Through a broad range of case studies based on pioneering research, African Dress explores key themes of fashion, the body, performance and identity. It is the first scholarly yet accessible overview of African fashion and dress practices.

Featuring African textiles, clothing, headwear, and jewellery, this book celebrates African dress as a product of global interactions, generational conflict and continuity, and expressions of gender. Featuring African textiles, clothing, headwear, and jewellery, this book celebrates African dress as a product of global interactions, generational conflict and continuity, and expressions of gender. The book highlights the strength and resilience of long-standing practices that characterise African dress; the wide variety of cultural, religious, and political motivations for adorning oneself; and the varying identities reflected in analysing African material culture of the last century and a half. Textile selections include hand-woven and dyed examples alongside factory-woven and machine-printed cloth. Items of adornment include amber and silver jewellery from North Africa, beadwork-embellished clothing from South Africa, and various headdresses from across the continent, to name a few examples. From formal European colonisation, to independence for African countries, to the liberalisation of African economies, this book will demonstrate how dress practices reveal personal and group identities, cultural traditions, religious associations, political affiliations, and aspirations.

The social enterprise Africa Fashion Guide has compiled the ultimate fashion guide from Africa. The book 'FASHION AFRICA' features the must-haves from just a handful of the creme de la creme of emerging and established designers who have taken their core inspiration from all corners of Africa 'FASHION AFRICA' proudly showcases 48 designers who have been influenced by the heartbeat, the many facets of history, culture, and people of Africa to bring about an aesthetic beauty which has been artistically illustrated. Featured in the book are designers such as Jewel by Lisa, Tiffany Amber, SUNO NY, Oliberte, NKWO, Loin Cloth and Ashes, Chichia London as well as ethical manufacturers such as Mantisworld and Kibotrade. You will also find fantastic modern illustrations, stunning photography and great analysis. This book - or visual guide - is the first of its kind that provides a contemporary, informative and visual overview of the African fashion and textiles industry with an ethical perspective.

This book introduces the reader to the business of clothes, with flashbacks into the past, business models of today, and ideas for a sustainable future. Historical perspectives discuss the cotton industry in India, Bangladesh, Greece, and Central Asia, which help trace the evolution of the clothing industry during the 20th century. Chapters also discuss fashion marketing, greenwashing, blockchain in the fashion supply chain, social media, sustainability issues, and sensory models. Several business models are explained; topics covered include blue ocean strategy, the unstitched market, the luxury sector, access-based consumption, and ethics. Among other topics explored are the future retail experience, consumer value creation, technology, and the impact of virtual atmospheres. The book also includes helpful case studies in understanding the country and culture-specific nuances of the clothing business.

From freedom of movement to customs-free commerce, two experts show how the AfCFTA could transform African economies and societies.

Africa represents a small share of global production and trade, while hosting half of the extreme poor worldwide. To catch up with the rest of the world, there is no alternative: the continent needs to link its production and trade to the global economy to take advantage of unlimited demand and innovation along the supply chain. The book presents a strategy to bolster Africa’s market access in the current global environment. It explores three key areas †“ the impact of trade agreements (unilateral, regional, and multilateral) with traditional partners (the United States and the European Union) and a way forward; the role of new market frontiers in Asia both from the perspective of restructuring economies in the region as well as changing global value chains (GVCs) and their implications for Africa; and finally an inward examination of the promise and challenges of regional trade and value chains. The book meticulously explores ways to maximize Africa’s access to the two leading world markets †“ the European Union and the United States †“ while at the same time diversifying market access to the emerging Asian market. In troubled times, it calls for the continent to anchor its market access strategy to deeper regional integration.

What motivated South Africa's former white leaders to hand over the reins of power to a black government? Economist Anton D. Lowenberg examines the economic interests that led to apartheid and the economic prospects for post-apartheid South African society.

This book explores the means through which the garment industry contributes to industrialization, poverty reduction, empowerment of undereducated workers, in particular female laborers, and shared growth in contemporary low-income countries.

Africans living in the diaspora have a unique position as potential agents of change in helping to address Africa’s political and socioeconomic challenges. In addition to sending financial remittances, their multiple, hybrid identities in and out of geographical and psychocultural spaces allow them to play a role as cultural and political ambassadors to foster social change and sustainable development back in their African homelands. However, this hybrid position is not without challenges, and this book reflects some of the conundrums faced by members of the diaspora as they negotiate their relationships with their home countries. The author uses her lived experiences and empirical research to ask: are members of the diaspora conduits of Western cultural hegemony at the cost of their traditional preservation and meaningful development in Africa? How does the Western media’s portrayal of Africa as the "Dark Continent" in the 21st century influence their decision-making process to invest back home? How could African nations’ governments manage their relationships with citizens abroad to motivate them to invest in their home countries? How do some citizen-residents in Africa and African Diaspora communities perceive each other in the context of Africa’s development? How could the African Diaspora collaborate with citizen-residents across growth sectors to impact Africa’s development? The book hopes to inspire agents of change within the diaspora and features diverse African entrepreneurs’ success stories and their experiences of tackling these challenges. The book will be of interest to aspiring entrepreneurs, researchers across African studies, and the expanding and vibrant field of diaspora research.