The Paper Fig Fellowship

Bringing bright East African creatives to New York Fashion Week

When PFF Founder Laurie Dejong found herself at Central Command of New York Fashion Week, there was one thing she knew for sure: she wanted to share it.

As Laurie met dozens of talented, hardworking people across Africa, she decided she would incorporate mentorship and empowerment behind the scenes at NYFW.

Our fellows have come from Rwanda, Uganda, and Ghana and they have specialized in many aspects of fashion, from design to makeup to production to communications.

In the future, we envision the Fellowship Program evolving into a true cross-cultural exchange, with members of the PFF community from Uganda and Rwanda traveling to New York to share their skills as well as their cultural heritage.

They will also have the opportunity to learn from local New York creatives about the fashion and creative industries, as well as immerse themselves in the unique experience of New York City.

watch a short video on the PFF fellowship