The episode is all about ethically-produced fashion and art, but primarily touches on Burundi and the emerging opportunities within its borders.

The designer explains the challenges in finding artisans who are skilled in traditional techniques, how she’s found it possible to succeed at both motherhood and entrepreneurship through “passion, love and perseverance” and how Burundi will learn to appreciate art once more.

Simone Cipriani (Founder and Head of the Ethical Fashion Initiative (“EFI”) and Clare Press (Sustainable Journalist and Writer), return to host the second series of the Ethical Fashion podcast, first launched in June 2020 to champion the power of discussion and explore the issues driving the ethical fashion conversation.

+Three°°° collabora infatti con EFI – Ethical Fashion Initiative, il programma di moda etica dell’ONU, la quale crea e gestisce filiere di lavoro etiche per artigiane che si trovano a vivere in condizioni di estrema marginalità in Paesi in via di sviluppo o affetti da conflitto. Un successo quello di EFI, tanto che le sue artigiane forniscono alcuni fra i maggiori marchi e distributori mondiali di moda. EFI gestisce anche un acceleratore per marchi fashion emergenti in Africa e presiede la UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative’s Ethical Fashion Podcast aired the third episode, ‘New African Designers To Know’, of its second series dedicated solely to African stories, on April 8th.

Hosts Simone Cipriani and Clare Press guide the conversation alongside two designers from the Ethical Fashion Initiative’s inaugural Accelerator Programme for African Designers, Jennifer Mulli of Kenyan brand Jiamini, and Lukhanyo Mdingi, founder of South African brand with the same name. Jiamini, known for its extravagant beaded handiwork, and Lukhanyo Mdingi, a locally-manufactured fashion brand globally recognized for its sophisticated collections, both form a part of a new wave of emerging designers that are promoting the future of slow fashion.

“The current business model of the industry – the one only based on shareholder value, which is to say a very short term view – is not sustainable”.

“We work in many areas with extreme poverty and we see the need for people to have more in many of these places. These conversations on circulatory, on reducing production, must not hide the most important conversation. In this global conversation on the new business model, there must also be a conversation about equity and justice.” says Cipriani

Geneva, 1st April 2021: ‘Women & Tech. Doing Business in Africa’, the second episode in the newly premiered Ethical Fashion Podcast’s second series, airs today featuring two prominent female business leaders in Ghana and their trajectory towards a career in tech in the region.

The booming creative economy and continuous growing access to technology in the continent offer exciting opportunities for the new generation. But with young adults making up an incredible 60% of Africa’s unemployed population, the secret to getting ahead remains unclear. Guest hosted by Roberta Annan, Ghanaian entrepreneur and founder of African Fashion Foundation, in conversation with Vodafone Ghana’s CEO Patricia Obo-Nai, this second episode seeks to explore the career challenges the young population is facing today and how digital connectivity and mentoring of the new generation might be the solutions to professional success.

‘Women & Tech. Doing Business in Africa’, the second episode in the newly premiered Ethical Fashion Podcast’s second series, aired on Thursday.

It featuring two prominent female business leaders in Ghana and their trajectory towards a career in tech in the region.

The booming creative economy and continuous growing access to technology in the continent offer exciting opportunities for the new generation. But with young adults making up an incredible 60% of Africa’s unemployed population, the secret to getting ahead remains unclear.

“These are complex issues that cannot be addressed in an isolated way. We just speak about climate change, we just speak about decarbonisation, we just speak about reducing production. They’re all part of the same vision, they’re all part of the business model,” says Simone Cipriani, officer of the United Nations and head of the Ethical Fashion Initiative.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative launched the second series of its podcast dedicated to African stories on March 25th, with an exclusive interview featuring world-renowned designer of Ghanian descent, Virgil Abloh, who openly speaks on his experience of racism, his attempts to democratize luxury fashion, and his thoughts on social media.

Abloh, who is Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director as well as the founder of Milan-based label Off-White, offers a radical vision of all forms of creative expression being equal. “An Instagram post is as much of an artwork as a 300-look fashion collection,” he says. “Something I made 20 years ago as a student – like my thesis [on] architecture … is just as valid as a new Nike shoe. There is no hierarchy.”

Virgil Abloh is one of the most interesting designers in the global fashion industry today. He is the artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, as well as the creative force behind his own brand, Off-White. A true polymath, he is a multimedia artist who moves culture forwards and describes his creative process across multiple platforms as “taking an idea and dreaming it aloud”.

