in masterclasses and visits given by the official historical partners of the programme. Names such as Balenciaga and Galeries Lafayette are mentioned. Alongside these global fashion giants, these new African talents will benefit from comprehensive support, ranging from training to mentoring. They will also have the opportunity to meet leading figures in the fashion world, as well as to follow coaching sessions with individualised follow-up.
As a crowning achievement, the winners will be able to demonstrate their talent, know-how and commitment to eco-friendly fashion. This will take place during a major fashion show to be held on 7 July 2023 at the Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum in the heart of the French capital. The event will consecrate the best African fashion designer whose profile will have caught the attention of the jury. He or she will be awarded the « Designer Africa Fashion Up » 2023 prize.
Our event encourages an African fashion in full effervescence, between traditions and modernitý, between heritage and international openness
As a reminder, it was in 2020 that the Franco-Ivorian supermodel, Valérie Ka, created Africa Fashion Up considered as « the first Parisian event dedicated to high-end African fashion in France ». The event has the « ambition to recognise and encourage a vibrant African fashion, between traditions and modernitý, between heritage and international openness ». According to the press release announcing this competition of young African fashion designers, « the programme is interested in all current fashion practices: from streetwear to haute couture, all trends are welcome ».
« Africa Fashion Up aims to renew the way people look at fashion and Africa, and intends to offer a showcase for young artists from the continent, » says Valérie Ka. For her, these young people are « the representatives of a dynamic and responsible creative industry in Africa ». The founder of Share Africa is therefore « proud to contribute to its expression on the French fashion scene ».
By the editorial staff
