On July 7, the winner of the 2023 edition of Africa Fashion Up was announced:Aristide Loua, an Ivorian designer and founder of the Kente Gentlemen brand, won the “Africa Fashion Up 2023 Designer” award. The five winners presented several pieces from their collections during the grand fashion show held at the Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Museum. This edition was supported by BALENCIAGA, Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, and HEC Paris as partners, and by Trace, Brut, France Médias Monde, Brune Magazine, and 35°Nord as media partners.

On the evening of Friday, July 7, 2023, the young Ivorian designerAristide Loua, founder of the Kente Gentlemen brand, was awarded the “Designer Africa Fashion Up 2023” Prize, presented by BALENCIAGA, Galeries Lafayette Paris-Haussmann, and HEC Paris. His understated and elegant suits—hallmarks of his style—and the ethical approach he incorporates into the creation of his garments won over the jury.

Alongside him, the winners of the 2023 edition presented several pieces from their collections: Yonael Marga (Ethiopia), Ibrahim Taju (Nigeria), Shamyra Moodley (South Africa), and Jafaru Larry (Ghana). Eric Raisina (Madagascar) and Guy Fabrice “Zaady” (Ivory Coast), both winners of the first edition of AFUP, also took part in the fashion show as guest designers.

The event, which took place in a setting designed by sculptor and visual artist Junior Fritz Jacquet, featured performances by dancer Yann Antonio and rapper Passi, accompanied by Ortiz. It was followed by a gala dinner held at the museum.

The fashion show marked the culmination of a week of training and coaching behind the scenes of the Paris fashion world. The Balenciaga haute couture house opened its doors to these promising talents, who then set out to explore Galeries Lafayette Paris-Haussmann. Next step: the winners will take a specialized management training course offered by the HEC Paris business school and receive personalized support from BALENCIAGA for four months as part of an extended mentoring program.

“We would like to congratulate all the designers who took part in this wonderful adventure, and especially the grand prize winner, Aristide Loua,” said Valérie Ka, founder of Share Africa and initiator of Africa Fashion Up. “The Share Africa association is delighted with the success of this edition, which celebrates the creativity and influence of African fashion. My thanks also go to all our partners, notably BALENCIAGA, HEC Paris, Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, and the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac.”

From left to right: Ibrahim Taju, Nigerian designer and founder of TJWHO; Jafaru Larry, designer

Ghanaian and founder of Larry Jay; Sophie Coustaury–Dedeyan, Chief Talent Officer at BALENCIAGA; Philippe Oster, Senior Executive Director in charge of International Affairs at HEC Paris; Vincent Senecat, Director of Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann; Aristide Loua, an Ivorian designer and founder of Kente Gentlemen; Shamyra Moodley, a South African designer and founder of Laaniraani; Valérie Ka, founder of Africa Fashion Up and model.

About Africa Fashion Up:
Africa Fashion Up, founded by Valérie Ka, is a support and coaching program designed to assist young African designers. It is also the first major Parisian event dedicated to contemporary African fashion, aimed at promoting and encouraging this rapidly growing scene.

For more information about the winners and AFUP, please visit the official website: https://www.africafashionup.com/.

About Share Africa
Share Africa is a platform for initiatives and projects that aims to showcase Africa’s youthful, creative, innovative, and green side by supporting entrepreneurs and creators across the continent. Visit the official Africa Fashion Up website: https://www.africafashionup.com/

Press contact:

Cannelle Raberahina – cr@35nord.com +33 6 77 37 66 64

Aristide Loua, an Ivorian fashion designer, wins the 2023 Designer Africa Fashion Up Award