Noémie Lenoir has been a model since 1995 and an actress since 2000. On the occasion of the broadcast of her first documentary entitled "Habille Nous Africa" (Dress Us Africa), she answers our questions:
Why did you choose to embark on this documentary project?
For several years now, I have noticed that African fashion is "trendy." Based on this observation and working in the fashion world, I wanted to trace the origins of this trend and meet the designers and artisans of the continent so they could explain the problems they encounter.
Why did you choose this theme? What does it represent for you?
Fashion has been my world for 24 years, hence my interest in this subject and these issues.
I wanted to highlight these men and women who, through their work and expertise, contribute to promoting the continent in terms of fashion. It was particularly interesting for me to explore an area I knew less about, namely the economic and social aspects of the textile industry.
Why did you choose to represent these three countries, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Cameroon?
I chose these three countries because they are French-speaking and the people chosen to be part of this documentary were from these three countries. There is a common thread throughout the film that takes us from the cotton fields in Ivory Coast to the finished products and designers in Dakar.
If you could describe African fashion in a few words…
AMBITIOUS – TALENTED – AVANT-GARDE – MODERN
What do you see as the difficulties facing African brands and designers?
One of the biggest difficulties for African brands and designers is being able to export their products internationally. But we mustn't overlook the difficulty designers have in selling locally. Whether they are Senegalese, Cameroonian, or from elsewhere, many people buy foreign brands, which represents an additional challenge for African brands and designers who must try to convince them to wear "local" and ensure they appeal to them by sticking to fashion criteria while respecting their lines and creative desires.
TV5MONDE will exclusively broadcast Noémie Lenoir's first documentary, "Habille Nous Africa," on Wednesday, April 10, at 9 p.m.
This original film (2 x 52 minutes) will be broadcast worldwide on all TV5MONDE channels and will be available on the TV5MONDE PLUS website starting April 11.
Duration: 2×52'
Presented by: Noémie Lenoir
Directed by: Noémie Lenoir, Antoine Rivière (France, 2019).
Written by Noémie Lenoir, Alexandra Ngann, and Jean-Christophe Siriac
Produced by Flair Production
