Photo : Franco237, CC BY-SA 4.0
Imane Ayissi
The first sub-Saharan African designer in Paris haute couture
Born in 1968
Who are they?
A designer born in Yaoundé in 1968, son of boxing champion Jean-Baptiste Ayissi Ntsama and Julienne Honorine Eyenga Fouda, crowned Miss Cameroon in 1960. A professional dancer — he joined Yannick Noah’s European tour in 1992 — then a model for Yves Saint Laurent and Givenchy, before founding his own house in Paris.
What made them famous
In January 2020 he became the first sub-Saharan African designer to join the official Paris haute couture calendar, presenting collections combining African textiles with silks.
Key facts
- He works with African artisans to bring the continent’s traditional textiles back into the spotlight.
- He danced with Patrick Dupond and on ballet and opera stages before turning to fashion.
- Finalist in the Mannequin Europe contest in 1995.