Africa

The last piece in this five-part series on the twin subjects of the second-hand clothing in Africa and that of post-consumer textile waste in the content emphasises that the two are, of course, related, but not in the way that Western activists would like us to believe.

The Uganda Circular Textile project is designed to support a transition to a local textile manufacturing base by incorporating clothes that would otherwise end up in landfills into new products and design. Leading the project, which kicked off earlier this year, is WasteAid. Director of Programmes, Michelle Wilson, explains what it takes to navigate the second-hand clothing landscape in the country.

Less than a month ago, the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association (GUCDA) released a report which contended that media reports of waste were gross over-estimates. These reports and also the campaigns are being driven by flawed data, argues GUCDA General Secretary Edward Atobrah Binkley in this riveting interview with texfash.

One of the many African countries that has been repeatedly mentioned in the swathe of Western media reports about the impact of the second-hand clothing trade is Kenya. But the sector is huge in the country in its spread, and mitumba touches the lives of millions. Yet, the opinion of the Mitumba Consortium Association of Kenya (MCAK) has largely gone unheard. The Chairperson of the MCAK, Teresia Wairimu Njenga, tells texfash that much of what abounds is misinformation.

The unique opportunity presented by the availability of high-quality local fibres, the rich array of handwoven, hand-processed or industrial textiles produced on the continent, and the strength of the demand for African designs means that the sector is ripe for new investments and policies. Unless, the West reads “ripe for investment” as “ripe for plunder.”

Computer scientists have reconstructed one of the most complete genomes of a top cotton species, which now give scientists a more complete picture of how wild cotton was domesticated over time and may help to strengthen and protect the crop for farmers.

The 8th Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week was organised in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa earlier this month. Organised by Trade and Fairs Consulting GmbH, it is one of the key trade events in the continent. A first-person account from the man behind the event

Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), the standard for sustainably produced cotton from Africa, has got the nod from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which administers Green Button, and also the Cradle to Cradle Certified for products that are safe, circular, and responsibly made.

Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) has once again achieved record levels of supply and demand. New and existing clients are seeking to purchase greater amounts of cotton verified through CmiA and CmiA Organic. A total of 600 million CmiA textiles were brought to market, more than doubling Cotton made in Africa’s volume from the previous year.