Launch of Air Afrique as part of an exclusive partnership with Bottega Veneta at an event at the Centre Pompidou in Paris on 23 June 2023.

The stated aim of the publication is to provide a new platform for Afro-diasporic creativity and conversation.
Air Afrique magazine, named after the pan-African airline of the same name, is designed by a young Paris-based collective and inspired by the pan-African magazines of the 20th century.
Published in French and English, Air Afrique is inspired by the airline’s cultural vision and the logic of its in-flight magazine Balafon, which stood out for its ability to celebrate the cultural and historical diversity of the African continent.

The first issue features philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne, musical artist Tiakola, photographer Paul Kodjo and film director Euzhan Palcy.

The magazine will also be bringing out a series of limited-edition covers by French-Sudanese designer Abdel El Tayeb, a designer in the Bottega Veneta studio. Specially commissioned by Matthieu Blazy for the launch of Air Afrique, each cover is a unique composition of the finest wool, silver leather and shearling from the Bottega Veneta archives.

Under its own brand, El Tayeb Nation, El Tayeb combines Sudanese craftsmanship with Western tailoring in an aesthetic that blends couture and ease.

The brand aspires to create a space where Afro-descendants can express their multicultural identity.
Air Afrique’s afro-futuristic blankets are inspired by the vibrant patterns of the traditional toub dress worn by El Tayeb’s mother.

“With our print partnerships, we recognize the craft, creativity, and quiet power of smaller-scale publications which give voice to specific communities,” said a spokesperson for the brand. “Each magazine exemplifies quality design, editorial rigor,
and a clarity and originality of vision.”

Magazines have also played an important role in the brand’s long-standing history of cultural engagement.
In 1972, Bottega Veneta opened its first ever store on Madison Avenue in New York, and quickly became associated with the city’s creative community, in particular Andy Warhol.
In 1978, the brand launched its iconic When Your Own Initials Are Enough campaign in Warhol’s Interview magazine, defining its commitment to logo-free design, creativity, and self-expression.