The Fashion Africa Conference returns to London on May 25 and 26. Hosted by the social Enterprise Africa Fashion Guide, there is no other fashion conference of this scale outside of Africa which seeks to bring together international interest for industry opportunities on the continent.
Coinciding with Africa Day, which began in 1963 to mark the formation of the Organisation of African Unity, the Conference will be running under the theme of “Africa: Fashion’s Future”.
“The artisan craft sector is the second-largest employer in the developing world,” said Jacqueline Shaw, who founded the Conference in 2011.
“In the next five years, Africa’s textile industry could generate up to $15.5 billion in revenue according to The African Development Bank. Within Africa, the entire textile/clothing market is already worth more than $31 billion and accounts for the second largest number of jobs in developing countries after agriculture.
“As it has been stressed, Africa will rise not by charity or aid but through investment and trade. So the time to invest is now, and a strong garment manufacturing sector is key to Africa’s development.”
Confirmed speakers for the show include Simone Cipriani of Ethical Fashion Initiative, Laduma Ngxokolo of Maxhoa, Tamsin Lejuene of Ethical Fashion Forum, Orsola Castro of Fashion Revolution Day, Inge Wallace of Fashion For Good (on behalf of the C & A Foundation), and Lance Clark with Dulma Clark of Soul of Africa and more.
The Fashion Africa Conference takes place on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 May in Chelsea, London and includes a networking reception hosted by Proudly Made in Africa.
