Paris, May 13, 2025, Africa Fashion Up, a leading program dedicated to supporting and promoting young African designers on the Parisian scene, unveils the members of its 2025 jury. Bringing together influential figures from the worlds of fashion, luxury, and the cultural and creative industries, this jury was tasked with selecting promising talents who will benefit from a unique program combining training, mentoring, and exceptional exposure on the Parisian scene.
Created in 2021 on the initiative of Share Africa (www.shareafrica.live), Africa Fashion Up (www.africafashionup.com) has established itself as a strategic springboard for discovering and supporting a new generation of African designers, both from the continent and the diaspora. Through an international call for applications, the program selects promising young designers each year, chosen by a jury of experts composed of figures from the world of fashion, luxury, and creative industries. The winners receive structured support: a professional immersion in Paris, a four-month mentoring program in collaboration with leading partners, and the unique opportunity to present their creations at a prestigious fashion show in Paris.
For this anniversary edition, marking five years of Africa Fashion Up, nearly 300 applications were received from across the African continent, compared to 200 last year, demonstrating the growing success of the program, now recognized as a springboard for young contemporary African designers.
Africa Fashion Up, which has always placed particular importance on the quality of its jury, entrusted the delicate task of selecting the winners to 21 international jurors, recognized for their expertise and commitment to fashion:
Emmanuel Beguinot, Lead Senior RTW Designer at Balenciaga
Viviane Blassel, Journalist, radio and television host, and author
Massimo Casagrande, Director of Istituto Marangoni
Jean-Christophe Chopin, Founder and CEO Borne
Sophie Deboysson, Creative consultant & member of the support committee
Nathalie Dufour, Founder and Executive Director, Andam
Ludovic Engrand, Head of Global Artistry, Valentino Beauty
Valérie Ka, Founder ofAfrica Fashion Up
Lamine Kouyaté, Founder of XULY.Bët
Frédérique Kragbé Leininger, CEO ELLE Côte d’Ivoire
Galia Loupan-Richard, Chief Content Officer, Marie Claire International
Aïssa Maïga, Actress and director
Alix Morabito, Luxury Market Manager and Designer, Galeries Lafayette
Vanessa Moungar, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, LVMH
Ann Caroline Prazan, Director of Heritage and Artistic Relations, Guerlain
Clarisse Reille, Executive Director, DÉFI and IFTH
Yann Rivoallan, President of the French Federation of Women's Ready-to-Wear Fashion
Samir Sabe, Artistic Director and Fashion Content Creator
Fabrice Sawegnon, Life TV Promoter and CEO of Voodoo
Élizabeth Tchoungui, Executive Director in charge of Social and Environmental Responsibility at Orange
Marie-Jeanne Thomas, Managing Director, Brune Magazine
The outcome of the deliberations and the names of the five 2025 winners, whose creations will be featured in a fashion show on June 26, will be announced at the end of May.
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/
