BUSINESS NEWS / GOVERNMENT TRADE / BUSINESS NEWS...

5
Origin Africa Shows Growth in Origin Africa Shows Growth in Madagascar Madagascar Now on its seventh year, the event, which takes place in a Now on its seventh year, the event, which takes place in a different African country every year, aims to position Africa as a different African country every year, aims to position Africa as a viable sourcing alternative to China, Vietnam and India. viable sourcing alternative to China, Vietnam and India. BUSINESS NEWS / GOVERNMENT TRADE / BUSINESS NEWS / GOVERNMENT TRADE By Bambina Wise on November 28, 2016 Origin Africa , a longstanding trade platform for the textile, apparel and footwear industry in Africa, held its annual event earlier this month in Antananarivo, Madagascar, that followed its theme, “Changing Perceptions, Building Synergies, Doing Business.” Now on its seventh year, the event, which takes place in a dierent African country every year, aims to position Africa as a viable sourcing alternative to China, Vietnam and India . Robin Zoe in her booth at Origin Africa. aldo ESSENTIALIST YNAP Sets Joint Venture With Alabbar’s Symphony for Middle East TODAY'S MUST READ LATEST GALLERIES LATEST GALLERIES

Transcript of BUSINESS NEWS / GOVERNMENT TRADE / BUSINESS NEWS...

Origin Africa Shows Growth inOrigin Africa Shows Growth inMadagascarMadagascarNow on its seventh year, the event, which takes place in aNow on its seventh year, the event, which takes place in adifferent African country every year, aims to position Africa as adifferent African country every year, aims to position Africa as aviable sourcing alternative to China, Vietnam and India.viable sourcing alternative to China, Vietnam and India.

BUSINESS NEWS / GOVERNMENT TRADE / BUSINESS NEWS / GOVERNMENT TRADE

By Bambina Wise on November 28, 2016

Origin Africa, a longstanding trade platform for the textile,

apparel and footwear industry in Africa, held its annual event

earlier this month in Antananarivo, Madagascar, that followed

its theme, “Changing Perceptions, Building Synergies, Doing

Business.”

Now on its seventh year, the event, which takes place in a

different African country every year, aims to position Africa as a

viable sourcing alternative to China, Vietnam and India.

Robin Zoe in her booth at Origin Africa.aldo

ESSENTIALIST

YNAP Sets JointVenture With Alab‐bar’s Symphonyfor Middle East

TODAY'S MUST READ

LATEST GALLERIESLATEST GALLERIES

FREE ALERTS & NEWSLET TERSFREE ALERTS & NEWSLET TERS

A regular visitor to Origin Africa, Matthijs Crietee, secretary-

general of the International Apparel Federation, said, “If one

would have asked people in 1975 if they thought within 30 years

China would be the dominant exporter of apparel, people would

have been skeptical, yet it happened. It may not happen as

quickly as it did in China and in Vietnam, but I am convinced

the apparel industry will grow significantly in Africa.”

He emphasized that “we are talking about an alternative,

though, certainly not about a replacement. In that sense, saying

that Africa will be the next China is not right. There will not be a

next China, but the share of the African apparel industry of total

apparel exports will grow.”

Belinda Edmonds, event organizer for Origin Africa, who is also

executive director of the African Cotton and Textile Industries

Federation, said, “Buyers from USA, Canada, Europe and South

Africa met export-ready and capable exhibitors from across

Africa. Connections made have already resulted in costing,

sampling and other pre-order formalities getting under way.”

Edmonds noted that feedback from exhibitors was on how many

regional linkages were made in ancillary products such as trims,

labels and packaging, and in services such as quality auditing,

testing and consulting, that are essential in the production

pipeline but until now imported from Asia. A frequently

repeated comment was “we didn’t realize how much is available

on our doorstep — in our country or in our neighboring

countries,” she said.

These linkages will increase inter-regional trade, reduce costs

and lead time and could potentially lead to inter-regional

investment, Edmonds added.

Suraindra Balloo, head of global production at the Canadian

apparel company L’Amour Inc., specializing in socks, hosiery,

intimates and performance wear, as well as at Terramar Sports,

dedicated to outdoor clothing and accessories, attended Origin

Africa for the first time this year.

“We are a Canadian company, but we operate in the USA and

U.K. markets, also,” Balloo said. “In fact, we have more business

in these two markets than in Canada.”

