He won the Africa Fashion Up award, presented by Balenciaga.

In Paris, the celebrated Nigerian designs, Emmanuel Okoro has won the inaugural Africa Fashion Up prize, which was presented in collaboration with Balenciaga. The award ceremony is aimed at putting African fashion designers on the international stage and setting up meaningful partnerships which will enable them to take their brands to the next level.

Okoro was one of just five shortlisted artists who were nominated for the award. As the winner, Okoro has received a 6-month mentorship with Balenciaga, arguably one of the biggest fashion brands in the world.

He was joined by Guy Fabrice Sullivan, the Ivorian designer behind the Zaady label; Zak Koné, also from Ivory Coast, founder of eveningwear brand Pelebe; Baay Sooley and Laure Tarot, the designers behind Senegalese streetwear brand Bull Doff, and Natasha Jaume and Carina Louw, founders of South African women’s wear brand Erre.

Besides getting the chance to attend masterclasses presented by Balenciaga, the nominees also networked with buyers from Galeries Lafayette and visited the workshop of Imane Ayissi. 

The competition was open to fashion designers younger than 40 and whose labels are at least 2 years old. 

Okoro blew the judging panel away with his sharp tailoring using Akwete cloth in a palette of citrus colors.

In recent years, African designers have been getting more attention in the Parisian fashion scene and the greater Europe.