Making African fashion players more prosperous
CAFET is a fashion value chain development firm
We work with governments, development agencies, businesses, and investors to develop the African fashion industry.
Areas of Focus
Infrastructure
We cultivate partnerships to deliver infrastructure solutions that address apparel value chain needs.
Education
We develop skilled fashion entrepreneurs and professionals to improve efficiency and drive industry growth.
Value Chain Innovation
We strengthen linkages and close gaps across the fashion value chain.
WHAT MAKES CAFET UNIQUE?
End-to-End Value Chain Focus
At CAFET, we take a deeply integrated approach to strengthening the fashion value chain. Our methodology is built around connecting and enabling the five stages of the fashion value chain: sourcing, design & development, production, marketing, and retail & distribution.Each solution we design helps businesses create value at each stage — and more importantly, connects the stages to work together. Functional value chains depend on coherence and coordination, and at CAFET, we enable both.
Fashion for development
CAFET is in the business of making the fashion industry a pathway to prosperity in Africa, and we believe that collaborative models and systemic approaches are the way to achieve success.
Our Services
1. Value Chain Consulting, Advisory and Research
We help organizations and governments design & implement initiatives and conduct research that accelerates industry growth by strengthening key value chain enablers such as infrastructure and funding.
2. Fashion Hub/Cluster Support
We deploy our FIT Hub model to set up, revitalize, and manage fashion hubs and clusters, integrating infrastructure, governance, and operations with critical enablers like technology and training.
3. Educational Programs
We deliver standardized trainings – Flagship courses delivered on their own or within broader programs.
We design and deliver custom trainings – Tailored sessions for specific groups of fashion entrepreneurs or professionals
4. Market Access Support
We provide buyer linkages and pre- and post-order trade support, including export readiness preparation, supply chain coordination (product development, production, logistics), and production financing.
Theory of change
Value-chain led + Collaborations driven
By addressing key challenges across all five stages of the value chain simultaneously—rather than tackling them in isolation—we unlock compounding improvements at the end of the chain: better quality, higher output, and lower costs; and the most effective way to achieve this is by coordinating and connecting existing players across the value chain to work in alignment.
Our Projects
US-Africa ATI Program Trade Facilitation
Wholesale trade services - connecting African apparel suppliers to U.S. buyers.
US-Africa Trade & Investment Facilitation
Facilitating investments and access to market for Africa apparel suppliers.
Online Fashion Certificate Programs
Online modules providing in-depth fashion business and technology education.
Offline Fashion Certificate Programs
In-person training equipping participants with hands-on skills and experience.
Vision
A globally competitive African fashion industry that fosters economic growth, facilitates job creation, and empowers communities.
"Fashion is much more than an economic asset. It is also a powerful lever for the promotion of cultural diversity, for the rediscovery of intangible cultural heritage and for the empowerment of young people and women.”
Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General
STANDARD PROJECT DEPLOYMENT #1: Pre-Production & Production
FIT Hubs
We deploy our Fashion Innovation & Technology (FIT) Hubs through a franchise model. These hubs offer affordable access to fashion technology, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and efficient design, prototyping, and manufacturing to enhance competitiveness.
STANDARD PROJECT DEPLOYMENT #2: End-to-End Value Chain
Lable Lite
We deploy our hybrid venture studio and brand accelerator, modeled after a record label, to scale African fashion brands. Lable supports brands in four areas: brand & product development, infrastructure & production, market access & distribution, and financial & operational support.
Industry Pulse
UNESCO African Fashion Report: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
Prosper Africa: Investing in Africa Creative Industries Report
Atlantic Council on Investing in Africa’s Creative
Industry Perspective by CAFET Partner, Eme Bassey
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Want more details on our work and how we can work together?
© CAFET. All rights reserved.
Cross-Border Commerce Initiatives
Africa accounts for less than 2% of global fashion trade; increasing this percentage is one of our mandates. Our cross-border commerce initiatives support African fashion players and stakeholders to increase global exports.
ONE
Export-Readiness Training
Delivered through two critical online training modules in partnership with AltSchool & YABATECH:
Value & Supply Chain Optimization: Preparing production and operations for export, taking into account AGOA country of origin requirements.
Product Development for the U.S. Market: Designing products that align with U.S. consumer preferences and standards.
TWO
Product Development Infrastructure
Providing access to fashion technology to enable faster, cheaper, and more efficient design and development for the export market.
Communal micro-factories providing a complete range of design and development services.
Learning centres offering fashion technology training.
THREE
Market Linkages
We help brands find, engage, and retain U.S. buyers:
Tradeshows: We curate and display products, handling all buyer interactions, product showcases, and order facilitation.
Buyer Sourcing: Assign experienced agent/consultant(s) to facilitate connections with buyers seeking ethically sourced, diverse products.
FOUR
Export Support
For brands that secure purchase orders, CAFET provides hands-on support with:
Sampling and vendor onboarding with U.S. buyers.
Production scaling and fulfillment using AGOA to reduce duties and tariffs.
Logistics and compliance to ensure smooth export processes.
Low-interest production financing to support timely fulfillment.
Let's connect
Want more details on our work and how we can work together?
© CAFET. All rights reserved.
Talent Development Programs
Traditional initiatives often prioritize entrepreneurship development, but without a skilled workforce, these efforts struggle to translate into lasting success. Our workforce development training develops the industry's professionals.
STEP 3
Needs Assessment
Our Fashion Innovation & Technology (FIT) Hubs provide affordable access to fashion technology enabling faster, cheaper, and more efficient design, prototyping, and manufacturing to boost competitiveness.
STEP 4
Curriculum xx
Affarel, our wholesale trade and sourcing arm, provides consulting and trade services to facilitate apparel exports to the US under AGOA, opening new markets and growth opportunities.
STEP 3
Supply xx
Our Fashion Innovation & Technology (FIT) Hubs provide affordable access to fashion technology enabling faster, cheaper, and more efficient design, prototyping, and manufacturing to boost competitiveness.
STEP 4
Talent Matching
Affarel, our wholesale trade and sourcing arm, provides consulting and trade services to facilitate apparel exports to the US under AGOA, opening new markets and growth opportunities.
Let's connect
Want more details on our work and how we can work together?
© CAFET. All rights reserved.