Image source: Global Information Service – Photo: 2023
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network
NEW YORK | November 7, 2023 (IDN) — If you thought Unesco they were just dusty old items, think again.
UNESCO, which stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was created in 1945 “to build peace through international cooperation as the only way to build bridges between nations.”
As a laboratory of ideas, UNESCO has a wide range of expertise in Education, Science and Culture. This year they supported Africa Fashion Week which featured a roundtable discussion on the African Fashion Sector: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth—with internationally renowned personalities and entrepreneurs exploring the role of African fashion designers as catalysts for sustainable development.
African fashion is booming, according to UNESCO’s inaugural report on fashion trends in Africa. Increased demand has come from an expanding urban middle class in Africa and from international buyers who appreciate the originality and quality of African design and craftsmanship. It estimates annual African exports of textiles, clothing and footwear at $15.5 billion.
However, Africa’s potential is still held back by a myriad of challenges, from poor infrastructure, sparse investment and limited intellectual property protection, as well as difficulties accessing new markets and sourcing quality materials, the report said. Africa’s textile, clothing and footwear trade deficit is $7.6 billion, the result of decades of policy changes that stifled local production, prompting an influx of used clothing from abroad.
Despite the minefield of obstacles, Africa’s fashion entrepreneurs are undaunted. Institutional funding on the scale flowing into African film, music and tech startups has yet to consider fashion a notable investment category. This forces brands to constantly struggle to find skilled staff willing to commit to long engagement periods.
Handcrafted designs worn by upper middle class career professionals and fashionistas have become a favorite product of many African fashion houses. But industrial-scale production for the mass market is also on the rise. An example is in Rwanda where Ashanti rolls out thousands of ready-to-wear garments from a 24,000 square foot factory staffed by over 4,000 staff. [IDN-InDepthNews]
Image source: Global Information Service
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