Paris (AFP)

Naomi Campbell stepped on the podium on Monday for the first Parisian parade of the Nigerian Kenneth Ize, at the opening of the women's ready-to-wear week.

In a fringed dress in aso oke, a fabric with large multicolored stripes created by the Yoruba people of West Africa, dear to the stylist, the black top model, her "godmother" and client, closed the parade at the Palais de Tokyo .

"Naomi Campbell made this show possible," the 29-year-old creator told the press behind the scenes, saying he was "overwhelmed" with emotion.

Apple green or emerald, mauve, fuchsia, electric blue: the color palette is rich and joyful.

"This collection is about my religion, love, who I am, the people I trust and the sharing of," he said.

- taboo on wax -

The Nigerian stylist, finalist in 2019 of the prestigious LVMH price, is one of the four new entrants to the official calendar of Paris Fashion Week, where young designers from around the world parade alongside historic houses like Dior, Chanel or Louis Vuitton.

The South African Thebe Magugu, the first African to win the LVMH 2019 prize at 26, enters the official calendar of presentations and will unveil his collection on Tuesday.

Cameroonian Imane Ayissi also made a historic breakthrough in January, being the first national from sub-Saharan Africa to join the elite haute couture club in Paris.

Like Kenneth Ize, he introduced the public to little-known African know-how: tie and dye dyed in Cameroon; kente, traditional weavings of the Akan ethnic group, found in Ghana and Ivory Coast and originally worn by the nobility; or obom, a vegetable skin produced from tree bark that decorated evening wear.

Judging that Africa has "better to show", the two shun wax, this fabric inspired by the Indonesian batik, industrialized in Europe and adopted by Africa, continent with which it is widely associated.

The Korean Kiminte, creator of his brand Kimhekim has revisited traditional Korean clothing such as hanbok (costume), chima (skirt), dopo (coat) and even busun socks which, worn with sandals, create the illusion of boots.

These pieces mixed with jeans and T-shirt make up completely portable looks accessorized with mirror jewelry and hearts inspired by a drawing by Andy Warhol cut out in organza.

The Japanese Maiko Kurogouchi was inspired by Icelandic landscapes for her collection declined around the theme of "weaving" in black, off-white and earth colors for her brand Mame Kurogouchi.

Some woven pieces like baskets are superimposed in several layers for enveloping silhouettes but all in lightness. Kitten heal pumps or ankle boots with wedges created in collaboration with Tod's.

© 2020 AFP