🌍 Nigeria x Tunisia's production collab, 'Made In Ethiopia' heads to Paris

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Hi {{first_name|Operator}},

Nigeria & Ethiopia lead today’s headlines, and the topics on the table are borrowing trade strategies from similar markets, investing in infrastructure, and expanding participation in global trade. Elsewhere, we’ve got designer and fast fashion news from India. I haven’t properly set up alerts for South America, but I’ll try to include headlines from Brazil in the next round up.

Knowing what’s happening in Europe & the US matters, but SO much of the coverage we are used to keeping tabs on focuses on rules of engagement that mostly apply to them and don’t quite fit our market reality. As my own lens (and the world’s) shifts further and further away from eurocentricity, I want to start bringing other markets into sharper focus in the Elsewhere section.

At first I simply assumed I needed to select the headlines I thought people would want to read based on what we’ve paid attention to before, but you know what they say about assumptions… I want The Fashion Operator to become the most useful thing you read every week, and this is my latest change in service of that goal. Africa’s fashion hub countries have a lot more in common with economies like Brazil & India, and there’s a LOT to learn from them.

As always, I’m very interested in what you think about this — hit reply and let me know?

With thanks,
Modupe Oloruntoba

❝

PS: By now South African readers have heard all about AYANA — except you haven’t. No need to watch & wait for answers to the big questions, because I’ve got a deep dive coming next week with Sheri-Lee Carver-Brown, the woman leading AYANA’s team at Pepkor Specialty. I know you know someone who wants to read that story, so please share TFO with them so they can subscribe ahead of release next week :)

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Across Africa

SMEDAN, UNDP launch solar-powered Fashion Hub and Makerspace in Abuja

The initiative is aimed at tackling persistent power outages that hinder the efficiency of entrepreneurs and small businesses across Nigeria.

Replicate Ethiopia's Diaspora Strategy, Senator Natasha Tasks FG

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central/PDP), has called on the Federal Government to replicate Ethiopia, Egypt and India’s strategy to drive greater diaspora influence in Nigeria’s economic growth.

Nairobi to New York: Lessons for Nigerian entrepreneurs on innovation, global expansion

Nigerian entrepreneurs have profound lessons to learn from the quiet transformative evolution of local fashion simmering across Africa.

Ethiopia to Exhibit Thriving Textile Industry Products in Paris

As part of the “Made in Ethiopia” initiative, a delegation of 12 of the country’s leading manufacturers will exhibit their latest collections, demonstrating Ethiopia’s emergence as a competitive sourcing destination for international buyers.

Nigeria's Kano plans to collaborate with Tunisia on garment production

Nigeria's Kano state has vowed to strengthen economic ties with Tunisia, focusing on agriculture, infrastructure, and trade, with plans under way to collaborate with the country in garment production and the dye industry.

'A bold stride towards global expansion': Bathu opens shop in Namibia

South African footwear brand Bathy has opened its first shop in Namibia, expanding its reach beyond its home country for the first time.

Jobs + opportunities in African Fashion

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Elsewhere

Fashion Nova forced to pay out millions to customers after violating consumer protection law

The Federal Trade Commission is sending $2.4 million to Fashion Nova customers after the company suppressed negative reviews on its website.

Gucci sales tumble as Kering turnaround fails to take shape

GUCCI quarterly sales tumbled as Kering’s biggest label struggles to emerge from an extended demand downturn. Read more at The Business Times.

Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee is on a mission to reclaim cultural heritage

Rejecting seasonal trends, he is challenging Western perceptions and promoting Indian craftsmanship, fuelled by the Aditya Birla Group’s investment in his brand.

With tariffs looming, fashion and beauty brands weigh passing on costs to customers

It’s an unprecedented and chaotic time for consumers, already pressured by stagnating wages and now dealing with rapid price increases, and brands, which are deciding how to deal with their own increased costs.

Fast Fashion expands: 20-25% rise in new stores across India’s tier 3 & 4 cities

These comprehensive findings delve into the evolving growth patterns and key drivers shaping foot traffic in fashion stores across multiple categories and regions within India.