Building African Fashion: a catalyst for the industry
The fruit of a collective will, Building African Fashion is a platform that unites the players in African fashion around concrete objectives. The platform’s ambition can be broken down into 4 main missions:
- promoting diversity
- promote the development of strong networks
- encouraging sustainable practices
- influence public policy
Members of this community work hand in hand to shape the future of African fashion.
Drawing on her experience in the fintech sector, Udochi Nwogu, the co-founder of this initiative, quickly recognized the potential of African fashion. With Building African Fashion, she wanted to use her skills in marketing and strategy to give a voice to African designers. Through her travels to Dakar, Lagos and Addis Ababa, she aims to encourage exchanges within the community.
Born in Nigeria, she grew up in the United States. After graduating, she joined a number of large companies, developing her skills in consulting and marketing. After graduating with an MBA, she returned to Lagos to take up a position as Chief Marketing Officer. It was during this period back in her homeland that she developed a passion for the fashion industry.
Initially, it is developing a marketplace. The aim was to facilitate exchanges between potential consumers and designers. Then she met Papa Oyeyemi, with whom she co-founded Bias African Fashion, which later became Building African Fashion. Initially, this initiative was born out of frustration. The lack of representation of the continent’s designers and the limited vision of what African fashion could offer were the founding pillars of this sharing platform.
The importance of community
Creating connections between designers, investors and industry stakeholders, Building Africa Fashion aims to be an ecosystem conducive to the emergence of new talent. The initiative highlights the diversity of African styles and cultures. And it is committed to greater inclusion in the fashion industry. Building Africa Fashion provides tools and resources for young designers to develop their businesses.
Despite the progress made, the African fashion industry faces many challenges. Limited access to financing, lack of infrastructure and international competition are all obstacles for the continent’s entrepreneurs to overcome. Nevertheless, the opportunities are immense. Global demand for unique, sustainable products, combined with Africa’s growth, offers fertile ground for the development of African fashion.
Udochi emphasizes the importance of creating strong communities where designers can share their knowledge and experiences. Face-to-face events and online platforms help strengthen links between the various players in the industry.
The future of African fashion
Building African Fashion has big ambitions for the future:
- Strengthening commitment
- Developing training programs
- Promoting African fashion worldwide
The organization aims to influence public policy to create a favorable environment for the development of African fashion. Building African Fashion plans to set up training programs to equip African designers with the skills they need to succeed internationally. The long-term goal is to make African fashion a global benchmark, recognized for its creativity and authenticity.
The story of Udochi and Building African Fashion is a source of inspiration for all those who wish to contribute to the development of Africa. By showcasing the talent of African designers and encouraging collaboration, this initiative opens up new prospects for the continent’s fashion industry.
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