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Can Africa emerge as a fashion hub? Many feel driven by the penchant of the people to create new designs evolved from its rich cultural tribal past and continuous effort to embellish it with modern concepts and conundrums, the continent will march ahead in the coming decade.
The other factor is its surging middle class and growing young population, which can considerably up the demand for the fashion industry. High digital penetration also is helping the fashion consciousness sweeping across the continent.
The fashion industry is presently valued at USD 15.5 billion on a pan-African basis. Analysts say this would triple in the coming years given the penchant for the Africans to move in the value chain as far as their lifestyle is concerned. A recent UNESCO study also corroborated this vaulted growth of the fashion industry in the continent by the next decade. The industry would become a source for realizing higher foreign exchange by way of exports and also a perennial source of employment.
With fashion catching up in the clothing sector, demand for apparel and clothes will increase so as less expensive clothes and simple fashions, which will not impinge on the pocket of the ordinary people, while strengthening the clothing supply chains.
Fast fashion produces about 52 small seasons in Africa instead of the traditional 2 per year, which increases the demand for a significant amount. Examples of fast-growing fashion sellers are H&M, Topshop, Primark, Zara, and Next, thereby producing large quantities of highly successful clothing.
Fast fashion has the potential to contribute significantly to the Economy of Africa. After agriculture, the garment industry is already Africa’s second-largest employer. According to research in Kenya, every job in the apparel business creates five more jobs. Africa also has a superior strategy to Asian manufacturers, with shorter transport links to markets in Europe and the United States. In actuality, the ship sails from the West.
Africa also benefits from Asia’s low labour costs. Many African fashion brands offer free offers when they penetrate the markets in Europe, Australia, and America to give Africa a competitive advantage. Clothing and textiles industries represent roughly 7 percent of global exports, and textile output is the same. For example, clothes like Guess, H&M, and Levi’s, have already relocated their manufacturing from China to Ethiopia.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/us-to-terminate-agoa-trade-program-with-select-african-countries/
According to the OXFAM, if Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and Latin America all increased their exports by 1%, the resulting growth rate would exceed one million individuals -128, who would be out of poverty.
