Africa Fashion Guide

“Cotton is the ink” of Fashion Made in Mali – DESIGNER INTERVIEW

I would love to know though, ​​​have you ever considered MALI in West Africa as a location for fashion? Do you actually know of any AFRICAN FABRICS made in Mali?I am sure if I said to you Bogolan, or Bogolanfini or even Mudcloth you would be shouting yes yes back at this screen 🙂 Well I recently interviewed an amazing woman called Awa Meite about her fashion brand started and sourced in Mali and…

VIRGIL ABLOH DISCUSSES EQUALISING CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND DEMOCRATISING LUXURY IN REVEALING NEW INTERVIEW FOR ETHICAL FASHION PODCAST DEDICATED TO AFRICAN STORIES

“An Instagram Post Is As Much Of An Artwork As a 300-look Fashion Collection. My Thesis [on] Architecture Is Just as Valid as a New Nike Shoe” The Ethical Fashion Initiative will launch the second series of its podcast  dedicated to African stories, today March 25th, with an exclusive interview featuring world-renowned designer of Ghanian descent, Virgil Abloh, who openly speaks on his…

Wazi, the first prescription eyewear brand made in Uganda, launches open call for African artists to design next eyewear collection

Glasses made by Africans for Africans, Wazi has launched an open call for creatives from across the continent to submit ideas for new, Afro-centric eyewear designs Ugandan prescription eyewear company Wazi has launched an open call for artists across Africa to submit design ideas for its new glasses collection. One grand prize winner will receive £1,500 in cash, and all selected artists will…

Decolonisation, Stereotypes and The “Mis-Education” of African Fashion

We recently interviewed Dr Erica de Greef for our youtube channel. She shared with us about a new online course offered by her company – AFRI / the African Fashion Research Institute which explores why African fashion stereotypes exist and persist. (Do watch the full interview here and make sure to subscribe, like and share.) In this interview she shares her thoughts on the need to decolonise…

EFI Accelerator For African Designers 21-22 – CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

The EFI Accelerator Programme is back, and they are now taking applications until 31st of March. With the support of European Union, the Ethical Fashion Initiative aspires to propel creative entrepreneurs forward, providing them the support and guidance they need for a successful global debut; preparing brands to become investment-ready is the end goal. For this round, the Accelerator Programme…

SNEAK PEEK OF THE INSIDE OF A WAXPRINT HOUSE!

Always wondered what it is like actually INSIDE a waxprint african print printhouse IN Africa! Then watch this video here ≥≥ https://youtu.be/vZjNYGD–0c The full video over on my YouTube channel highlights companies we have visited and work with in our # Sourcing Agency theF.A.T.E. of our company, Africa Fashion Guide Ltd see @fashionafricatradeexpo New sourcing website launched 2021! If you are…

THREE KENYAN DESIGNERS SELECTED TO JOIN PRESTIGIOUS ETHICAL FASHION INITIATIVE’S ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME

Geneva, 2nd February 2021: The Ethical Fashion Initiative – a joint venture of the UN and WTO’s International Trade Centre, has selected three Kenyan designers to participate in the second Ethical Fashion Initiative Accelerator programme; Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, SUAVE and HAMAJI.   The chosen designers all share a commitment to sustainability, using reclaimed and organic fabrics to create…

Lidl Backs Cotton made in Africa

The Cotton made in Africa initiative (CmiA) is now able to significantly boost sales of sustainable cotton from Africa thanks to its partner Lidl, which is primarily working with CmiA to achieve its goal of using 100 percent sustainable cotton by 2022. By considerably increasing its CmiA purchase volume, Lidl is making its supply chain more sustainable and is actively promoting socially and…

Black Thread Runs Deep at this New Swedish Exhibition!

When Lotta from Just Africa mentioned about an upcoming exhibition to be held in Sweden that she would be involved in I couldn’t wait to hear more!

The exhibition entitled Black Thread, along with the French Institute in Sweden, is a collaboration between the Museums of World Culture and their project Ongoing Africa, and the powerhouses at Marché Noir, the kings of creativity and dapper style – A…

So why is GHANA a great place for production right now?

Lesson 1 – G IS FOR G-REAT VISION Welcome again to our newsletter series on Ghana sourcing! This is week one and for three more weeks I will be sending to those on my email weekly to highlight the opportunity of Ghana to you as a location to set up your Fashion Made in Africa (FMIA) business.So lets go! Sign up for more highlights. Firstly WHY Ghana? So why is GHANA a great place for production right…

Laduma does it again! – Maxhosa Africa showcased another amazing collection for NYFW​​

One of my favourite PEOPLE, if not just designers, is South African Laduma Ngxokolo. Having watched his journey in business, design and excellence I continue to stand in awe of his work.

So seeing him present yet another amazing collection on Wednesday 16 September, with Maxhosa Africa wowing viewers as he showcased during a virtual NYFW​​ I can only again salute him.

This beautiful colourful…

TEN YEARS in BUSINESS – Milestone ANNIVERSARY!

What a story! Ten years doing  business in Africa 9/9 2011 marked the beginning, the birthing, the building of Africa Fashion Guide. Why I recognise that my African fashion business hit a milestone yesterday and turned 10, I see also that this has been a journey of exploration of Africa, of self and great learnings, of sharing of support of pushing the bar. Of narrative changing, of pioneering,…

An Untold African Fashion Story

“You have to be lucky to find the right ones and then stick with them”. All month of August so far I have shared and discussed with those in the AFG community about sourcing in Africa. I want to help you to learn insights into this so you can get started. This quote above was something that my guest from this weeks youtube interview said and I think it’s extremely fitting for the reality of setting…

Finding Quality Manufacturers in Africa – AFRICAN BUSINESS

So the big question I get asked all the time is.. just HOW do you find quality African suppliers! In this business training I speak to you, the fashion business owner who is seeking to produce in Africa; the business owner who desires to expand your African sourcing strategy and don’t know how, to you who are feeling overwhelmed with where to produce in Africa and to you who feel lost in finding…

Kenya, Mali and their USA agreements – AFRICAN TRADE BUSINESS INSIGHTS

“Under President [Donald] Trump’s leadership, we look forward to negotiating and concluding a comprehensive, high-standard agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for additional agreements across Africa,” said U.S. Ambassador Robert Lighthizer in a joint U.S.-Kenya statement.

The first round of discussions would of…

African Craft Subscription Box Business started in 12 weeks by Mother of Two | TESTIMONIAL

WOW can you believe it is August already! Eeek… time flies hey and opportunities are literally jumping our way. If you can just see it!

Let me explain briefly …

See below this photo…this is Comfort (one of the amazing members in my Fashion Africa Membership club also known as theFAMILY) sitting with her beautiful daughter Hannah.. …whom along with her son and her hubby she has a big WHY she…

“The best decision ever!” – FASHION AFRICA VOICES

“I quit my corporate job for African fashion” and “The best decision ever!” In this weeks Fashion Africa Voices series we look at the story of Toronto based Designer Catherine Addai of the print infused brand Kaela Kay, who went against the odds to leave her well paid corporate job to pursue her vision and literally to SET UP SHOP for her AFRICAN PRINT FASHION BUSINESS. She went on to share the…