Industry Retreat
The African Fashion Foundation (AFF) presents the first-ever Creative Industry Retreat in Africa. The three-day event is scheduled for Wednesday, 19th May to Sunday, 23rd May, 2021 and aimed at igniting and facilitating critical and valuable discussions around the industry ecosystem.
The three-day event will provide a unique platform for industry players and stakeholders to convene, collaborate and build solid partnerships needed to scale the fashion ecosystem in Africa. Ghana is set to be the convening point for this trailblazing three-day event. It will focus on the theme “Building a Sustainable Value Chain for Africa’s Creative Industry”. Discussions will focus on the need to forge real links in Africa’s creative industry, the strategic role of Development Finance Institutions within the sector and the need to drive the sustainability agenda.
INITIATIVES
RECYCLE, REWORK, REUSE
RECYCLE, REWORK REUSE – A fashion sustainability project to address the issue of fashion waste and how to create sustainable product life cycles.
To further AFF’s ambition to encourage a rethink of circular economy as well as collaboration amongst other African fashion bodies, the project aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits in Africa. ‘With over 70% of the world’s waste being dumped on the shores of Africa, the issue of fashion waste and Africa is one that needs addressing and re thinking.
Pepper Row from NIGERIA, Samuel Otteng from GHANA, MALIKO from NIGERIA and Maison Detta from SENEGAL are the brands engaged in developing the collection using clothing and products from local 2nd hand clothing markets in their various countries.
Working with West African digital creator BALMLABS on avatar creations, the entirely documented collection will be shown as a 3D look book, presented by AFF founder Roberta Annan at the SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION CONFERENCE – Accelerating Sustainability in fashion, clothing and textiles conference – a partner event of the UN to celebrate the international Year of Creative Economy and sustainable development.
For further information on the Sustainable Innovation 2021 Conference please click here
INITIATIVES
The
Artisan
Hub
A safe space to make, do, create and dream – and most importantly, a space where you will receive the support and facilitation to do so.
This Artisan Hub is a social economic organization created to empower and mentor the skilled and budding artisan with programs and training to help them thrive in their areas of expertise. The Artisan Hub also provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary tools needed to set up their artistry and creative business. The space will be a facilitated studio space which gives fashion and design creatives the option and opportunities to test and create their ideas and visions.
The hub will work by connecting the world’s most marginalised artisans in West Africa to the fashion industry’s top talents, for mutual benefit. For fashion brands it is an opportunity to gain access to unique artisanal skills and authentic handmade products while also doing good. For the artisans, the connection gives them access to a market that values their skills and products, and is an opportunity to make a living from their coveted skills.
This particular hub will strive to be a portal of innovation which coordinates the work of different communities and acts as a business support infrastructure. It will be the role of the hub to lead in sustainable production and encourage creatives to commit to ethical practices also.
CURATED COLLECTIONS.
CURATED COLLECTIONS
Kayayei
African Fashion Foundation (AFF) in partnership with The Lotte and the Adonai Children’s Development Foundation (ACDF) presented the inaugural Kayayei Collaboration Collection at the Glitz Africa Fashion Week 2020. AFF created this project to empower, equip and encourage young street females by pairing them up with some great talent in the fashion accessory and garment industry in West Africa for a skills exchange programme. With the support of the ACDF in finding and nurturing those that needed the support especially during this global COVID19 pandemic; the aim was to present a collaborative new collection alongside Accra’s infamous concept store – The Lotte. The young street women and porters (Kayayei) were working in the designers’ studios and trained in key sewing and production skills all whilst contributing to a collection that will be showcased internationally