Source: Getty // 5 Black Designers To Watch At Paris Fashion Week
Fashion month continues with Paris Fashion Week rounding out an exciting September of shows in New York, London and Milan. Paris is known for giving us major fashion and cultural moments.
Last fall, Olivier Rousteing celebrated 15 years at Balmain during Paris Fashion Week, returning to the same Paris ballroom where he presented his first collection for the French house in 2011. Rousteing made history as the first Black designer to lead a major French luxury house, making his 15-year milestone one worth remembering.
With moments like this, we have no doubt the city will bring its own heat to the 2026 fashion and trend conversation.
Paris Fashion Week runs September 28 through October 6. The official Spring/Summer 2027 calendar includes 68 shows and 34 presentations. Big names include Christian Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga, Givenchy and Acne Studios, which is celebrating 30 years. Louis Vuitton will close fashion month with its October 6 show.
As we keep our eyes on the runways and the streets, we are also taking note of the Black designers ready to bring their perspectives to the French fashion celebration.
We’ve spotted five Black designers to watch so far. We are rooting for everybody Black, calling out Black influence, couture and creativity across the diaspora. Three designers are on the official calendar, while two are creating their own Paris Fashion Week moments off-calendar.
Keep scrolling for the brands we’re watching.
MAXHOSA AFRICA
Laduma Ngxokolo is starting Paris Fashion Week with a milestone.
The South African designer’s MAXHOSA AFRICA joined the official PFW show calendar for the first time this season, presenting on September 28. Ngxokolo founded the brand in 2010 and has built a luxury label known for colorful knitwear and designs influenced by Xhosa culture.
Torishéju
Torishéju Dumi is another designer to keep on our radar in Paris.
The Nigerian-Brazilian designer will show her namesake label off-calendar on September 29 at Salle Wagram. Dumi’s collections play with shape, historical dress and expressive construction, with influences tied to her Nigerian and Brazilian background.
She also enters this Paris season with major industry recognition. Dumi won the 2025 Savoir-Faire Award at the LVMH Prize, adding even more attention to what she does next.
MOSSI
Mossi Traoré brings his French and Malian background directly into the Paris conversation.
Traoré leads MOSSI, the ready-to-wear label he founded in 2018. His work is known for dramatic draping, exaggerated sleeves and sculptural shapes informed by his couture training. MOSSI will present its Spring/Summer 2027 collection on October 4.
XULY.Bët
Lamine Badian Kouyaté has been part of the fashion world for decades and is a celebrity favorite from Usher to Rihanna.
The Malian-born designer founded XULY.Bët in Paris in the early 1990s after moving to France from Bamako. His label became known for bold prints, stretch fabrics, color and an early approach to repurposing clothing and materials. XULY.Bët will present its latest collection on October 6 on the official PFW calendar.
Telfar
Telfar Clemens is heading back to Paris.
The beloved Black-owned label will present its next runway show on October 6, the final day of Paris Fashion Week. Telfar is staging its event outside the official FHCM calendar, making its own space in the week’s schedule.
The Paris show marks Telfar’s return to the city after presenting its Spring 2020 collection there in 2019.
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