Africa: the next world leader in fashion?

Gina Doubleday
UNESCO

Cities such as Abidjan, Casablanca, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Nairobi are not just financial hubs but also hotspots for fashion and design. Challenges remain, however, including a lack of investment, limited educational systems, a need for intellectual property protection, and sourcing materials affordably. Despite this, UNESCO’s report The African Fashion Sector: Trends, challenges and opportunities for growth published in October 2023 shows that the continent holds all the cards to become one of the world’s next leaders in fashion.