If your Paris itinerary this summer already includes the Louvre, a Seine sunset, and a reservation at Septime, allow us to add one more essential: Africa Now at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.
Running through July 8th on the third floor of the Coupole, this is not another souvenir stop. It is a tightly edited pop-up of 11 designers who are currently shaping what African luxury looks like, and for Americans in Paris this month, it might be the most interesting shopping you do all year.
Why it matters now
The first edition of Africa Now sold out faster than the partners expected. The second edition returns with more intention: ready-to-wear, handbags, jewelry and accessories that move easily between Paris and New York, Dakar and Los Angeles. This is not “ethnic” fashion in the outdated sense. Think sculptural dresses by Christie Brown that have already been spotted on red carpets, Eric Raisina’s handwoven silks from Madagascar that feel like couture, and Late For Work’s Lagos tailoring that works as well in Tribeca as it does in the 16th.
Each label was handpicked by three institutions who know the continent’s creative landscape intimately: Adama Paris, CANEX x Tranoï, and Africa Fashion Up x Studio Ka. The result is a collection that feels global without losing its roots. Heritage techniques, yes, but reimagined for a woman who takes the red-eye and still wants to look effortless at lunch.
The scene
The launch at JOE & THE JUICE set the tone. Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo held court. Supermodel Maria Borges stopped by . Former Miss Côte d’Ivoire Olivia Yacé and lawyer-influencer Chioma Ikokwu browsed the racks alongside Paris editors and fashion connoisseurs who know that the best finds in this city are rarely advertised.
But the real moment happens when you touch the clothes. These are pieces with provenance. The kind you pack carefully, the kind people ask about when you wear them back home.
For Americans in Paris this July
Let’s be honest. You can buy Celine anywhere. You can buy Chanel in New York. But you cannot walk into another store on Boulevard Haussmann and find Kwiyiah Style or Talua. You cannot find a selection this sharp, this current, anywhere else in Europe right now.
If you are doing Paris in July, you are already chasing a certain kind of summer. Long lunches, gallery hopping, that golden light at 10pm. Africa Now fits directly into that rhythm. Build your vacation wardrobe with pieces that will still feel relevant in September. Buy the gift that does not look like you grabbed it at the airport.
This is the kind of discovery that makes a trip. The story you tell when someone compliments your earrings in SoHo. The dress you wear to your cousin’s wedding in the Hamptons and realize you have never felt more yourself.
The details
Africa Now
17 June – 8 July 2026
Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann, 3rd floor, Coupole
40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris
The pop-up sits inside one of the most iconic department stores in the world, but the experience feels intimate. No overwhelming racks. No hard sell. Just a considered edit and a chance to support designers who are defining a new chapter of global fashion.
Americans have always come to Paris to shop. This July, make sure Africa Now is on your list. You will leave with more than a purchase. You will leave with a piece of what is happening next.
Images credit Henri Boadu
Amy Williams