Launched in June 2021, this program benefits emerging brands inspired by an African heritage and operating in the fields of fashion, accessories, jewelry, and cosmetics.
During a year, the designers are supported by a group of experts from the international creative scene. During group workshops or individual coaching and mentoring sessions, they are given the essential tools to master their
transition to scale and position themselves in a sustainable way in the international fashion market.
This year, 5 ready-to-wear fashion brands (premium and luxury), 3 footwear brands (premium), 2
accessories brands (premium and art pieces), and 1 cosmetics brand (high-end), are joining the program :
• Armando Cabral, Guinée, Italie, Etats-Unis
• Azede Jean Pierre, Haïti, Etats-Unis
• Chez Nous Tunisie, France
• Endelea, Tanzanie, Italie
• Lafalaise Dion, Côte d’Ivoire
• Pichulik, Afrique du Sud
• Renwa Yassin, Côte d’Ivoire, Liban
• Suki Suki Naturals, Afrique du Sud
• Wanda Lephoto,, Afrique du Sud
• Wibes,, Côte d’Ivoire, France
• Zyne,, Maroc
33% of the selected brands operate between the African continent and Europe, 8% of them between the African continent and the Middle East, and 59% have an exclusively African production.
This cohort is therefore marked by diversity, an openness to the world, and an ability to combine an African heritage with international influences:
“The second edition of the program is synonymous with diversity on several levels.
Sectoral diversity with brands that are open to the creative industries in the broadest sense, from fashion to jewelry to beauty and footwear, and geographical diversity with intercontinental brands.
This richness embodies the internationalization and diversification of brands of African heritage, and we are very proud that the program can reflect this,” said Thomas Delattre, Director of the Fashion Entrepreneurship Center at IFM.
The IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa program is a unique opportunity for emerging designers and brands from the continent and the diaspora to benefit from 12 months of strategic and operational support, allowing them to professionalize and institutionalize their activities. It is a program focused on promoting creative entrepreneurship.
“As an investment company, we know that the creative talent of young African designers must be supported by structures that allow them to develop viable and sustainable activities. Our goal is that by the end of the program, these brands are sufficiently structured to take off on the international scene, or receive an investment that allows them to scale up,” concludes Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, CEO of Birimian.
About Birimian
An operational investment company dedicated to luxury and premium brands of African heritage,
Birimian supports the continent’s designers over the long term, in their growth trajectory and for their international development. Birimian’s ambition is to accelerate the emergence of African brands internationally by positioning itself as their partner of reference in four main sectors: fashion, accessories, beauty & cosmetics and gourmet.
Birimian targets brands that carry in their DNA and their identity, the culture, tradition, history of the continent, its cultural heritage, sublimated in its diversity and adapting to modern and contemporary codes
About IFM
A private higher education institution of general interest recognized by the Ministry of Higher Education, a training center for apprentices and executive education and a center of expertise for, the textile, fashion and luxury industries, Institut Français de la Mode offers 16 training programs at vocational, Bachelor, Master, Executive MBA and doctorate levels, which prepare students for all the professions in the fashion industry in the fields of management, design and craftsmanship Based in the heart of Paris on a new 9,000 m² campus, Institut Français de la Mode welcomes more than 1,000 students of some 50 nationalities – managers, designers, technicians, entrepreneurs – encouraging meetings, collaborations and cultural effervescence.
Institut Français de la Mode is a member of HESAM University, the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles, the Cumulus Association and the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institute (IFFTI). It is supported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance
Press contact
Nicolas Teisserenc – Agence Poinciana:
nicolas@poinciana.co
+33 6 18 09 66 90
Jessica Ngon Kemoum – Birimian Ventures
jessica.ngonkemoum@birimianventures.com
+225 05 01 19 00 96
100 Women
Laureen Kouassi-Olsson is the Founder and CEO of Birimian Holding, an operational investment company dedicated to luxury and premium African heritage Brands.
Business of Fashion
Côte d’Ivoire is home to fashion businesses focused on international investment and regional trade that one might expect to find in larger countries on the continent.
Express insiders
Paris-based fashion school Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) announced a partnership with Birimian, the first operational investment company dedicated to African luxury and premium heritage brands.
Opportunité Africa
Birimian et le Institut Français de la Mode soutiennent les créateurs émergents africains à travers un programme d’accélérateur unique pour les jeunes marques créatives basées sur le continent africain ou dans la diaspora.
Afrikipress
Le Monde Afrique vient de consacrer un article (1) à Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, une figure reconnue du capital-investissement et des services financiers en Afrique.
Modemonline
WSN, organisateur de Who’s Next, Première Classe, Impact, Traffic, Bijorhca les salons dédiés aux marques créatives émergentes et indépendantes, a signé un partenariat avec Birminian, première société d’investissement opérationnelle consacrée aux marques de luxe et premium d’héritage africain et l’Institut Français de la Mode, dans le but de soutenir la créativité africaine.
