Multi-award winning African Australian designer Azulant Akora made history during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week as the first Indigenous African designer to showcase her work.
The Gosnells resident was also a finalist for the Women in Leadership category in the West Australian African Community Awards last weekend.
“The highlight was definitely the coming together of both the African and Australian communities and the celebration of our adopted home of Australia,” she said.
“The title means youth look up to you for guidance and I don’t want to let them down.
“Not only as an example but also to come up with ways in which I can better assist and mentor them.”
Ms Akora began her career by collaborating with community events promoting fashion designers and she has gradually progressed into bigger and better things.
Her outstanding presence in the world of fashion has taken her around the world and present her work in some of the most prestigious fashion events.
She has been featured in multiple local and international publications including fashion programs such as Fashion TV and FF Chanel.
Recently she has been the recipient of the 2017 Afritude Designer of the Year Award and the 2017 Afroshine Award for Designer of the Year.
Ms Akora said she wants upcoming designers to never give up and be adaptive.
“There will always be sceptics but what will determine your success is the ability to filter the constructive criticism from the negative comments,” she said.
Ms Akora is a role model for aspiring designers and continues to find ways to support youth, having recently launched a crowd funding campaign to meet the increasing demand for mentorship and support.
