In an inspiring move toward greater inclusion and global creative exchange, Afro Fashion Association has joined forces with Istituto Marangoni Milano and LABA Douala Academy in Cameroon to launch a transformative initiative aimed at supporting emerging African fashion talent. At the heart of this new partnership is a prestigious full scholarship for the Master in Fashion Design program at Istituto Marangoni Milano, awarded to the winner of a capsule collection contest following a series of intensive masterclasses.
This initiative, starting May 21, 2025, invites third-year students and alumni from LABA Douala Academy to participate in six online masterclasses led by industry experts and professors from Istituto Marangoni Milano. Covering critical topics like trend forecasting, collection development, sustainability, and digital transformation in fashion, the program empowers participants to create a capsule collection that reflects both creative excellence and market relevance.
At the end of the masterclass series, participants will present their capsule collections to a distinguished jury, which includes Michelle Francine Ngonmo (President, Afro Fashion Association), Diana Marian Murek (Director of Education, Istituto Marangoni Milano), Riccardo Scaburri (fashion designer and professor), Carlotta Sadino (Programme Leader, Master in Fashion Design at Marangoni), and Dr. Paul-Henri Souvenir Assako Assako (professor at LABA Douala). The winner will earn a full scholarship to attend the Master in Fashion Design in Milan starting September 2025.
Michelle Francine Ngonmo emphasized the importance of this cross-cultural initiative:
“This project allows young students from Cameroon to explore their roots, reinterpret them through a contemporary lens, and assert their voice in the world… It is a concrete step toward a fairer, more inclusive, and truly global fashion industry.”
Diana Marian Murek added:
“We deeply believe in this collaboration: talent knows no borders, and fashion is an extraordinary universal language… Our synergy with Afro Fashion Association is driven by a shared vision to make a tangible impact.”
This collaboration further solidifies Afro Fashion Association’s commitment to educational access and cultural exchange, with ongoing efforts across Italy and Sub-Saharan Africa to empower Afro-descendant creatives. LABA Douala, as a forward-thinking institution, plays a pivotal role in shaping the creative future of Central Africa, with an emphasis on sustainability, decolonized education, and global artistic discourse.
