June 13, 2026
Elevate Africa has opened applications for the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026, a pan-African initiative aimed at preserving the continent’s textile heritage by encouraging creatives to tell compelling stories through fashion and film.
The competition, which combines fashion, culture and storytelling, invites designers, filmmakers, students and creative teams from Africa and the diaspora to document and reimagine endangered or forgotten African textiles, garments and traditional production techniques through short fashion films.
The announcement comes at a time when African fashion is gaining increasing global recognition. Despite the industry’s international growth and rising interest, many indigenous textiles and craftsmanship traditions remain at risk of disappearing due to inadequate investment, limited infrastructure and the declining transfer of traditional skills.
The 2026 edition, themed “Stories of Rebirth,” seeks to position African fashion as a tool for cultural diplomacy, economic development and sustainable growth within the creative industry.
