A specialised training programme has launched for entrepreneurs and start-ups in Africa’s textile, apparel and accessories industry, as part of plans to increase the continent’s competitiveness in the sector.
The programme is part of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Fashionomics Africa initiative, aimed at increasing Africa’s participation in the global textile industry supply chain. The project phase kicked off earlier this month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, targeting the Ethiopian Fashion Designers Association (FDA) as well as designers, fashion entrepreneurs and students attending the Hub of Africa 2017 Fashion Week. Sixty-four out of the 95 participants were women.
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Other sessions will also take place in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire.
“The Fashionomics masterclasses intend to give a better grasp of establishing and building a fashion brand, from putting together a first production line as a one-person enterprise to building a team that shares a common brand philosophy,” says Emanuela Gregorio, gender, innovation and creative industries economist at the AfDB.
Ethiopia has one of the most dynamic textile and fashion industries on the African continent with tremendous potential for growth and job creation, especially for women and youth. The country is also attempting to raise the bar on its garment and textile ambitions, targeting exports worth US$30bn by 2025.
“With a strong apparel tradition, a large and entrepreneurial workforce, and the right incentives, Ethiopia is regarded as a compelling new sourcing destination for global brands,” says AfDB. “However, Ethiopia also has a deep well-spring of talent among fashion designers and small tailors, who can serve both the global, domestic and regional markets.”
Basil Jones, gender programme and policy lead coordinator at AfDB, says the underlying goal is to show that with the right investment and access to training and resources, African apparel and accessories entrepreneurs can compete on the regional and world stage.
With an estimated annual $2.5bn in apparel exports from Africa, the textile, apparel and accessories sector is an important driver of growth in African economies.
“As a trainer, I felt it was important to provide both early stage/ideation phase entrepreneurs and those that have ongoing businesses with insights, tools and inspiration,” says Marnix Van Holland, programme development manager for Dutch development firm Hivos international. “The peer-to-peer learning among participants and the combined knowledge in the room was the most promising outcome of the session.”
Click here to read more about the massive developments taking place to elevate Ethiopia into a compelling new garment and textile sourcing hub for brands, retailers and their suppliers.
