By Christabel DANSO ABEAM
Founder and Director of Christie Brown Academy (CBA), one of the leading fashion academies established in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, has advised entrepreneurs in Africa, especially within the creative industries, to commit to building competitive businesses that can reshape perceptions of the continent and its economic future.
Speaking in an interview during the school’s second cohort graduation of fashion entrepreneurs, she cited from her experience on building a globally recognised brand, and stressed that accomplished African businesses, especially privately-led firms, have a duty to nurture others and build viable ecosystems across industries. “We perfected the skill of creating products and a brand that is globally recognisable, accepted and cherished,” she said, adding that “this is how we, as businesses, can contribute to building the Africa we want to see.”
The Director emphasised that CBA has gained prominence for transforming African fashion on the global stage, and is leveraging the CBA platform to instil values of excellence and sustainability in emerging designers. “It’s about us committing to excellence and debunking any misconceptions about the continent,” she stated. “As we build robust businesses, we are feeding our economy and creating models for others to follow.”
On the issue of sustainability—a recurring theme throughout her address—she urged the fashion community to take the conversation seriously. “We cannot bury our heads in the sand like ostriches and pretend that sustainability does not concern us,” she stressed. She explained that the Christie Brown Academy places strong emphasis on teaching sustainability, both in terms of eco-conscious production and building businesses that are structurally sound and capable of withstanding time.
For her, sustainability isn’t just about materials but about incorporating long-term thinking into business models. “Otherwise, we end up constantly relying on government support. But if we embed sustainability in our businesses from day one, that’s how we change the narrative,” she concluded.
The landmark celebration saw the graduation of twenty five fashion entrepreneurs and featured a dynamic runway presentation showcasing the graduate designers’ debut collections. To support three outstanding fashion designers, Mastercard Foundation gave a seed funding of US$1000 to Barbara Clement, Mavis Nelson and Nancy Osei.
Nene Diallo, Capacity Development and Mass Entrepreneurship Lead – Pan African Programmes – Mastercard Foundation, speaking on their collaboration with CBA, explained the foundation’s dedication to support job creation – especially when it has to deal with the youth and women. “The Mastercard Foundation is very adamant and focused on job creation, especially for young entrepreneurs and the youth; and especially in supporting entrepreneurship development, CBA is such an inspiration. So we really thought it would be important to collaborate with such a good organisation and such a great brand.”
She further encouraged young entrepreneurs to be outstanding in order to be recognised easily so that corporate institutions who give out incredible support will be able to identify them.
Vision of CBA
CBA aims to become Africa’s leading fashion education institution, fostering world-class talent and sustainable businesses that fuel economic growth and global influence.
Objectives:
- Equip young African creatives with business and fashion industry knowledge to help scale their brands.
- Foster sustainable fashion practices, making Africa a hub for ethical and innovative production.
- Bridge the skills gap through industry-relevant training, increasing employability and entrepreneurship.
- Position Ghana and Africa as key players in the global contemporary fashion economy through high-quality fashion education.
