African fashion features on Fashion Television
Written by:
G Kofi Annan
Article Overview: The always insightful program Fashion Television has two exciting podcasts on African fashion posted online.
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Free Download - A retirement plan for African leaders, Mo Ibrahim By G Kofi Annan
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African fashion features on Fashion Television
The always insightful program Fashion Television has two exciting podcasts on African fashion posted online. In the first feature, Egyptian Fashion, Egyptian designers talk about traditional and westernized fashion. The second is a feature on Somali-born supermodel Yasmin Warsame. Head over to the Fashion Television site to check them out.
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Article Tags:
african fashion,
designers,
egyptian fashion,
fashion television,
podcasts,
supermodel,
yasmin
About the Author: G Kofi Annan
RSS for G Kofi's articles - Visit G Kofi's website
G. Kofi Annan is a Ghanaian creative director and strategist (cultural trends, marketing, branding) who specializes in the emerging African market. He is the principal of Annansi LLC, a boutique consultancy which bridges the gap between the African market and the global community. Annansi LLC produces both Annansi Chronicles and Annansi Clothing Co., a premium streetwear apparel line.
Kofi is an active board member of the African Film Commission, and has appeared and been quoted in influential media outlets including Reuters, FastCompany.com, Inc. Magazine, PSFK.com, i-D Magazine, The Source Magazine, Complex.com, VH1, and BET. He is currently researching a book on the relationship between Africa’s brand image and foreign investments.
Click here to visit G Kofi's website

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Related Forum Posts
Re: Fashion
- Nana,
At you choice you may choose to research the fashion industry a bit more. There is obviously a Business side to it as well as a creative side to it. Find out all the types of roles that exist in the industry. Some that come to mind merchandiser, Window dresser, floor plan organizer (someone needs to determine the layout of a retail store to best sell the goods), fashion consultant (Yorkdale mall has fashion consultants that take you around and tell you what looks great on you - you also get a cut from the sales). This is what I've observed from the business side, you may know more.
All these roles I've written about will help you grow as a business person and make the contacts in the industry...possible stepping stones.
But further more you'll also notice that you need to develop some business acumen possibly tailored to the fashion industry.
When I was at Ryerson I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur someday too. I knew I needed some basic business courses to get a foundation to build from.
I was in a Tech/Business Major (I'm sure Fashion has something similar - Fashion/Business Major) and then started to create my own minor.
Here are some of the courses I took: Marketing, Law, Entrepreneurial, Management, consulting.. and a few more .
Also, I'm sure that within the Fashion Major there are also courses you have to take where you can use your creative side and create designs. Typically within a Major there are focuses you can choose - ask the program coordinator.
Your next step is to do some research.
1. Visit Commercial retail outlets like H&M, Banana Republic, or jacob. Tell the Manager your doing some research for University and would like to know what types of Corporate roles exist aside from the roles on the retail floor (like sales associates). If she asks you to elaborate then you can use some of the roles I mentioned above.
2. With this information in hand you can visit the Ryerson Fashion department and inquire with the Program Coordinator on what focus within the Fashion Degree would help you the most. In my program there were 5 different focuses within the Tech/Business program.
Just a quick aside. A good friend of mine too has a dream of fashion. he want to create a niche fashion line tailored to skinny men (I can't mention the style). He's in Business school but not in the Fashion program... He's in International Business but all his Minor courses are tailored to running a successful business ... similar to the ones I mentioned above for myself.
I have no doubt in my mind he'll make it 'cos his vision is that strong.
What do you do to give back?
- I'm launching new section of the site for social entrepreneurship and our first category is going to be called African Accounts. The goal with the project is to raise awareness of African entrepreneurs and showcase that entrepreneurship can be the path to achieving sustainable development. This has always been a passion of mine and I have done a number of talks around the world on this subject so I'm excited to bring it online as well.
We have recruited some of the top bloggers in the world who focus on African entrepreneurship and are preparing additional resources.
I believe that a big part of running a business is being socially responsible and giving back - even if it's donating your time to an organization or small amounts of money or products. You don't have to be mega-successful to make a difference.
What are some of the things you are doing to give back to the community around you?
Re: How will an african make money truely on the net?
- Is it possible for an African business to set up an "offshore" account in the US or England... or even Switzerland... where all monies are paid? And a trusted agent there, who gets a percentage of any money, can then take that money from paypal and wire it or mail it or whatever to an African bank?
There are lots of countries in Africa, is this a problem in all of them? Seems like an internet entrepreneur who can set up a "Paypal" like company of their own might be able to make money on this... ? Course you'd need governmental contacts...
Finding a Fashion Design Mentor in Canada
- Hi, I am a fresh new entrepreneur, and I see the need for a mentor, as fashion design is a very competitive and expensive market; I want to avoid as much error as possible. If you know of any areas where I can start looking for a virtuous candidate; please reply.
Along side a mentor I am open to any tips of starting a fashion business.
Thanks
Tabitha
Re: How will an african make money truely on the net?
- [quote="OmnivoreInk":koqfopnc]Is it possible for an African business to set up an "offshore" account in the US or England... or even Switzerland... where all monies are paid? And a trusted agent there, who gets a percentage of any money, can then take that money from paypal and wire it or mail it or whatever to an African bank?
There are lots of countries in Africa, is this a problem in all of them? Seems like an internet entrepreneur who can set up a "Paypal" like company of their own might be able to make money on this... ? Course you'd need governmental contacts...[/quote:koqfopnc]
Hi Topeyinka
I don't know what products you sell, but if they are digital how about selling
them through Clickbank. They will handle the sale for you and will send you
cheques on the money you have earned.
MichelleJ
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