In the first episode of Series 2 of the Ethical Fashion Podcast, Simone and Clare sit down with Abloh to discuss diversity and inclusion, his latest projects, what he calls “mentoring by existence” and his personal creative journey. It’s a rollercoaster ride conversation, swooping from Andy Warhol to Miles Davis and James Baldwin to Caravaggio, fashion students, Abloh’s aims and inspirations, and the role of a designer today.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative will launch the second series of its podcast dedicated to African stories, today March 25th, with an exclusive interview featuring world-renowned designer of Ghanian descent, Virgil Abloh, who openly speaks on his experience of racism, his attempts to democratise luxury fashion and his thoughts on social media.

Abloh, who is Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director as well as founder of Milan-based label Off-White, offers a radical vision of all forms of creative expression being equal. “An Instagram post is as much of an artwork as a 300-look fashion collection,” he says. “Something I made 20 years ago as a student – like my thesis [on] architecture … is just as valid as a new Nike shoe. There is no hierarchy.” This makes sense, given his recent opening up of Off-White’s platform to emerging creatives via Imaginary TV. Abloh is smashing down the barriers to entry.

Louis Vuitton Homme and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh has joined the Ethical Fashion Podcast Series as its first guest for its second season.

Hosted by Simone Cipriani and Clare Press, the podcast series explores African entrepreneurship, ethical fashion, diversity, female empowerment, inclusivity, and the future of sustainable fashion.

The episode titled, Fashion, Art, and Mentoring by Existence with Virgil Abloh, explores the designer’s rise in the global fashion industry. He describes his creative process as “taking an idea and dreaming it aloud.”

Virgil Abloh is dipping into the sustainability podcast niche.

As part of the United Nation’s Ethical Fashion Initiative, the Louis Vuitton men’s creative lead and Off-White founder will be joining the “Ethical Fashion” podcast for its second season as the inaugural guest.

“​An Instagram post is as much of an artwork as a 300-look fashion collection,​” Abloh said in the episode. “​Something I made 20 years ago as a student — like my thesis [on] architecture…is just as valid as a new Nike shoe. There is no hierarchy.​”

While the first season spotlighted global artisans, hosts Simone Cipriani and Clare Press are devoting season two to sustainability, diversity, design and female empowerment with an aim to spotlight African creatives and entrepreneurs.

Virgil Abloh is dipping into the sustainability podcast niche.

As part of the United Nation’s Ethical Fashion Initiative, the Louis Vuitton men’s creative lead and Off-White founder will be joining the “Ethical Fashion” podcast for its second season as the inaugural guest.

“​An Instagram post is as much of an artwork as a 300-look fashion collection,​” Abloh said in the episode. “​Something I made 20 years ago as a student — like my thesis [on] architecture…is just as valid as a new Nike shoe. There is no hierarchy.​”

While the first season spotlighted global artisans, hosts Simone Cipriani and Clare Press are devoting season two to sustainability, diversity, design and female empowerment with an aim to spotlight African creatives and entrepreneurs.

The collection features designs with high quality fabrics produced locally. The large hand-woven scarves were inspired by Nicholas Coutts’ style inculcating a mix of rich shades and textures. Key elements of the duo’s aesthetic and also a blend of handcrafted garments and minimalist classic pieces, tricot garments with abstract designs in bold, but warm colors.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative accelerator programme sees the launch of the most interesting emerging talents of the African creative scene and also provides designers with e-commerce entry and a global audience.

Lukhanyo Mdingi, il designer del brand omonimo fondato nel 2015 con sede a Città del Capo, in Sudafrica, è stato selezionato per partecipare a Pitti Uomo 99 durante alla prima edizione di Ethical Fashion Initiative, il nuovo acceleratore che vede il lancio dei talenti emergenti più interessanti della scena creativa africana.

La nuova collezione conferma la vocazione del brand a creare capi senza tempo e dalla fattura squisita che sono il simbolo dell’autenticità e dell’integrità del brand. Ma questa volta sono anche un’ode all’amicizia e all’amore. Al centro della collezione c’è una toccante lettera a un altro giovane designer sudafricano, suo collaboratore e caro amico, Nicholas Coutts, scomparso prematuramente nel maggio 2019.

