BUILDING BRIDGES — The Afro Fashion Association and fashion school Istituto Marangoni Milano are teaming up to support the LABA Douala Academy in Cameroon.
Aimed at fueling opportunities for African fashion talents, the initiative entails six masterclasses offered to graduating students and alumni of the art and creative school in the African country.
Centered on trend forecasting, collection development, sustainability and digital transformation, the lessons will be hosted by Istituto Marangoni Milano professors.
“We are proud to be supporting this project which is not only educational but actually builds bridges between African talents and the international fashion landscape,” said Michelle Francine Ngonmo, head of the Afro Fashion Association.
“For someone like me, raised with different cultural backgrounds, the importance of translating a multicultural identity into a creative language is very clear. This initiative allows Cameroon-born students from the LABA Douala Academy to explore their roots and reinterpret them through a contemporary lens affirming their own voice,” she added.
Enrolled students will be tasked to present a capsule collection, to be evaluated by a dedicated jury which includes Ngonmo, as well as Diana Marian Murek, director of education at Istituto Marangoni Milano, among others.
The best project will be bestowed with the top prize, covering the tuition for a master’s degree in fashion design at Istituto Marangoni in Milan.
“Talent knows no boundaries, it’s an extraordinary universal language,” said Murek. “The synergy with the Afro Fashion Association stems from an authentic link which will enable us to develop meaningful initiatives, led by a common vision and desire to generate a concrete impact,” she added.
Inside the LABA Douala Academy.
Courtesy of Afro Fashion Association
Since it was established in 2015, the Afro Fashion Association has been supporting talents of different backgrounds with an original focus on the African continent. It has over the years championed young creatives based in Italy and belonging to underrepresented communities who are active in creative and entrepreneurial industries.
In 2023 the organization held its first Black Carpet Awards event, celebrating leaders of change in fields including fashion, design, food, music, sport and cinema, among others.