Ezreen Benissan
ezreen.bsky.social
Ezreen Benissan
@ezreen.bsky.social
Covering the business of fashion and beauty in Africa 🌍✍🏾
Words: BoF, Vogue Runway, Vogue Business, ELLE UK and more

My Newsletter: https://africareimagined.substack.com/
Get in touch: ezreenbenissan@gmail.com
Great to see initiatives like this.
Africa’s fashion ecosystem needs major investment and AFDI is hoping to increase financial opportunities for fashion entrepreneurs on the continent.
From Tailors to Pattern Cutters: Who’s Funding Africa’s Fashion Industry?
AFDI is a new initiative aiming to provide financial opportunities for everyone involved in shaping the African fashion ecosystem.
open.substack.com
February 6, 2025 at 7:18 AM
It's been 3 years since Fenty Beauty launched in 8 African nations. Many thought the move into Africa would prove that it's a ‘viable market’ to cautious onlookers. Despite a couple of masterclasses and launch parties, Fenty Beauty's approach has been modest.

I unpacked their strategy here:
Fenty Beauty’s African Dream: Did It Live Up to the Hype?
We unpack Fenty Beauty's strategy in Africa, three years after it launched in eight African countries.
open.substack.com
January 30, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Who knew run clubs are booming in #Kenya? Enda, Africa’s first performance footwear and sportswear brand, is at a pivotal turning point as it opens its first retail store —inside a gym. I broke down its retail strategy and unpacked how it’s winning over the running community in Nairobi.

Read here:
How to Sell Running Shoes in Kenya
Meet Enda, Africa's first performance footwear and sportswear brand.
open.substack.com
January 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Ghana’s Kantamanto market is being rebuilt after a devastating fire swept through the market on 2 January. While conversations centred around secondhand waste, I spoke to fashion designers and stylists about how they’ve been impacted by the fire.

Read more in my newsletter:
The Fashion Creatives Impacted By The Kantamanto Market Fire
Last week's devastating fire at Kantamanto Market has left thousands without their main source of income. I spoke to fashion designers and stylists about its impact.
open.substack.com
January 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Here are my 5 predictions for the African fashion and beauty markets in 2025, including The Met Gala, brand ambassador deals, buzzy collaborations, and a shift in consumer spending (with insight from my African consumer survey). We also take a look back at how the market shifted in 2024. Read here:
What's Next For African Fashion And Beauty?
A look back at 2024. Plus, my predictions for 2025, including The Met Gala, brand ambassador deals and a shift in consumer spending.
open.substack.com
January 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
The pre-owned luxury market in South Africa is booming. With high import charges making it “too expensive” for consumers to shop from platforms such as The RealReal or Vestiaire Collective, new local players are emerging, eager to fill a gap in the market.

Read more on Africa Reimagined:
What's Driving the Pre-owned Luxury Boom in South Africa?
From auction houses to independent resellers, the circular economy in South Africa is "thriving," experts say.
open.substack.com
December 4, 2024 at 2:01 PM
This week’s newsletter just dropped. I spoke to Moda Operandi buyers about their experience at Lagos Fashion Week and the importance of being on the ground.

“It was also an amazing opportunity to discover emerging talent that wasn’t on our radar prior,” one buyer said. Read more here:
Why International Buyers Should Attend Fashion Weeks in Africa
This week we spoke to buyers from the US-based retailer Moda Operandi who, for the first time, were on the ground at Lagos Fashion Week.
open.substack.com
November 27, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Boohoo Man has become the latest brand to expand its retail footprint into Africa. Last month, the fast fashion e-tailer tapped Nigeria's rising star #Shallipopi to design a limited capsule collection and held a pop-up in Lagos.

I spoke the team handling the Nigerian franchise. Read here:
How Did Boohoo Man End Up In Nigeria?
From a capsule collection with Nigeria's rising star Shallipopi to a pop-up store in Lagos. Here’s how the fast fashion e-tailer is disrupting the Nigerian market.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Calling all African consumers🚨🔊
I need your help. If you live or spend majority of the year in an African country and purchase luxury goods (African or International) please fill out this short survey: form.typeform.com/to/bWs74lbG

It’s also anonymous. Full report coming out in 2025.
African Luxury Consumers
Understanding how African consumers spend on luxury goods. Survey is anonymous and takes approximately 5 minutes.
form.typeform.com
November 23, 2024 at 4:03 PM
While many sportswear giants such as Nike and Adidas have been slow to move into the African market, Puma has stepped in to fill the gap. Last week, it unveiled the new Home and Away kits for five African nations ahead of AFCON 2025.

Read more in my newsletter: open.substack.com/pub/africare...
November 21, 2024 at 2:17 PM