A burgeoning crop of African fashion professionals has taken to teaching emerging designers skills they don’t often learn at school.
For young talents in the fashion world, learning about the business of the industry and how to run a successful brand is just as important as the lessons taught by going to fashion school. Yet, a lot of fashion schools in Africa tend to only focus on aspects of illustration, designing, and pattern drafting. And even though this hasn’t stopped the number of people wanting to break into the industry – in Nigeria alone, GDP data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates the “textile, apparel, and footwear” sector has averaged growth of 17% since 2010 – it can cause setbacks.
A proper introduction and induction into the industry is vital in helping set new designers on a solid career path. But a lack of resources and materials means this kind of training isn’t readily available. Taking courses abroad would also mean spending a fortune, due to currency differences.
