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🌍 Pepkor buys 4 Retailability brands, China opposes new French regulations

🌍 Pepkor buys 4 Retailability brands, China opposes new French regulations

Your African fashion news & careers update for 27th March 2025

Modupe Oloruntoba
March 27, 2025 • Reading this will take: 6 minutes

Hi Operator,

The first 3 months of 2025 basically FLEW by, and for me, it was one of those seasons with a lot of busyness but not a lot of fruit to show for it just yet. Life and business are just like that sometimes, but when you are trying to build something, there are hard limits on how long you can invest without a return. I’m pretty sure you relate. :)

I’ve hit a limit, and thankfully, an opportunity came along that allows me to switch gears for the rest of the year. It means steady income for the rest of the year, but it also means fixed hours for most of my week and serious limits on what I can take on with the time that remains — without inviting burnout and then crying about it like it wasn’t my call.

Everything is a trade off. While I love my flexibility, I’m happy to give up most of it for a season in exchange for steady, dependable cashflow fuel for what’s next. This means less time overall for projects like The Fashion Operator, but it also means more resources to pour into it, more structure in my week, and more breathing room in my head to recharge my creativity.

March madness is finally approaching some calm on my side, so expect more original features soon before (and after!) my new contract starts, like what happens to fashion businesses that split leadership into creative & operations.

PS, I registered for SAFW media accreditation this week, cross fingers for me. What do you want me to find out for you this season?

With thanks,
Modupe Oloruntoba

Across Africa

South Africa's Pepkor to buy Retailability adult clothing businesses

South Africa's Pepkor said on Tuesday it will buy fashion businesses Legit, Swagga and Style and homewares brand Boardmans from privately owned retail group Retailability, as part of its expansion into the adult clothing market.

Kantamanto Market Leaders oppose GUCDA’s authority, declare independence from clothing associations

The leadership of Kantamanto Market has formally distanced itself from the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association (GUCDA), the Importers Association, and other industry groups, asserting that they alone represent the interests of businesses operating within the market.

Why Aren't African Brands Hiring Creative Directors?

This week, we speak to African designers who have hired creative directors and breakdown whether designers are ready to "pass the baton".

How LSF boosted Cape Union Mart and others with retail sector master plan

The master plan aims to create 330 000 jobs and to grow South Africa’s local retail sales to R250 billion by 2030.

Mozambique: Second-hand clothing employs 200,000 – study

The second-hand clothing business represents a “survival alternative” in Mozambique, ensuring “more than 200,000 formal and informal jobs” and supports one million people, according to a study.

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Careers

Role	Company	City
Designer	THIS IS US	Lagos
Social Media Manager	THIS IS US	Lagos
Style Writer	Ruff ‘n Tumble	Lagos
Design & Illustration Intern	Oya Abeo	Lagos
Production Supervisor	Recruiter	Lagos
Operations Director	Moneo The Label	Lagos
Production Manager	Recruiter	Accra
Design Assistant	Recruiter	Accra
Visual Merchandiser	Freedom of Movement	Cape Town
Social Media Manager	Freedom of Movement	Cape Town
Luxury Fashion Recruitment Researcher	Recruiter	South Africa (UK remote)

IN 1 HOUR | Blue Box Session: Intellectual Property in Fashion

This webinar will equip you with essential strategies to safeguard your creative work and grow your business. This insightful session will be facilitated by Bernice Asein from The Fashion Law Institute Nigeria.

Shape SA Fashion Cotton Fest 2025 Designer Search

Join South Africa's most prestigious fashion collaboration as Cotton Fest 2025 opens its doors to emerging designers.

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Elsewhere

Recycled fibre specialist Re&Up inks partnership with Puma

Dutch recycled fibre specialist Re&Up has signed a letter of intent for a multi-year collaboration with Puma, and will help the German sports brand deploy its Re:Fibre textile recycling programme in the USA.

Chanel acquires majority stake in Italian footwear specialist Grey Mer

Chanel, the iconic French luxury house, has announced its acquisition of a majority stake in Grey Mer, its esteemed footwear production partner of many years.

China defends trade practices as France moves to regulate fast fashion

Critics argue that the bill specifically targets Chinese fast fashion e-commerce giants like SHEIN and Temu, serving as a form of trade protectionism in violation of World Trade Organization (WTO) principles.

Shein, Adidas, Hermès and Chanel were big winners in apparel market last year - GlobalData

New figures from the analysts at GlobalData show that both Shein and Adidas grew strongly last year, ending as the big winners among the mega-names of global mass fashion and sports.

That’s all for today — thoughts?

With thanks,
Modupe

Writer | Speaker | Consultant

Fashion & creative industries in Africa

[email protected]

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