Fashionomics Africa, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, Parsons School of Design, strategic consulting and communications agency BPCM, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, invite interested African fashion brands to apply to the sustainable fashion online competition. Entrants must be pursuing environmentally friendly measures, sustainability, and circular economy actions to qualify.
The competition celebrates African fashion brands that will change how they produce, buy, use and recycle fashion and that encourage a more sustainable shift in consumer practices.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
The textile and fashion industry accounts for nearly 2% to 8% of global carbon emissions, the sector ranks as the world’s second-largest industrial polluter after the oil sector, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. However, this industry also provides important levels of employment, foreign exchange revenue, and products essential to human welfare.
The competition targets textile, apparel, and accessories entrepreneurs from Africa, aged 18 years or older, who have launched fashion businesses (up to a maximum of 50 employees), and whose sustainable designs have been produced within the last five years. Qualifying applicants will submit pictures of their products, detail their sustainable business model, and explain how their startup is environmentally friendly and innovative.
Examples of sustainability and circularity elements might include materials used, the design process, cleaner or greener production processes – including shipping methods or ways to reduce carbon footprint.
A five-person judging panel representing the African Development Bank and competition collaborators will announce the three finalists by 22 March 2022. The finalists’ entries will be posted on the Fashionomics Africa digital marketplace and mobile application for public vote between 22 March 2022 and 7 April 2022. Polls close on 7 April at 23:59 GMT.
In addition to the cash prize, the winning fashion brand will receive a certificate and the opportunity to showcase its creation by taking part in online events and sharing insights on key sustainability challenges facing the industry. The winner will have access to a network of media insiders and industry experts and receive mentoring and networking opportunities from competition collaborators.
Fashionomics Africa is an African Development Bank initiative increasing Africa’s participation in the global textile and fashion industry value chains.
Benefits
The winner will have the opportunity to win:
- A financial reward of USD 3,000 for the best sustainable and innovative design4;
- A Fashionomics Africa certificate;
- Access to a network of media insiders and industry experts;
- The possibility to take part in online events and share insights on key sustainability challenges facing the industry;
- The publication of the winner’s story and 400-word blog on the African Development Bank’s website and Fashionomics Africa platform;
- The possibility to attend a Fashionomics Africa webinar as a panelist;
- Access to mentoring and networking opportunities via:
- Parsons School of Design
- 2 individual project development mentoring sessions with Parsons School of Design, Director of the Joseph and Gail Gromek Institute for Fashion Business, Abrima Erwiah;
- 1 group critique session to support project development with Parsons School of Design faculty members
- Ellen MacArthur Foundation
- All entrants will be invited to attend the next Inside the Circular Economy: Africa learning programme developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. This programme will begin in April 2022.
- The winner and runners up will be offered a free place on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s From Linear to Circular programme (Africa), taking place in September / October 2022.
- United Nations Environment Programme
- Present the brand’s sustainability journey at an online event organized by UNEP, with the participation of African and international companies, technical organizations, fashion institutes;
- Gain exclusive access to UNEP’s up-to-date expert network and receive exposure by being promoted through the organization’s newsletter database;
- Benefit from bi-lateral one-to-one training sessions with UNEP fashion and textile experts and receive support on eco-innovation methodology;
- Gain exclusive access to UNEP’s up-to-date eco-innovation resources and materials on subjects related to fashion and textile sustainability.
- BPCM
- Take part in 3 online workshop sessions with a BPCM representative to strengthen your business’ communication strategy.
- Parsons School of Design
The finalists (2) will have the opportunity to win:
- A financial reward of USD 1,500;
- A promotion package to advertise the brand on Fashionomics Africa social media for a month;
- A Fashionomics Africa certificate;
- A branding kit (new logo, color palette, recommended fonts, letterhead, business card, email signature).
- An online workshop session with a BPCM representative to strengthen your business’ communication strategy.
Eligibilities
- Applicant has to be an African designer and a fashion entrepreneur
- Aged over 18 years old
- Applicant is operating in the textile, apparel or accessories industry which is based in Africa
- Applicant might have launched a fashion business (with a maximum of 50 employees)
Application Process
- Applications must be received no later than March 1st, 2022 at 23h59 GMT.
- Applications must be submitted by completing the online registration form which you will get in “Apply Now” Link.
- If you already have a Fashionomics Africa account, you must LOG IN FIRST to be able to submit their proposal. Once you are logged into your account, you need to click “Apply Now” to participate in the contest.
- If you do not have a Fashionomics Africa account, you just have to submit your proposal via the registration form. They will automatically create an account on the platform for you.
- The information to be provided will include:
- Personal information about the participant;
- Business information about the participant’s brand;
- Write-up (max. 1000 words) to:
- Present the brand’s sustainable business model (from the materials used, to the production and end-life of the product);
- Explain what makes the brands’ flagship products environmentally friendly and innovative;
- Explain how they intend to allocate and spend the funds, should he or she win the competition.
- Pictures of the product(s) proposed in different angles (at least front and back views) – maximum 5 products.
The following information will be required for each product submitted:- The materials used;
- The design process;
- The production techniques;
- The methods put into place to reduce the carbon footprint (if any);
- Information on the life of the product: durability, measures taken to extend the product’s lifetime and transparency.
- Other attachments: 1 page visual/textual summary of the brand, look book, press book and any other relevant document.
- Application Language: English or French.
- Failure to comply with these requirements will lead to the rejection of the application.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2022
Application ClosedOfficial link