Afrikanheroes
“IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa,” an unique acceleration program for developing African heritage companies in the fashion, accessories, and jewelry industries, has been launched by Birimian and the Institut Français de la Mode.
Commodafrica
Birimian, plateforme d’investissement et d’accompagnement des marques africaines, lance avec l’Institut français de la mode (IFM) «IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa», un programme d’accélération pour les marques émergentes d’héritage africain dans le secteur.
Sourcing Journal
Birimian, the first operational investment company dedicated to African luxury and premium heritage brands, has announced two key strategic and exclusive partnerships. Birimian and the Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) have launched IFM-Birimian Accelerator x Africa.
Africanews
Birimian (www.Birimianventures.com), première société d’investissement opérationnelle consacrée exclusivement aux marques de luxe et premium d’héritage africain, annonce la signature de deux partenariats avec (1) l’Institut Français de la Mode, l’une des écoles de mode de référence au niveau mondial, basée à Paris, et (2) WSN (Who’s Next, Première Classe, Impact, Traffic, Bijorhca).
The Guardian
The first operational investment company dedicated to African luxury and premium heritage brands, announces two key strategic and exclusive partnerships.
The Fashion Network
Birimian, la première plateforme d’investissement opérationnelle consacrée aux marques de luxe et premium d’héritage africain, annonce la signature de deux partenariats de poids avec l’Institut Français de la Mode et WSN.
Le Monde
Laureen Kouassi-Olsson a fondé Birimian, une société consacrée à l’investissement et à l’accompagnement stratégique des marques de luxe africaines.
Ebony
For Africa, where clothing and textile are the major facets of the creative economy, recent efforts towards amplifying the growth of this sector have made tremendous headway. Joining the new community of individuals and companies championing this cause is Birimian Holdings, an African luxury brand investment company.
Afrique Magazine
Formée dans le gratin mondial des banques d’investissement, l’Ivoirienne Laureen Kouassi-Olsson lance Birimian pour financer les créateurs du continent.
How we made it in Africa
Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, an experienced financial services and private equity executive, recently announced a new investment firm, Birimian, which seeks to back African fashion and luxury brands. She talks to James Torvaney about her plans.
Leather international
Worth an estimated $31B Sub-Saharan Africa’s apparel, textile, and footwear market and its fashions are often an inspiration for international designers.
Quartz
Sub-Saharan Africa’s apparel, textile, and footwear market is estimated to be worth $31 billion, and its fashions are often an inspiration for international designers. But many of its entrepreneurs operate in the informal sector. A lack of wide access to capital, low production capacities, and small distribution networks limit the industry’s growth potential.
Le Monde
A la tête d’un fonds dédié aux marques de la mode et du luxe issues du continent, Laureen Kouassi-Olsson appelle à ne pas laisser s’installer un phénomène de « fuite créative ».
MFF FASHION
La neo società di investimenti guidata da Laureen Kouassi-Olsson ha l’obiettivo di supportare e mettere in relazione le realtà luxury del Paese con lo scenario moda internazionale.
Business Of Fashion
The just-launched operational investment company, Birimian, says it aims to help African luxury and premium heritage brands grow their businesses regionally and internationally.
Vogue Business
African fashion doesn’t yet have an answer to Chanel or Dior. Newly launched investment fund Birimian seeks to change that as the first operational investment company dedicated to scaling African fashion brands into global luxury houses.
Aspire Luxury Mag
Birimian, the first operational investment firm dedicated to connecting African luxury and heritage fashion brands with international investors, has launched to accelerate the international emergence of African creators and designers brands.
Business Insider Africa
Today marks the launch of Birimian (www.Birimianventures.com), the first operational investment company dedicated exclusively to African luxury and premium heritage brands.
CNBC Africa
Today marks the launch of Birimian (www.Birimianventures.com), the first operational investment company dedicated exclusively to African luxury and premium heritage brands.
Afriqueitnews
Après une brillante carrière dans les plus hautes sphères de la finance mondiale, Laureen Kouassi-Olsson a décidé de fonder Birimian.
Afriveille
Birimian, c’est le nom de la première société d’investissement opérationnelle spécialisée dans les marques de luxe et premium d’héritage african. Elle a été fondée par Laureen Kouassi-Olsson, professionnelle expérimentée dans les secteurs des services financiers et du capital-investissement en Afrique.
Fashion United
Birimian, the first operational investment firm dedicated to connecting African luxury and heritage fashion brands with international investors, has launched to accelerate the international emergence of African creators and designers brands.
La tribune Afrique
Laureen Kouassi-Olsson annoncera lundi 26 avril, le lancement de Birimian, une société d’investissement opérationnelle, qui réunit créateurs africains et acteurs stratégiques européens. Retour sur un parcours peu ordinaire d’une ex golden-girl de Lehman Brothers qui a choisi la finance responsable pour faire rayonner la créativité africaine à l’international.