CAFET At The FITCC: Exploring the Potential of African Fashion On The Global Stage

The Centre for African Fashion Education and Technology (CAFET) was part of the fashion and creative economy contingent at the Fidelity Bank International Trade and Creative Connect (FITCC) held in Houston Texas.

The event, which was both well-attended and extensively covered, primarily aimed to showcase Fidelity Bank’s trade strategy. However, it has also emerged as a noteworthy platform for Nigerian fashion brands looking to break into the international market.

This year’s edition of FITCC went beyond traditional exhibitions, incorporating panel discussions that delved into the inner workings of the African fashion industry and its potential as a prominent driver of international trade.

In line with its mission, CAFET was represented by Eme Bassey as a panelist at the event. Eme Bassey made significant contributions to two discussions: Scaling the Nigerian Fashion Economy and Bridging the Divide: African American Fashion & Africa. These panel discussions shed light on the fashion value chain as a means to promote sustainable trade of African fashion products in the global market.

The first panel assessed the undersupply of quality African fashion garments, noting the few available products were often priced considerably higher than their Western counterparts, which limited accessibility and competitiveness in the market for African fashion.

In response to this challenge, Eme Bassey emphasized the current realities within the African fashion value chain. She pointed out the significant operational inefficiencies in manufacturing and retail, the lack of product leadership in design and development, and the inadequacies in marketing differentiation. Eme Bassey highlighted these as critical areas for improvements to enhance product value while simultaneously reducing costs in the supply chain.

The second panel discussion underscored the importance of fashion education and its far-reaching impact across the entire fashion value chain. Eme Bassey emphasized the critical need for comprehensive and accessible fashion education programs, not only for local artisans and designers but also for global industry players looking to engage with African fashion.

The panel recognized that by fostering a deeper understanding of African design aesthetics, traditional craftsmanship, and sustainable practices, fashion education could serve as a catalyst for bridging the gap between the African fashion industry and the international market.

Eme also highlighted the role of cross-regional collaboration, pointing out that shared knowledge and resources among different regions could lead to synergistic improvements across the value chain, benefiting stakeholders at every level and contributing to the growth of African fashion on a global scale.

Throughout the rich and engaging sessions of the two-day event, one consistent theme emerged in the context of African fashion: the immense potential for value creation and trade and the need for a robust value chain. The need for a developed value chain aligns with the mission of CAFET, led by Eme Bassey and Lanre Shonoiki.

CAFET is an impact-driven, fashion-focused enterprise dedicated to developing a functional fashion value chain for African fashion brands, utilizing technology, education, and collaborations as key drivers. As CAFET continues to pursue this mission, the organization eagerly anticipates the next edition of the FITCC, aiming to bridge the African fashion industry with the global consumer market.