Ms. Waridi Schrobsdorff, MD FA254, with Mr James Shikwati, MD IREN, before signing the Collaboration

IREN-CmiA and FA254 to Train Kenyan Fashion Designers as part of Strategy to Grow East Africa Domestic Market 

The Inter Region Economic Network and Cotton Made in Africa Initiative in East Africa (IREN-CmiA) signed an agreement with Fashion Africa Limited (FA254) to collaborate in offering African designers a platform to showcase their textile design talents. The initiative will see interested designers submit a portfolio of their work to FA254 by August 20, 2014.

Ten nominees will be chosen from the submitted portfolios under various categories namely Apparel, Accessories and Home Decoration. The nominees will be taken through three month training program (October – December 2014) to add value on their portfolios. “At IREN, we are happy to collaborate with FA254 to grow fashion design talent in the region to meet global standards as part of our strategy to activate Eastern Africa’s domestic textile market,” Said Mr. James Shikwati, MD IREN. “I look forward to working with Kenyan designers and others from this region to elevate the African fashion statement locally and in Europe as well,” said Ms. Waridi Schrobsdorff, MD FA254.

The nominees will be required to offer improved on designs in their various categories after which the best design in each category will be selected in January 2015 by an international jury chaired by Vogue Germany chief editor Christiane Arp. The category nominees will have the opportunity to produce their product with internationally renowned fashion companies using made in Africa cotton textile. The winner will have the possibility to present their collection during Berlin Fashion Week 2015.

About IREN- CmiA

IREN-CmiA is spearheading the Made in Africa initiative in East Africa that is keen to grow East Africa textile domestic market through matchmaking of key stakeholders in the textile value chain http://www.cotton-made-in-africa.com/en/

About FA254

FA254 is launching African Designers for Tomorrow, the first international platform giving emerging African designers a door to the European market. For further details about FA254 visit http://www.fa254.com/

For Details contact: Ms. Janet Mummassabba janet@irenkenya.com +254202731497