Por ejemplo, el Made by Women impulsado por la ONG Internacional Care (del que, hasta 2019, se beneficiaron más de 3,5 millones de mujeres) o proyectos más recientes como la Ethical Fashion Initiative, que al amparo de la ONU y la Agencia Internacional de Comercio forma y emplea a mujeres de comunidades marginadas de África. Bajo el lema “Trabajo, no caridad”, Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney o la española Camper colaboran con ella, dando visibilidad a las artesanas subsaharianas, de la misma manera que la diseñadora Gabriela Hearst lo hace con las integrantes de la cooperativa Manos de Uruguay en su país natal. “El hecho de que se les dé una oportunidad, les da la fuerza para continuar. Pero más importante todavía que enseñarles un oficio, es acompañarlas durante todo ese proceso”, explica Núria Sardá.

Artisanally crafted in Bujumbura, Burundi, Margaux Rusita’s jewelry tells a story that goes deeper than the necklace chain. The culturally-inspired, custom pieces of wearable art for her brand, titled Margaux Wong, reflect Rusita’s journey with creative expression in the fashion business. Honoring African opulence, the organic pieces don a contemporary design ripened by tradition.

Margaux Wong emerged as part of the selected talent invited to join the Designer Accelerator Programme from the Ethical Fashion Initiative, an organization that connects local artisans to the global market. Through the initiative’s mentorship program, Margaux Wong was able to access guidance with business logistics and brand aesthetics. “We are currently in our second season, as we have been able to successfully produce a collection, now being presented at a tremendously high standard at Pitti, based in Italy,” explained Rusita in an email to Mission.

Ethical Fashion Initiative lancia l’edizione 2021-2022 del suo Accelerator Programme specificatamente pensato per brand africani. La nuova edizione del prestigioso EFI ​African Designer Accelerator ​Programme è infatti dedicata a creativi e brand provenienti da Benin, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Costa d’Avorio, Kenya, Mali e Uganda.I quattro brand che hanno fatto parte, selezionati tra centinaia, della prima edizione del bando sono Lukhanyo Mdingi, WUMAN, Margaux Wong and JIAMINI. Hanno beneficiato di mentoring personalizzato e del supporto per sviluppare il loro brand e il loro business e sono ora protagonisti, grazie a una speciale partnership con Pitti, sulla piattaforma Pitti Connect.

Footwear, accessories, jewelry and ready to wear fashion brands from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Kenya, Mali and Uganda who have been in business a minimum of five years and have an annual turnover of USD $10,000 or more are eligible to submit their proposals to be a part of this programme.

This Accelerator Programme supported by the European Union is all about supporting clean-lined and sustainably-crafted labels based in these countries and it aspires to propel brands forward, providing them with the support and guidance they need for a successful global debut as well as prepare them to become investment-ready.

Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI), a joint venture of the United Nations and the International Trade Centre, recently selected three Kenyan designer labels—Hamaji, KATUSH by Katungulu Mwendwa and Suave Kenya—to participate in its second Accelerator programme. These were selected based on usage of natural fibres, upcycled and recycled fabrics in their collections.

The selected brands will have access to production support, expand their supply chain and scale up their production, source new products and develop their production team. The accelerator will support the management and production of the key designs of the first collection, which will be manufactured through experienced companies selected within the EFI network.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative – a joint venture of the UN and WTO’s International Trade Centre, has selected three Kenyan designers to participate in the second Ethical Fashion Initiative Accelerator programme; Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, SUAVE and HAMAJI.

The chosen designers all share a commitment to sustainability, using reclaimed and organic fabrics to create their collections, whilst noting their country and upbringing in Kenya as heavily inspiring their work.

The launch of the EFI Kenya Fashion Accelerator highlights the distinct design talent within Kenya and follows the organisation’s successful launch of their nationwide accelerator search in 2019. Selected designers benefit from mentoring and brand development from the EFI team and industry experts.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative, a joint venture from the UN and World Trade Organisation’s International Trade Centre, has selected three Kenyan brands – Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, Suave, and Hamaji to participate in its second accelerator programme.
Each of the designers was chosen for their “commitment to sustainability” as they use reclaimed and organic fabrics to create their collections, as well as noting their country and upbringing in Kenya as heavily inspiring their work. The launch of the Ethical Fashion Initiative Kenya Fashion Accelerator aims to highlight the distinct design talent within Kenya and follows the organisation’s successful launch of their nationwide accelerator search in 2019.

There will be a focus on the specific needs of African fashion brands, with this accelerator programme, with a business development approach that prepares its beneficiaries to become investment ready, to accelerate their business in the global marketplace.

