MORGANABLE LIFE & CULTURE / FASHION Business
Africa’s fashion industry could receive a major boost if a new growth plan by the Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) achieves its goals.
Akure —
Africa’s fashion industry could receive a major boost if a new growth plan by the Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) achieves its goals.
The organisation wants to help expand the continent’s fashion economy from an estimated $30 billion to $500 billion. It plans to present its roadmap at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND) 2026 in Lagos on November 5.
Through better production, trade, investment and intellectual property protection, CAFA hopes African businesses can retain more value from the products they create.
It also seeks to move the sector beyond design and cultural expression towards a stronger commercial industry.
CAFA’s roadmap will be presented alongside the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. The event will coincide with the organisation’s first anniversary.
Both partners will host a joint stand at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre. The exhibition will run from November 5 to 8.
CAFA President, Aare Professor Lai Labode, said the organisation was working with African governments to align policies on sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property.
He said this cooperation would help African businesses and communities benefit more from the continent’s creative output.
The plan aims to build a fashion industry with stronger links between raw materials, manufacturing, designers and international markets.
A key part of the proposal is to process more African raw materials within the continent. Instead of exporting materials with little local processing, the organisation wants countries to develop capacity to turn them into finished garments and other fashion products.
This could create more business opportunities across textile production, tailoring, design, packaging and distribution.
Local processing could also help African companies capture a larger share of the value generated by fashion products.
However, this shift would require investment in factories, equipment, skills and reliable supply chains.
It would also require access to finance and markets for small businesses, which play an important role in the sector.
The Federal Government has backed the wider ambition. Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said investment in fashion could create millions of jobs, particularly for women and young people.
She said the Afroliganza initiative was designed to build a structured fashion economy rooted in African heritage and led by African institutions.
Musawa’s comments came ahead of the roadmap presentation. According to a statement from her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Nneka Anibeze, the government supports efforts to position African fashion for stronger competition in international markets.
The initiative also seeks to connect the sector’s cultural influence with business growth, employment and investment.
CAFA is also working with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the African Union’s adoption of the charter. Rwanda is progressing towards becoming the second participating country and the first in East Africa.
Wider support from African governments could help create common standards and reduce barriers that make it harder for fashion businesses to trade across the continent.
The organisation has reported several activities during its first year. It brought representatives from 50 countries together at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State. It also signed a memorandum of understanding with Türkiye’s ASRIAD.
Protecting African designs and creative ownership is another major part of the plan. CAFA’s “Own What We Create” initiative focuses on intellectual property protection.
The organisation is also promoting a CAFA Certified Seal and a CAFA Heritage Mark. These proposed tools are intended to support quality standards and help consumers identify authentic African fashion products.
CAFA is also working to establish African Global Fashion Houses in international markets. The proposed platforms would give African designers and fashion businesses more opportunities to reach buyers outside the continent.
They could also help promote African products, support trade links and introduce new customers to the range of styles and skills found across Africa.
Another initiative in the roadmap is the African Global Fashion Games, which is scheduled to begin in Nigeria in 2028. The competition will bring designers together under their respective national colours.
Organisers plan to hold it every three years, alternating between African and international host countries. The event is expected to combine creative competition with commercial activities.
The roadmap also calls on governments across Africa to sign the Games Register and prepare national teams for the inaugural competition in 2028.
Alongside the competitions, the Games will feature investor meetings, business deal signings and policy discussions.
One planned attraction is the Instant Craft event. In this contest, participants will receive identical materials and a fixed period to create fashion items. Judges will assess their craftsmanship, creativity and technical skills.
CAFA has invited fashion designers, artisans, creatives, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to visit its stand during CANEX WKND.
Visitors will be able to learn about the roadmap and explore possible partnerships in design, manufacturing, research, investment, trade and international business.
CANEX WKND, organised by the African Export-Import Bank, brings together people and organisations working across Africa’s creative industries. Its programme covers sectors such as fashion, film, music, literature, visual arts and gastronomy.
The $500 billion ambition is substantial compared with the estimated $30 billion starting point. Reaching it will require more than strong designs and international attention.
African countries will need to expand production, improve access to funding, protect creative rights and build dependable routes to local and overseas markets.
For now, CAFA’s roadmap remains a plan rather than a completed transformation. Its presentation on November 5 will provide an opportunity to explain the proposed steps and invite wider participation.
The scale of the target makes implementation, measurable progress and cooperation between governments and businesses especially important.
If the plan gains broad support, it could help fashion contribute more to employment, trade and economic activity across Africa.
The challenge will be turning the continent’s creative strength into lasting commercial value while ensuring that designers, artisans, workers and local businesses share in the benefits.
