Four barriers to the successful procurement of fashion in Africa

According to a UNESCO analysis titled” The Fashion Sector in Africa: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Growth,” the African continent exports textiles worth$ 15.5 billion annually, making it one of the top producers of raw materials with 37 out of 54 nations producing cotton.

According to the UNESCO report, Made-in-Africa is trending, especially among the country’s youth, and Africa is growing quickly in the modern sector, which is facilitating trade within Africa and the development of young talent.

Over the next ten years, demand for American haute couture is anticipated to rise by 42 %.

People are looking for products” Made in Africa” more and more across the continent because they see them as a source of pride and an affirmation of their identities. However, the full production network needs to be strengthened in order to satisfy this rising demand. According to Omoyemi Akerele, producer of Lagos Fashion Week, this UNESCO report is helpful because it outlines the path to achieve this and will raise the awareness of people decision-makers.

In its statement, UNESCO identifies four difficulties that African governments and decision-makers must overcome in order to realize the sector’s possible:

1. In terms of intellectual property rights, pay scales, working conditions, and the capacity to organize into specialist organizations and social benefits, legal safeguards for developers and professionals need to be strengthened.
2. Small and medium-sized businesses, which currently make up 90 % of Africa’s fashion industry, must be invested in. They are the guardians of the variety of historical expression and practices that span the entire continent. They are generators of native work and a strong motivator for young people looking to enter the industry.
3. Economic guidelines must be established. Africa may make greater use of native materials, develop around green textiles, and increase awareness of green consumption patterns, even though the fashion industry continues to be one of the most polluting sectors. Between 2019 and 2020, the production of organic cotton fiber in Africa increased by 90 %, making up 7.3 % of all global production. A third of all imports come from the second-hand clothing market, which is one of the most active in the world. However, there are n’t enough recycling programs in place, with 40 % of these clothes ending up in landfills or even in rivers and oceans.
4. Both formal education and the transfer of savoir-faire need to be enhanced. Standard knowledge and distinctive cotton techniques are abundant in Africa, some of which have already been given UNESCO protection. In order to ensure that these practices are passed down from generation to generation and can continue to encourage young designers, the report urges nations to establish mentoring programs. In addition, UNESCO is urging an increase in the number of certifications offered in important relevant fields like advertising, business law, and quality control, as well as training in cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing and e-commerce.