Fostering sustainable creativity in Africa
Voting for the winner of this year's Fashionomics Africa Contest
It is time for the public (you) to vote for the winner of this year’s Fashionomics Africa contest.
For three years, the African Development Bank has been supporting sustainable creativity through the Fashionomics Africa Contest, run in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, Parsons School of Design, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, and us at BPCM.
The goal of the competition is to celebrate fashion brands from across the continent that are changing the way apparel, footwear and accessories are made, sold, used, and reused. This to drive the transition towards more conscious practices across the industry.
This year, over 230 applications were submitted for the contest. With my fellow jury panelists, we reviewed the top 50 to select three finalists. The winner amongst the finalists will be decided in a public vote and will win monetary and mentorship support - you can vote below.
Top trends amongst applications
This year, I identified a few trends amongst the applications: the use of low impact materials, the consideration of the full lifecycle of a product, and the support for local communities.
Innovative materials
Most applications had considerations for the environmental impact of the current materials used by the fashion industry. I saw two main approaches in the applications. First, the repurposing fabric from second-hand markets, with very creative approach to make the most of the fabrics from imported goods while minimising waste. Second, the focus on local sourcing, mostly regarding cotton, to make sure that it is grown in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible.
Full life-cycle considerations
The applications that stood out had significant considerations for the full life cycle of their products, taking proactive steps to ensure that products will never become waste. There were two main angles that applicants used. First, extending the use phase, by offering repair or re-tailoring, so products be enjoyed for as long as possible. Second, ensuring that products do not become waste at their end of use, for example by only using natural materials and processes, so they can safely be returned to nature.
Local communities support
Most of the applications had considerations on how they could support local communities. This happened at three main levels, the first one is on partnering with farmers on raw material supplies, ensuring fair working conditions and environmental responsibility. The second level is to protect and foster local craftsmanship by working with artisans developing traditional fabrics or using specific dying techniques. The final level is by supporting skills development at the cut and sew level, upskilling members of their local communities.
Meet the finalists
All the finalists demonstrated strong approaches on all three trends, and beyond.
Berabose designs
Berabose's is using digital technology to offer sustainable design solutions. They use 3D product modelling to allow their customers to easily select fabrics, styles, colour, and measurements online. They also offer a digital fitting room for their customers to visualise how their selection renders on their body shape before ordering. Finally they have a partnership with Zipline in Rwanda to use drone for product delivery.
Their clothing is made from organic cotton and dyed with agricultural waste and plant-based dyes. They are women-owned and ran, and recruit and train female workers to provide them with a steady income. You can learn more about Berabose here.
Musa & Co
Musa&Co. is an accessory brand creating season-less pieces handcrafted in Benguela (Angola). They manufacture all of their products in house, using natural materials locally sourced from vetted suppliers. They focus on sourcing agricultural waste, such as banana fibre or onion peels, as their raw materials, providing rural communities with additional income.
They also source leftovers and cotton waste from the local textile industry, using it to make their bags’ linings and dust bags. You can learn more about Musa&Co here.
Umòja Shoes
Umòja means "unity" in Swahili. The sneakers brand’s approach is to design and create sneakers in collaboration with nature. After four years of development they created collections of sneakers that are produced solely from four natural materials: cotton, linen, hemp and rubber milk. They are designed to be easily disassembled and each of their components are biodegradable.
They are committed to providing 100% traceability on their products and select every supplier they work with directly. You can learn more about Umòja here.
Vote now
The vote is open to everyone, until April 17th. You will need to register on the platform before you are able to submit your vote, but the good news is that you won’t have to register again for next year’s contest!