Paris, May 13, 2025—Africa Fashion Up, a leading program dedicated to supporting and promoting young African fashion designers on the Parisian fashion scene, has announced the members of its 2025 jury. Comprising 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, mentorship, and exceptional exposure on the Parisian fashion scene.
Launched in 2021 by Share Africa (www.shareafrica.live), Africa Fashion Up (www.africafashionup.com) has established itself as a strategic platform 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 leading figures from the worlds of fashion, luxury, and the creative industries. These winners will receive comprehensive support: a professional immersion in Paris, a four-month mentorship program in collaboration with leading partners, and the unique opportunity to present their designs at a prestigious fashion show in Paris.
For this anniversary edition, which marks Africa Fashion Up’s fifth year, nearly 300 applications were received from across the African continent, compared to 200 last year, reflecting the program’s growing success; it is now recognized as a springboard for young, contemporary African designers.
Africa Fashion Up, which has always placed particular emphasis on the quality of its jury, has entrusted this year’s delicate task of selecting the winners to 21 international jurors, recognized for their expertise and commitment to the fashion industry:
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 of Borne
Sophie Deboysson, Creative Consultant & Member of the Support Committee
Nathalie Dufour, Founder and CEO of Andam
Ludovic Engrand, Head of Global Artistry at Valentino Beauty
Valérie Ka, Founder ofAfrica Fashion Up
Lamine Kouyaté, Founder of XULY.Bët
Frédérique Kragbé Leininger, CEO of 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 at Galeries Lafayette
Vanessa Moungar, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at LVMH
Ann Caroline Prazan, Director of Heritage and Artistic Relations at Guerlain
Clarisse Reille, Executive Director of DÉFI and IFTH
Yann Rivoallan, President of the French Federation of Women's Ready-to-Wear
Samir Sabe, Creative Director and Fashion Content Creator
Fabrice Sawegnon, Life TV Producer and CEO of Voodoo
Élizabeth Tchoungui, Executive Director of Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility at Orange
Marie-Jeanne Thomas, Managing Editor of Brune Magazine
The results of the deliberations and the names of the five 2025 winners, whose designs will be featured in a fashion show on June 26, will be announced in late May.
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/
