Bottega Veneta and Air Afrique Magazine Unite to Empower Afro-Diasporic Creativity
Seeking to revive and preserve the cultural significance of the pan-African airline that operated from 1961 to 2002.
Bottega Veneta has partnered with Air Afrique magazine, a new platform dedicated to Afro-diasporic art and conversation. Named after the renowned pan-African airline that operated from 1961 to 2002, the title aims to transmit African cultural heritage and foster cross-border creativity.
Published in French and English, the magazine combines archival material from Air Afrique’s cultural patronage with contemporary expressions from French, French-Caribbean and African artists and writers. Led by Founder and Creative Director Lamine Diaoune, the project is driven by the desire to revive and preserve the cultural significance of Air Afrique.
“Air Afrique was more than an airline. It was a cultural platform,” says Djiby Kebe, one of the megazine’s Co-Founders, in a statement about the release. “We want to share the Air Afrique archive and create our own archive – to capture this moment of change in Black awareness and expression,” he adds.
Bottega Veneta will support the magazine’s launch by providing its name, platforms and organizing tailored events. Additionally, the luxury fashion brand will release a limited-edition series of blankets designed by Abdel El Tayeb, a designer from the Bottega Veneta studio. Inspired by his Sudanese heritage, El Tayeb’s blankets combine the finest wool, silver leather and shearling from the brand’s archive.
The collaboration with Air Afrique is part of Bottega Veneta’s commitment to print media partnerships that amplify specific communities’ voices. The initiative debuted in March 2022, with the luxury label sponsoring the return of legendary magazine BUTT.
Air Afrique will launch at Paris’ Centre Pompidou on June 23 during Paris Fashion Week. In the meantime, take a look at the 22 remade Artycapucines bags that Louis Vuitton and Sotheby’s are auctioning for charity.
