The Origin Africa concept was developed by USAID/ COMPETE as a means to capture the spirit, style and innovation of modern Africa’s Cotton, Textile and Apparel trade. ORIGIN AFRICA is both an event and an ongoing effort dedicated to improving African Cotton, Textile and Apparel (CtA) value chain. It involves collaboration with producers from farm to fashion including accessories suppliers, home textile and décor, to developing and promoting African trade in cotton, textile and clothing industries, with a specific focus on business, trade and investment – regional and international. The inaugural Origin Africa event was held in Nairobi, Kenya on 28th April, 2010. This show was purely a fashion designer showcase that was sponsored by USAID/COMPETE in partnership with African Cotton & Textile Industries Federation (ACTIF) and featured 12 designers and design students from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania. The theme of this event was; “Reinvigorating Africa’s cotton and textile sector”. Guests from 25 countries were represented, including 18 from Africa along with industry leaders and buyers from India, USA, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Special guests at the event included then Kenyan Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon Raila Odinga, the African Union Commission Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Erastus Mwencha and USAID East Africa Mission Director, Lawrence Meserve. Origin Africa has since been held annually with Mauritius hosting the event in 2011 and Ethiopia in 2012. The event has grown to become both a trade fair with the fashion showcase being the highlight of the three day event and incorporating seminars and business to business (B2B) meetings. In 2013, because of the AGOA Forum which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Origin Africa designer showcase took center stage as it marked creativity, colour and glamour as the climax during the forum. The African fashion industry has shown a great deal of progress, creative designs from our vast traditions and the latest designs are amazingly put together by professionals to come up with amazing pieces of work. During the 2013 event, a number of key Ethiopian designers participated including Mahlet Afework (winner ofthe 2010 Designer of the
APRIL -JUNE 2014
| FIBRE TO FASHION
Year award from Alliance Ethiopia Francaise at the European Fashion Day in Addis Ababa and the Origin Africa’s 2012 Design Award), Aynalem Ayete, Ruth Woldeselassie, Firkirte Addis (Who won the Origin Africa Fibre to fashion Award and was also named the second African brand to watch in 2013 by Zen Magazine), Eset Haile, Bethlehem Belete, The Yohannes Sisters and Genet Kebede showcasing their collections and highlighting the creative opportunities that Africa offers international buyers. This year’s ORIGIN AFRICA 2014 event is organized by ACTIF in partnership with Trade and Fairs East Africa (TFEA) a professional trade event organizing agency and will take place from the 10th – 12th November, 2014 at the Hotel InterContinental, Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of this year’s show is; “Changing Perceptions, Building Synergies & Doing Business”. The event will be the largest Cotton, Textile & Apparel event in the region. It is profiled to raise the awareness of Africa as a place to do business, sourcing destination, changing perceptions, and to make the value chain in the continent more visible as a source of cotton, textile and apparel products for the domestic, regional and international buyers. ORIGIN AFRICA will encompass a Trade Expo, Seminars, B2B Meetings and a Designer Fashion Showcase. The targeted participants are from the Cotton, Fibre, Yarn & Textiles, Apparel & Fashion, Home Textiles & Décor, Accessories, Support Agencies, Investment Agencies, Export Agencies, Textile Machinery/Technology, Suppliers, Delegations and Country Pavilions. For the first time a Home Décor, Fashion Accessories & Gifts section will be included at this year’s event. This must attend go-to event will include guests from press, brands, sourcing agents, investors as well as industry heavyweights and insiders who all have a mutual interest and focus to elevate the African CtA industry. ORIGIN AFRICA is for those who want to be part of the wider solution in raising Africa’s emerging position and as the upcoming sourcing destination. For further information log on to: www.originafrica.orgor email INFO@ ORIGIN-AFRICA.ORG.
9