Business

You can trust Naomi Campbell to kick off a conversation like no other model. As an established brand, Vogue will want solid market research before opening up fresh versions of itself into new markets. Having launched Vogue Arabia in 2016, will the appointment of Edward Enninful to run Vogue UK lead …

For the last eight years we’ve watched how Michelle Obama’s style and taste can shape a presidency – and one of the most interesting articles I’ve read to date about Michelle’s impact on the fashion industry is by Vanessa Friedman of the NY Times.  ‘There is simply no ignoring the …

Originally produced by Dutch explorers to try and counter vitamin deficiencies like scurvy, the South African wine market has developed tremendously over the past 355 years. In 1659, the first batch of just 15 litres was produced too early in the season from whatever French and Muscadel grapes they were able to grow. Without doubt, …

Many people have wondered what it would be like to work with Sir Richard Branson. It’s easy to imagine the advice and contacts that he would be able to share – and the number of doors that could be opened for a vibrant, young African-focused business. With VOOM 2016, Sir …

On a freezing cold morning in New York, back in 1909, the Socialist Party of America organised a remembrance meeting for an important strike by the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union. It was the first time that such a remembrance had been held and it was at a time when up to …

In the 2 weeks following Beyonce’s half time performance of Formation at the 50th Superbowl, the video was viewed online more than 60 million times and has caused a worldwide sensation. It featured work by Ivorian designer Loza Maléombho and you can expect to feel much more influence from her homeland in the near …

In 2009, Beatrace Oola founded Africa Fashion Day Berlin as a celebration of African Fashion in Germany. It provides a way for designers to access the German market and for Afro-Germans to have an authentic connection to what’s happening with fashion in Africa. We wanted to know more about the event and her …

Many of our readers are likely to be familiar with Ghandor cosmetics, as they’ve provided skin and hair care products in West Africa for the past twenty years. With over 600 people at its head office in Accra, Ghana, Ghandour also has operations in another 14 African countries – including Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso …

After a lifetime in the fashion industry, creating famous brands like Queen Of the Brides and TeKay, it’s little surprise that Liberian born designer Kimma Wreh has been chosen by her country to rally support for Liberia’s textile industry. Specifically to help Liberia do well at the Africa Fashion Reception, in the African …

With 3,500 stores across the globe, Swedish fashion retailer H&M is Europe’s second biggest clothing retailer and its eyes seem set on expansion into new markets. Hennes & Mauritz enjoys sales of more than $22 billion, yet its value on the stock market is closer to $70 billion – a strong …

From 28th to 31st October, Nigerian fashion and design will be put under the spotlight as the best and brightest talent vies for international attention. While the show itself promises to be one of this year’s biggest fashion events in Africa, we look behind the glitz and glam to reveal …

Speaking to a packed room at London’s Southbank, MOBO CEO Kanya King delivered a clear message to the audience in the wake of the Creative Industries report on diversity, “We need our creative industries to reflect the general population, not only for social justice, but to enable it to flourish”. This …

When it comes to the markets for cars, music or technology – then the major events are easy to pick out, everything is clearly organised on a global scale, very efficient and business like. With African fashion, events seem more localised, the design and production are smaller-scale and often regionalised. How …

Since people first started wearing clothes, there has been discussion about influence in the world of fashion, but in the past the connections were ill-defined and relied too much on a handful of publications. The advent of the internet has seen the connection between new discoveries and their influence on the global market, come …

In October 2012, Facebook passed the ‘one billion users a month’ mark. While that is a phenomenal number, Facebook is also a listed company with shares trading on the stock exchange. As such, it has a duty to its shareholders to do its best, expand its business and increase revenues. …

Over the past 20 years, travelling to Africa gave you the distinct impression that northern trade centered on the Emirates, West African commerce with Nigeria as its hub and that Sub Saharan trade emanated out from South Africa. Yet, until recently, internet commerce in these countries was relatively low compared to …