Last week I attended Columbia University’s annual African Economic Forum (AEF). The two-day conference was a diverse and insightful one with discussions ranging from Branding Africa to the growing, sometimes controversial China-Africa relationship. The organizers put together a great program with much discussion during and in-between panels. While I couldn’t attend the full program, I was able to participate in some great discussions with attendees and panelists in the Africa Arena. I’ve provided my notes from the discussions I was able to attend below. My notes cover a mixture of discussion topics and perspectives from the esteemed panelists and attendees. Please keep in mind that the notes below are portions of the hour plus long discussions from my perspective as an attendee. If you have any insight into any of the topics in my notes please feel free to comment. For clarification on any of the points in my notes please shoot me an email.
ATTENDANCE NOTES:
Panel: African Fashion Going Global
Moderator: ZANDILE BLAY, Market Editor, Paper Magazine
Panelists: OLUCHI, Supermodel and the Original Face of Africa; BUSIE MATSIKO, CEO and Co-Founder, Fashion Indie Media; AISHA OBUOBI, Designer & Founder, Christie Brown; MIMI PLANGE, Designer and Founder, Boudoir D’huîtres
- Should Africans sell primarily to Africans?
- African designers are more torn about designing Africa-inspired clothes vs. other western designers designing Africa-inspired clothes
- Western designers are not limited or stigmatized when using African influences in designs
- Should there be an African fashion capital? Some panelists say no
- Is there a viable African consumer enough to support African fashion industry?
- Designers don’t want to get pigeonholed as an ethnic designer; need room for growth
- There is very limited support (i.e. factories, retail outlets) for African designers on the continent
- Some panelists say African designers should focus on African consumers rather than targeting global consumers first
- There is lack of business expertise among designers on the continent
- Designers need to partner up with business professionals on the continent
- Pricing African designs is tricky
- Not too many Africans will pay high prices to support African designers
- There are two types of African consumers: 1) those that travel and buy high-end western clothes 2) the locals who can’t afford couture and buy mass
- It’s hard to produce on the continent particularly if you’re not doing mass production
- Many African designers aspire to go to South Africa fashion week because it’s the top African continent fashion industry
- Just like you don’t only have New Yorkers in New York Fashion week, South Africa’s Fashion Week has Africans from all over continent
- African designers get inspiration from everywhere just like other designers
- Some African designers are more drawn to cultural design than others
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