Africa Fashion Futures incubator: "African brands need to attract more investors".

For its first promotion, the Africa Fashion Futures incubator has selected 14 fashion designers from Nigeria, Ghana and Rwanda. These talented designers will receive training and a grant to develop their respective brands.

For these young companies, the aim is to acquire the skills to establish a viable business model and find their positioning in line with their vision: "For this first intake, we have chosen brands that have potential and are ready to invest in their development. These are brands that have been in legal existence for at least two years. Our aim is to create projects that can be exported and marketed both on the African continent and worldwide", explains Roberta Annan, founder of the Impact Fund for African Creatives (IFFAC), which set up the Africa Fashion Futures incubator. "This has been a long-term process. We want to take an innovative approach to building businesses of value, businesses that are likely to attract investors", explains Roberta.

The aim is also to address the lack of capital and management skills among young brands. "I wish I'd had this kind of support when I started my business a few years ago, because I know how frustrating it can be. So my aim is to help and contribute to the economic development of the African continent. There is real potential here, but some investors are hesitant because of the lack of structure, professionalism and expansion opportunities for certain companies", she analyses.

Nigerian, Ghanaian and Rwandan brands
The first class is made up of 14 designers from Nigeria, Ghana and Rwanda. There are six women and eight men. In future years, Roberta hopes to welcome designers from French-speaking Africa. She is also aiming for a balance between men and women.

The designers taking part in this first promotion are :

- Omafume Niemogha by Pepper Row (Nigeria)
- Travis Obeng-Casper of Ajabeng (Ghana)
- Cynthia Otiyo-Abila of Cynthia Abila Studios (Nigeria)
- Jason Jermaine Asiedu from Jermaine Bleu (Ghana)
- Orire Aleshinloye de Oríré (Nigeria)
- Kusi Kubi from Palm Wine IceCream (Ghana)
- Abiola Adeniran-Olusola by Abiola Olusola (Nigeria)
- Ebuka Omaliko de Maliko (Nigeria)
- Kelvin Vincent of Anku Studio (Ghana)
- Aline Mukamusoni from Amike (Rwanda)
- Samuel Antwi Oteng from Otteng (Ghana)
- Victor Anate de Vicnate (Nigeria)
- George Tetteh from Atto Tetteh (Ghana)
- Nadia Eman Ibrahim from Tabou (Ghana)

The Africa Fashion Futures incubator was set up by the Impact Fund For African Creatives in partnership with the African Fashion Foundation.