The Community Collective, in partnership with MTN Nigeria and the British Council, has unveiled strategies to support fashion entrepreneurs and drive growth in Nigeria’s fashion and creative industry.
The initiative was announced at the third edition of the Venture Stack programme held in Lagos, themed “Designing Desirability: Unlocking Value Chain and Market Assets for Fashion and Beauty Products and Brands.”
The event brought together fashion entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders to share insights on resilience, scalable business models, and market positioning.
Fashion designer Mai Atafo stressed the importance of excellence and continuous learning.
“Creatives need to learn in every single way possible, being hungry to learn,” he said.
Founder of TDA Group Africa, Dare Aliu, highlighted the shortage of skilled manpower in the industry but urged entrepreneurs to invest in staff development.
“The fashion and creative industry has fewer and fewer people who are willing to work; however, in the rot, organisations and entrepreneurs can still find gold,” he said.
Moremi Dare-Aliu, CEO of Pink Perfection Accessories, encouraged entrepreneurs to start small and remain consistent.
“You can start small with whatever business endeavour you identify, but you only need to stay consistent and build through the silent days,” she said.
Founder of The Community Collective, Imogie Immanuel, said the platform focuses on promoting collaboration and partnerships to help entrepreneurship thrive in Africa.
“Our vision is a thriving, inclusive ecosystem that delivers support and inspires individual growth, with the potential to transform society at large. With Venture Stack, we bridge the gap between industry leaders and the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders to build smarter and scale stronger as a collective,” he stated.
Creative strategist Debie Mangut and pop-culture strategist Franklin Ozekhome also underscored the role of consumer data in driving brand growth.
The event featured the launch of the first Venture Stack marketplace, showcasing made-in-Nigeria fashion and beauty products from brands including House of GDI, Laurens & Co., Imani, The Good Girl Fit, Sassy by Etty, Style by Empress Express, Noga Stephen, House of Xtyna, Esit, and Bon Plaisir.
Attendees benefited from mentorship sessions and practical advice on distribution, pricing, and developing market-ready products.
