This programme is focused on promoting alternative and innovative approaches to the global fashion system with the ambition of demonstrating that the fashion sector in Kenya is a professional choice for young people and a valuable contributor to the creative economy.
Through strategic partnerships in Kenya and the UK, the programme explores three areas of work namely; research & insight, policy and advocacy and business support.
Research and Insight
Through the focus on research and insight, the British Council will publish a Needs Analysis report for the Kenyan fashion sector produced by Collective RW and independent researcher Jan Miller, a case study on one of Kenya’s oldest markets, Uhuru Markets in partnership with HEVA fund as well as an analysis of the potential use for alternative fibres and raw materials in Kenya led by the Kenyan chapter of Fashion Revolutionaries.
The in-depth insight from these reports will inform future fashion programming for the British Council and executive summaries and recommendations will be published and presented to relevant stakeholders in the fashion sector in Kenya to support the policy and advocacy needs of the sector.
Policy and Advocacy
The Fashion Revolutionaries team in Kenya are mapping out the fashion value chain to identify policy gaps that can benefit from sustainable practices. With support from the British Council, ITC SheTrades, the team hosted a structured dialogue that brought together stakeholders and generated conversation on meaningful improvements and policy recommendations.
Building on that insight, the Fashion Revolutionaries team is researching the development of alternative fabrics that can stimulate local production and entrench sustainable production practices in Kenya’s growing economy. In this report, they will examine existing industries, explore the policy landscape on the fashion value chain and will share outcomes of their field research into alternative fibres and raw materials with potential for growth in Kenya.
Business Support
This programme will offer
- Creative Enterprise training
- A six-week fashion incubator
NESTA Creative Enterprise Programme
In two workshops over ten days, sixty fashion businesses with a focus in textiles, clothing, footwear, accessories, costumes, millinery, beauty, styling, fashion photography and film will engage in interactive exercises and peer-led activities that encourage reflection on their ideas, their customers and their business.
Fashion Incubator
Run in partnership by Metta Nairobi and Fashion Scout UK this six-week fashion incubator will support 11 entrepreneurs’ ambition to grow their businesses by tackling growth-stage challenges such as attracting the right customers, scaling to new markets, finding partners and securing investment.
As part of the incubator, the entrepreneurs will access and interact with a global network of fashion experts, mentors, corporate clients, and partners as well as explore the high-growth markets of London, through a one-week study tour.
Throughout the program, the fashion businesses will be assessed on their progress and potential and at the end of the six weeks, five entrepreneurs will be awarded KES 655,000 (£5,000) in seed grant funding. All the fashion businesses will have additional business support from Mettā & Nest Ventures team and our UK partners. The boot camp will conclude in a fashion showcase in April where the entrepreneurs will present their brand collections to potential partners and the five grantees will be announced.
#FashionFridays
Fashion Fridays is a weekly conversation with stakeholders from the fashion sectors in Kenya, SSA and the UK. Every week we will explore different perspectives on global issues like sustainable fashion, e-commerce, and building resilient businesses. The sessions will feature partners from the Creative DNA programme and will draw on our ambition to promote alternative and innovative approaches to thriving in a global fashion system.
#FashionFridays is a popular hashtag used widely by fashion enthusiast across the globe. Feeding into this hashtag will increase the visibility of our work and engage new audiences. In Kenya, Fashion Fridays is also linked to a recent government directive to all civil servants to wear “Made in Kenya” designs to work every Friday.
Have a view of the live sessions the cohorts have had here
