Elevate Africa is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026, a pan-African fashion, culture, and storytelling initiative that invites creatives across the continent to document and reimagine endangered or forgotten African textiles, techniques, and garments through fashion film.
The announcement comes at a time when African fashion is gaining international attention, while the continent’s textile heritage remains under pressure. Recent industry reports point to strong global momentum, with the African fashion market estimated at approximately $31 billion in 2020 and expected to grow substantially by 2030. However, structural constraints such as limited financing, inadequate infrastructure, and skills gaps continue to hinder the sector’s full potential.
At the same time, major international exhibitions such as Africa Fashion have drawn attention to the richness of African design and the need to preserve its historical depth.
The Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026 was created to address this challenge.
Anchored on the theme, “Stories of Rebirth,” the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026 is designed to spotlight African fashion as a powerful tool for cultural diplomacy, economic transformation, and sustainable industry growth.
The competition is open to fashion designers, filmmakers, students, and creative teams of African descent from across Africa and the diaspora. Participants may enter individually or as part of a team.
Participants are invited to submit a three-to-five-minute fashion micro-film that tells the story of an endangered or forgotten African textile, garment, or technique. Each submission should include documentary-style storytelling, visual documentation of the creative process, and a compelling case for revival rooted in cultural and economic relevance.
“Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize is more than a competition; it is a movement to reclaim our narratives and revive our traditions. It is our way of weaving a stronger, better-connected Africa,” said Princess-Iman Sado, Project Lead for Threads of Africa.
The success of the maiden edition in 2024 provides strong momentum for this year’s programme. Previous winners included Adeyoola Adenusi of Adeyoola’s Rehab and Tammytara Abaku of The Abiyetara Brand, both from Nigeria, as well as Philip-Oppong Antwi of Phyll Quahsey from Ghana.
The competition also attracted more than 520 participants from Nigeria and other West African countries, highlighting the region’s creativity and diversity.This year, the prize fund has been increased, with the programme expected to award up to $25,000 in non-dilutive grants. Beyond the financial awards, winners will receive mentorship, visibility through a dedicated showcase at Elevate Africa’s 2026 Convening in Ghana, and amplification through the organisation’s platforms and partners.
Through this initiative, Elevate Africa aims to reposition African traditions, strengthen intra-African collaboration, stimulate policy conversations, and support a stronger, more integrated African fashion economy.
Interested creatives across Africa can learn more and submit their entries by visiting the official Threads of Africa website.
www.threadsofafrica.org.
