Why the world needs to pay attention to African fashion
The fashion industry frequently appears to be a continuous loop of styles and design.
Some liken it to a dog chasing its tail. In the end, some consumers are left confused about what is in or out. Fortunately, African fashion is steering clear of current trends and reviving the good old values of the ‘old’ world.
Disposable Fashion
Who remembers when the highstreets in Europe were full of fashion shops selling disposable fashion? One could buy a pair of jeans for $10, a top for $4, and accessories for $6. Unfortunately, these items were not durable and would look terrible after a few washes. These disposable fashion items would end up in landfill sites, some of which are in Africa.
In many respects, fashion resembles a fleeting kind of art. It manifests itself through shapes and textiles, patterns and trends, only to vanish the following season.
Also, it frequently manifests itself loudly and grandly during fashion weeks and events worldwide. The curtain then falls abruptly after a few minutes, leaving behind a trail of images splashed across Instagram squares and billboards, heavy price tags out of reach of many.
The Global Fashion Market
The problem is that the endless loop of fashion production is “pointless” and results in waste. People are moving away from cheap disposable fashion and turning the items of value. There was a November 2018 Bain & Company Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study, which cements this.
The report focused on the global luxury market – which includes personal luxury goods, fine art, high-quality design, and furnishings. The luxury market grew by 5% in 2018 to an estimated €1.2 trillion.
This all came crushing like a deck of cards in early 2020 when the globe came to a standstill. The pandemic is responsible for affecting the fashion industry with the accuracy of a pair of scissors cutting through silk. Read More...