Lucius Frontwomen JessLucius Frontwomen JessWolfe and Holly Laessig onWolfe and Holly Laessig onFashion, Music and ‘PullingFashion, Music and ‘Pulling

Teeth’Teeth’

TSE Pre-Fall 2017TSE Pre-Fall 2017

They Are Wearing: Style atThey Are Wearing: Style atBerlin Flea MarketsBerlin Flea Markets

Enter your email address SIGN UPSIGN UP

P R I VA C Y P O L I C YP R I VA C Y P O L I C Y

The company is producing in China, Cambodia, India,

Bangladesh and Mexico, but production in Mexico was recently

reduced. Balloo cited several problems related to quality and

production. Africa seemed an enticing option.

“We want to source high-value synthetic products from Africa

for the U.S. market so that we can benefit from duty-free access

under the African Growth and Opportunity Act,” he said.

At Origin Africa, he was able to see “brands that we have

produced being made in Madagascar factories. For example, we

hold the license for New Balance and I met a factory that is

approved by NB. The quality seems good from what I have

seen.”

Mercedes Gonzalez, director of Global Purchasing Cos.,

headquartered in New York, was a repeat visitor to Origin Africa

and served as a judge in the Origin Africa-sponsored design

competition Project Upscale. African products, she noted, are

well-received in the U.S. market.

“It has a high perception of value, much more than Asian

countries, but that needs to be protected and built on,” said

Gonzalez, adding that despite buying regularly from Africa,

challenges remain.

For Balloo, supply chain can be a challenge because “many of

the fabrics and trims come mainly from China or Central Asia.

Lead time and logistics can be challenges, too.”

As yet, he has not placed any orders on behalf of L’Amour Inc.

“We have to analyze the profile of the factories — from places

such as Madagascar, Ghana and Kenya — that we have

earmarked first,” Balloo added. “Then, we will start with making

samples to assess the capabilities of the factories. We have to go

through the whole process of development before any order can

be placed. In addition, to the capacities and capabilities of the

factories, we have to analyze the political, social, financial and

banking conditions, as well as logistics and the labor law of the

countries where we want to source.”

An important highlight was the Project Upscale design

competition. Crietee was a judge alongside Gonzalez and South

@wwd@wwd#bethditto #stellaxabbeyrd #wwd

@stellamccartney @maryamccartney

#stellaxabbeyrd

The @victoriassecret girls are in Paris. Stay tuned

for behind-the-scenes coverage of Wednesday's

SOCIAL STUDIESSOCIAL STUDIES

African designer Craig Jacobs.

“Project Upscale highlighted very well the amazing

entrepreneurial spirit, design prowess, tradition and quality

that is present in Africa,” Crietee said.

Gonzalez said the entries were assessed on four main criteria:

market share and sellability of the collection, quality and

craftsmanship, costing and markup, and willingness and ability

to scale.

The handcrafted bags and accessories produced by Robin Zoe

from Madagascar was declared the winner of Project Upscale,

followed by Kenyan women’s wear designer Katungulu

Mwendwa and Nigerian footwear label KEEX.

Jacobs added, “Countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius

and increasingly Ethiopia are proving that sub-Saharan Africa

has the infrastructure and capability to produce export quality

apparel to the global marketplace. However, for the continent to

leapfrog from providing raw materials and manufacturing to

true beneficiation of the African clothing and textile industry,

there is a need to magnify our design assets. Thanks to ACTIF,

Project Upscale marks not only an acknowledgement of the

potential of design in spurring growth, but also creates a

nurturing environment to produce exportable high quality

products.”

manufacturing

More From Our BrandsMore From Our Brands

© Copyright 2016 - Penske Media Corporation© Copyright 2016 - Penske Media Corporation

0 Comments WWD Login!1

Share⤤ Sort by Newest

Start the discussion…

Be the first to comment.

Subscribe✉ Add Disqus to your site Add Disqus Addd Privacy🔒

Recommend♥

F O OT W E A R N E W SF O OT W E A R N E W S

How Fashion’s HottestHow Fashion’s HottestStyle Icon, Iris Apfel, Is De‐Style Icon, Iris Apfel, Is De‐bunking Ageismbunking Ageism

2h Ago2h Ago

FA I R C H I L D S U M M I T S & E V E N T SFA I R C H I L D S U M M I T S & E V E N T S

2017 WWD Men’s Wear2017 WWD Men’s WearSummitSummit

6d Ago6d Ago

VA R I E T YVA R I E T Y

NFL Denies SpeculationNFL Denies SpeculationAbout ‘Thursday NightAbout ‘Thursday NightFootball’ Ending Amid Rat‐Football’ Ending Amid Rat‐ings Slumpings Slump

4h Ago4h Ago

B G RB G R

You stil l have a few hoursYou stil l have a few hoursleft to get a $120 Fire HD 6left to get a $120 Fire HD 6tablet for $55tablet for $55

4h Ago4h Ago