International Trade and Expanding African Economies

Trade between the US and Sub-Saharan African countries is on the rise, and one area gaining greater recognition is in the African textiles and apparel industry.

Garments made by designers like Duro Olowu, whose dress is featured in the photo above, have not only outfitted public figures like Michelle Obama, but have also moved into mainstream retail stores such as his current collection for sale at JC Penney stores, a nationwide retailer in the U.S. 

According to the saleswoman I spoke with at JC Penney’s New York City location at Herald Square, not only did the first batch of clothes and accessories sell out quickly, but much of what remained there from the second shipment it put out on the sales floor were the last ones of its kind.

A growing interest in apparel with African designs will lead to greater imports from the continent as younger entrepreneurs are opting to source and import directly from Sub-Saharan Africa rather than heading to China for such fabrics and manufacturing.

Moreover, with countries including Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria, Congo, Zambia and Nigeria being recognized as some of the fastest growing economies between 2011 to 2015, we can anticipate even greater contributions in fashion from these countries as well.

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