All eyes on African fashion - 26 Feb 2018

In continuation of our SA Menswear Week coverage, I report back on the Fashion Talks segment which saw a handful of industry mavens share the social trends impacting the business of men's fashion in Africa. I also chat to Anthony Smith, founder of Cape Town streetwear label 2Bop, about the brand's new Autumn/Winter 2018 range, its community of brand advocates and how to balance creativity with the business of fashion.

On the retail side of things, H&M and Woolworths came out tops in the recent Dunnhumby Customer-Centricity Index, with Fabiani, Sportscene and Pick n Pay Clothing following closely behind. I also interview Esther Hoogstad, Spree's new head of customer interaction and marketing, on her new role and the evolving demands of being a customer-centric business in 2018.

The always inspiring Design Indaba Festival came and went this past week. Jessica Tennant reports on biomaterials research company AlgiKnit's revolutionary work in their search for a sustainable material, and why they believe that biology is the future of fashion. Tennant also covers Dutch trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort's insights into the trends for spring/summer 2019 and why this year she looked to the 'goddesses' of the past to define the women of today.

Lastly, SA's favourite consumer products, from FMCG to electronics, have been announced in this year's Product of the Year awards, and Roshida Khanom looks at how Marvel film Black Panther will inspire beauty trends in 2018.

Here's to an inspiring week!

Lauren Hartzenberg
Retail editor: Bizcommunity.com