🌍 New micro grants for African fashion, SHEIN returns to India

Hi Operator,

Everyone’s favourite topic is back: funding. There’s been movement and change in the options, sources, total amount and routes to access, but with surprisingly little impact on the general daily reality of the fashion business in Africa.

What doesn’t change is that all eyes are on the biggest numbers — a small number of high profile grants and prizes. It’s a size curve problem: even with several zeroes, their impact is limited to the small total of winners each year.

How far could the impact of a lot less money for a lot more recipients go?

Frederica Brooksworth, founder & director of CIAFE, wants to bring balance (and missing transparency) to funding’s lopsided size curve with the new African Fashion Development Initiative (AFDI).

While CIAFE focuses on African fashion curriculum development and distribution (they are currently looking into institutions in North Africa & Europe), AFDI focuses on the marketplace and the fashion founder’s most urgent operational needs.

AFDI exists to develop and change African fashion through strategic investment, research and capacity-building for long-term growth and global competitiveness. Their main offerings: Business training, market data, and a quarterly, private donor-funded $500 grant.

In a survey, AFDI discovered an average launch budget of $300 to $1000, mostly used to buy fabric or equipment and/or hire garment workers. “Because I had worked with a lot of people that were only starting out, I just felt like it made sense to just focus really on starting with $500,” Brooksworth shared on a call. “For them, if they didn't have that initial funding, the truth is they wouldn't have been able to even sell two dresses or even just do a pre-order.“

Measurable impact is often the deciding factor that keeps such initiatives going or shuts them down for good. So AFDI won’t just be handing out money — they’ll be making sure recipients know what to do with it. “They have to pass the financial training in order for them to receive the grant because we need to ensure that they understand how to manage money as well, and be held accountable.”

Applications for AFDI’s first grant are open until the 27th of February.

With thanks,
Modupe Oloruntoba

Across Africa

Jobs + opportunities in African Fashion

SPOTLIGHT | Submit your zero-waste initiative to UNEP and UN-Habitat for a spotlight on good practices on the 2025 International Day of Zero Waste (observed March 30th). This year’s theme is fashion & textiles. Read the full call and submissions criteria.

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Elsewhere

That’s all for today — thoughts?

With thanks,
Modupe