The Team – Africa Fashion Up
Behind Africa Fashion Up lies a fundamental belief: contemporary African design deserves a stage that is worthy of it, one that is large and international. A project of this magnitude cannot rely on a single source of energy. It requires a collective, enduring, discreet, and committed effort on a large scale.
The initiative is led by Valérie Ka, founder of Africa Fashion Up. Her career in the fashion world, at the crossroads of cultures and markets, has nurtured a clear vision: to create a lasting bridge between African talent and the global luxury ecosystem. Africa Fashion Up responds to a need. Its agenda is structured around a strategy, a network, and a detailed understanding of the economic realities of the fashion industry.
Valérie Ka, the founder, is supported by a close-knit, collaborative team of professionals from the worlds of fashion, communications, large-scale event planning, strategy, and more.
The role of each team member goes beyond organizing a fashion show. They work to makeAfrica Fashion Up a brand, a structure that offers young designers on the continent the tools they need to prepare their collections and shape their future. The after-work event gives designers the opportunity to network with major brands and investors, establishing connections for partnerships.
There is also the highly important role of the event's artistic direction. It is responsible for selecting talent and staging their collections, which is meticulous work. The identity of each designer must be preserved while ensuring a strong collective narrative. There is also the partnerships team, which builds collaborations with fashion houses, institutions, and economic players committed to promoting African fashion. This work can only be done over time, i.e., over several editions.
In an environment where images circulate quickly and attention is fragmented, it is important to be able to provide meaning, context, and explanation. Africa Fashion Up is not simply seeking to put on an exhibition. Through its program, it aims to raise awareness of and sustain the African approach to fashion.
Finally, the organization draws on a network of consultants, jurors, and specialized advisors. Artistic directors, market experts, representatives of luxury brands, investors: their perspectives enrich the selection process and reinforce the professional dimension of the project. Each edition thus mobilizes a wide range of skills, all aligned around the same goal.
Africa Fashion Up is a dynamic event. Like the event itself, the team evolves, adapts, and adjusts its methods with each edition. What remains, however, is the desire to structure the emergence of African talent with high standards and responsibility.
For any inquiries regarding organization, partnerships, or press, the team can be contacted via the dedicated page. Each message is carefully reviewed, because beyond the event itself, Africa Fashion Up sees itself as a platform for dialogue and collaboration.
