Conversation with Jacqueline Shaw, Founder, Africa Fashion Guide
Jacqueline Shaw discusses the need for a more thoughtful, full-circle approach, when doing business in Africa. She also shares insights on the second-hand clothing industry and provides examples of how to support African designers.
With 16 years experience in the global fashion industry living and working in 4 countries (Turkey, China, Germany and England UK) over 4 continents (USA/Europe/Asia and Africa) for international brands and retailers including Puma, C&A, Animal, Russell Athletic, Wilson and Fila, Professional Fashion Designer Jacqueline Shaw birthed Africa Fashion Guide, the only sourcing consultancy and information based platform for African fashion. Africa Fashion Guide has become a key tool that educates, informs and retunes the perceptions of Africa's fashion and textile industry – an industry Jacqueline sees as a vehicle for trade and development.
Now as an Author of the acclaimed coffee table book Fashion Africa, an International Public Speaker, a University lecturer, an African Fashion Business Coach, a Consultant and an industry researcher, Jacqueline, who owns a Bachelors degree in Fashion (2001), a Masters degree in Ethical Fashion (2011) and a Masters in Social Research (2018) is known for being an expert and most proudly an ambassador in the Ethical African fashion landscape.
Having spoken at elite venues such as House of Lords London, London Eye, European Commission Brussels, Fashion Institute Technology NYC, Who's Next Paris to name a few, she actively campaigns for a more responsible way of doing fashion business and doing it well in Africa. Jacqueline has built up her name and is recognised internationally as a public speaker.
As an African Fashion Business Coach with past clients that includes Lineapelle, Miroglio, Brighton Museum (for their Fashion Cities Africa exhibition), Prospero World (World for their African Fashion Award) and British Council (for their Enterprise Africa Summit), she uses her expertise to bring to life African fashion led projects. Jacqueline, with her unique tools and strategies, specialises in creating sustainable solutions that help new and existing fashion businesses successfully navigate the sourcing and manufacturing landscape of Africa's fashion and textile industry.
Jacqueline believes Africa is Fashion's Future and has used her African fashion tee shirt campaign using Fairtrade, organic African cotton tees made in Africa by Africans to spread this message on the catwalks of London Fashion Week to Ghana to Los Angeles. Jacqueline is unapologetically a champion for fashion in Africa and her work and reputation not only proceeds her, but represents her enthusiasm and high belief in this. Due to this she aims to equip as much people as possible in setting up businesses in Africa to build trade, contribute to Africa's GDP, and impact thousands of African lives using the vehicle of Fashion.
Jacqueline through Africa Fashion Guide Ltd has an array of events and programs including Fashion Africa Conference, Fashion Africa Voices, Fashion Africa Business Academy, Fashion Africa Trade Expo and Fashion Africa Sourcing Trips.
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Hosted by: Christopher Lacy, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design
Produced by: Joshua Williams, Assistant Professor, Parsons School of Design
Executive Producer:Fashion Consort
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