We have been following the conversations closely on one of the most interesting luxury conferences held this year in Rome by the International Herald Tribune (IHT) . Themed “The Promise of Africa the Power of the Meditarranean,” the 12th annual IHT Luxury Conference brings together over 500 delegates from 30+ countries to hear from the world’s most inspirational fashion designers and luxury business leaders.
Some of the key topics that have been discussed include the enduring influence of the Mediterranean countries on the luxury and fashion world, and the potential of Africa, both as a producer and, ultimately, consumer of luxury goods.
Stylehousefiles’ Omoyemi Akerele, the creative brain behind MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week, Ladybrille Woman Alumni Dr. Precious Moloi Motsepe and Bono have all been a part of the ongoing conversations. We begin our coverage of the two day event held in Rome which ends today with the Keynote speech delivered by Simone Cipriani.
Our favorite quote from him is, “the success of our business lies with design and data.” This couldn’t be so true for Africa’s fashion eco system and its entire creative industries.
Simone Cipriani, Head, Poor Communities and Trade Programmes & Chief Technical Advisor, Ethical Fashion Initiative, International Trade Centre
Joined by
Ilaria Venturini Fendi, Designer, Carmina Campus for Q&A / discussionSimone Cipriani is at the heart of African fashion collectives which bring together luxury brands with local artisans and handworkers. These collaborations create desirable products as well as contribute towards the UN’s mission of poverty reduction. In this session, Mr. Cipriani will talk about his vision for luxury goods produced in Africa for both “small craft” and mainstream brands, the challenges of creating sustainable business models, and the ITC’s ambitions for the future. During Q&A, he will be joined by Ilaria Venturini Fendi, the designer behind one of the companies engaged in manufacturing in Africa and empowering communities to transform their lives.
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