Three Kenyan designers have been selected to participate in the second ​Ethical Fashion Initiative Accelerator. Hamaji, Katungulu Mwendwa of Katush and Mohammed Awale of ​Suave welcomed the opportunity as a platform to grow. The initiative (EFI) is a joint venture of the UN and WTO’s International Trade Centre. It follows the organisation’s successful launch of their nationwide accelerator search in 2019. Selected designers benefit from mentoring and brand development from the EFI team and industry experts. The chosen designers all share a commitment to sustainability, using reclaimed and organic fabrics to create their collections, while noting their country and upbringing in Kenya as heavily inspiring their work.

Ethical Fashion Initiative, a joint venture of the UN and WTO’s International Trade Centre has chosen three Kenyan designers to take part in its second Accelerator programme. They are HAMAJI, Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, and SUAVE. These designers were selected based on their usage of natural fibres, upcycled and/or recycled fabrics in their collections whilst noting their country and upbringing in Kenya as heavily inspiring their work.

The selected brands will have access to production support, expand their supply chain and scale up their production, source new products and develop their production team. The accelerator will support the management and production of the key designs of the first collection, which will be manufactured through experienced companies selected within the EFI network.

Three Kenyan designers have been selected to join the Ethical Fashion Initiative’s Accelerator Programme.

Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, SUAVE and HAMAJI will benefit from mentoring and brand development from the EFI team and industry experts.
In a press statement by EFI, it was noted that the three designers share a commitment to sustainability, use reclaimed and organic fabrics for their creations and credit their country and upbringing as a source of inspiration.

“Africa has a wealth of talent and creativity yet to be discovered. Artisans, know-how and skills, all in one place and are currently underrepresented in the global fashion community,” says Simone Cipriani, Head and Founder of the Ethical Fashion Initiative (International Trade Centre).

For Pitti Uomo 99, in a world exclusive, the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) is launching the collections of four of the most interesting talents from the African creative scene. JIAMINI, Lukhanyo Mdingi, Margaux Wong, and WUMAN have been selected among hundreds of applicants from all over the continent to take part in the first edition of its Accelerator Programme.

El concurso acelerador de talentos de la ‘Ethical Fashion Iniciative’ ya tiene ganadores. Cinco creadores y marcas que son una apuesta de futuro ética y sostenible, al amparo de Naciones Unidas, con enorme potencial de negocio internacional.
“La única manera de devolverle la honestidad a esta industria es siendo justos y ofreciendo una condiciones laborales dignas”, dice al respecto Simone Cipriani, director de Ethical Fashion Initiative, la plataforma concebida específicamente para el desarrollo creativo y empresarial de moda africana bajo el paraguas de Naciones Unidas.

Industry experts have long touted Sub-Saharan Africa as the next global fashion sourcing hub. Often, these discussions centre on the potential cost-saving benefits or the logistical challenges of sourcing from the continent. However, little has really been said about the potential to change the way we do things. The existing model pays little attention to who makes our clothes, how they are being treated or what kind of impact our practices are having on our planet. With transparency and sustainability becoming a key concern for the everyday consumer and news of garment workers across the globe being subjected to exploitative working conditions, could an African sourcing hub represent an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and embed more ethical and sustainable practices from the outset?

Every region in Tajikistan has their own symbols and colour combinations. You can always recognise where the marriage has taken place based upon certain elements and colours in the suzani. In the south part of Tajikistan you can find big flowers and various Zoroastrian symbols. These include, but are not limited to, earth, wind, fire, water and the four sides of the world like east, west, north and south. Certain flowers and circles mean sun. Every element of life is translated into fabric.

In the Penjakent Valley, suzanis mostly use traditional ornaments. The embroidery is done on white fabric with black thread. The philosophy behind this region’s suzanis is that life and death always walk hand in hand. The small red flowers you can find (dancing) in between the white and black are the moments of happiness we experience. In our region (northern region, Khujand) we mostly use the symbols of pomegranate and pepper. The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility and the pepper is a protection for the evil eye, in the form of male fertility.

Simone Cipriani has made it his mission to build a more responsible and sustainable fashion industry, by transforming it into a vehicle of poverty reduction and of empowerment of women, throughout the developing world. He founded and manages the Ethical Fashion Initiative, a flagship programme of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and of the World Trade Organization
The Ethical Fashion Initiative enables artisans who live in marginalized conditions, in Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda), the Caribbean (Haiti) and Asia (Afghanistan and Nepal, soon also in Iran, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), to become regular suppliers of international fashion and lifestyle brands, thus reducing poverty and empowering large numbers of women artisans