With the theme ‘Financing the Future of African Fashion: Investing in Creativity’, the 2025 edition of the Fashion Law and Business Conference, hosted by the Fashion Law Institute Africa, called for increased investment, legal innovation, and financial structures to support the long-term growth of Africa’s fashion industry.
The event, which held at Miva Open University, Lagos recently, featured panel sessions by diverse experts from across industries who spoke to over 200 attendees, including designers, lawyers, financiers, policymakers, and educators, all aligned on the need to strengthen the business and legal architecture of the fashion ecosystem.
The Executive Director of the school, Bernice Ofure Asein, emphasised the urgency of going beyond creativity to invest in the structures that make African fashion globally scalable and attractive to capital. “The idea is to build the legal infrastructure for fashion in Africa. That’s how we unlock value,” she said.
Asein also seized the moment to announce the official launch of the Fashion Finance Lab, a legal and financial accelerator programme designed to support emerging fashion businesses. She also revealed that a white paper titled “Investing in Creativity: The Case for Fashion Finance in Africa” would be released in the coming weeks, capturing insights from the event and providing a blueprint for sustainable fashion financing on the continent.
Founder of 360Creative Hub, Blessing Achu Ebere, in her keynote speech, titled, ‘The Business of Fashion: Why Finance is the Missing Piece in Africa’s Creative Growth’, called for stronger collaborations between government, the private sector, and creative entrepreneurs, highlighting the lack of investor-ready structures and the urgent need for tailored financial support systems across the value chain.
A special feature of the conference was the launch of a new publication titled “Fashion Lawyer in Africa,” authored by the Fashion Law Institute. The book explores the evolution of fashion law on the continent and the increasing need for legal professionals who understand the unique regulatory and business challenges of the creative industries. The launch included a conversation session between the author and industry guests.
Several speakers from the main conference, including Bernice Ofunre Asein (founder, Fashion Law Institute. ) and Tayo Ismail (Managing Partner, Vassalcrest Attorneys), served as judges during the showcase. They provided expert feedback and mentorship to participants, reinforcing the conference’s commitment to nurturing innovation at the intersection of fashion, law, and technology.
The event also featured the Investment Readiness Masterclass, where fashion entrepreneurs received guidance on business structuring, valuation, and legal documentation. The session was led by Grace Effiong, Associate at Cardinal Counsel, Nigeria’s leading fashion law firm, Jadesola Campbell, Investment Principal at Consonance Investment Managers, a VC firm focused on African ventures, and Ayooluwa Oderinde, Managing Partner at Glaciers Chambers, a commercial law firm offering legal advisory for startups.
With its mix of high-level dialogue, actionable insight, and ecosystem engagement, this year’s conference reasserted the vital role of law and finance in unlocking the full potential of Africa’s fashion industry not just as a creative force, but as a viable, investable sector of the economy.
