Following an international call for applications, to which nearly 200 young designers responded, the members of the Africa Fashion Up jury deliberated on April 29 to select the five winners of the 2024 edition. This selection reflects the diversity of emerging talent from various African countries and the African diaspora.

The partners for this edition, including Balenciaga, Galeries Lafayette, Guerlain, 35°Nord, France Médias Monde, Trace, and Brune Magazine, are actively supporting this major initiative.

The five winners, representing various African regions, are as follows:

Kader Diaby, Ivorian designer ;
Mohamed Youss, Moroccan designer;
Gugu Peteni, South African designer;
Kadiata Diallo, Senegalese-Mauritanian designer;
Rich Mnisi, South African designer.

These five talented individuals will benefit from a week of training in Paris at the end of June, including masterclasses, immersive visits to haute couture houses, and a training session in management and international business provided by HEC Paris. They will also be supported by Balenciaga as part of a four-month mentoring program.

This Parisian experience will culminate in a fashion show on June 26 in the gardens of the Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, where the winners will have the opportunity to present their respective collections. The show, orchestrated by visual artist Junior Fritz Jacquet, will offer a unique fusion of fashion and entertainment, attended by prominent figures. The evening will conclude with the announcement of the winner of the Designer Africa Fashion Up 2024 award, followed by a gala dinner.

Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann is proud to extend its collaboration with Share Africa for the third consecutive year. From June 27 to July 3, 2024, the Parisian department store will host a pop-up store for the first time at the Salon Opéra, offering creations by young talents selected by Share Africa for sale.

" We are delighted to welcome the new generation of contemporary African fashion designers supported by the Africa Fashion Up program and to support the development of their rapidly growing brands through this pop-up. This collaboration is also an opportunity to reaffirm our special ties with the African continent and to celebrate the richness of their cultural, creative, and artistic heritage, which has inspired the fashion industry and, more broadly, society as a whole , " emphasizes Vincent Sénécat, Director of Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann.

" Africa Fashion Up is at the crossroads of African fashion, and we are very excited to share this initiative with as many people as possible in the new year! The venue chosen for the show symbolizes the openness and originality of the event. We make it a point of honor to increase the visibility of African designers and, thanks to our long-standing partners, to reveal their inventiveness, the quality of their creations, and their potential , " emphasizes Valérie Ka, founder of Africa Fashion Up.

About the selection jury for the 2024 edition:

The jury was composed of:

Emmanuel Beguinot, Senior RTW Designer at Balenciaga;
Alix Morabito, Director of Luxury Goods and Designers at Galeries Lafayette;
Ann-Caroline Prazan, Director of Art, Culture, and Heritage at Guerlain;
Vanessa Moungar, Director of Inclusion and Diversity at LVMH;
Marie Jeanne Serbin-Thomas, Founder and CEO of Brune Magazine;
Paolo Meroni, Managing Director ofthe Instituto Marangoni;
Nathalie Dufour, Founder ofAndam;
Boris Provost, CEO of Tranoï;
Moulika Varango, Fashion Director at Elle Côte d’Ivoire;
Clarisse Reille, Executive Director of DÉFI and IFTH;
Mossi Traoré, Founder of Mossi;
Lamine Kouyaté, Founder of XULY.Bët;
Sophie de Boysson, Creative Consultant and Member of the Share Africa Support Committee ;
Pascale Mussard, President of Villa Noailles;
Ludovic Engrand, Global Creative Director at Valentino Beauty;
Yann Rivoallan, President of the French Federation of Women's Ready-to-Wear Fashion;
Jean-Christophe Chopin, Founder and CEO of BORN.
Valerie Ka Founder Share Africa – Africa Fashion UP

About Africa Fashion Up:
Africa Fashion Up, initiated 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, aiming to promote and encourage this booming 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 actions and projects that aims to promote a young, creative, innovative, and green Africa by encouraging entrepreneurs and creators in Africa. Visit the official Africa Fashion Up website: https://www.africafashionup.com/

Press contact:

Alysée Raganot: ar@35nord.com
Kalynda Kanga: kk@35nord.com

The names of the five winners of Africa Fashion Up 2024 revealed following a selection process