Delivered through a blended approach with trainers and industry experts from Africa and the UK, the Creative DNA programme provides emerging fashion designers from across Africa with structured learning, access to markets and opportunities for sector engagement.
Since its launch in Kenya in 2020, Creative DNA has trained over 200 designers and fashion entrepreneurs. It has expanded to Ethiopia, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Uganda, creating new opportunities for collaboration, mentorship and professional development across the region.
Explore the key components of the Creative DNA programme:
Skills development
Participants take part in training programmes delivered in a hybrid format. Sessions are facilitated by experienced trainers and industry practitioners from across the region and the UK, offering practical tools and insights that strengthen both creative and entrepreneurial skills.
Financial support
Designers in the cohort have the opportunity to competitively access small-business grants to support brand development, marketing, and improved production. These grants are intended to help participants strengthen the foundations of their businesses and prepare for future growth.
Access to markets
Throughout the programme, participants showcase their work through at least one pop-up market, creating opportunities to test products, engage with audiences and build visibility. Cohort members may also competitively qualify for further fashion-sector showcases as part of the Creative DNA alumni network.
Information sharing and sector dialogue
Participants will join regular knowledge-sharing sessions, including webinars, panel discussions, and peer exchanges, hosted online or in person. These knowledge exchange conversations bring together practitioners, mentors and industry stakeholders to explore current trends, challenges and opportunities in the African fashion landscape.
Creative DNA is part of the British Council’s wider commitment to supporting creative economies across Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme aims to nurture the next generation of fashion leaders, fostering an environment where designers can build sustainable practices and contribute to the continent’s growing role in global fashion exports.
By supporting emerging talent and strengthening local ecosystems, Creative DNA helps create pathways for cultural exchange, creative entrepreneurship and a more resilient fashion sector.
Africa Fashion Week
In August 2025 ten designers from from six African countries took part in a carefully curated series of events at Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL), the world’s longest-running platform dedicated to African fashion.
The programme provided the designers with the opportunity to deepen their international connections, explore market access pathways, and share their work with new audiences.
Tags:
- Art Form: Architecture Design and Fashion Creative Economy
- Region: Sub-Saharan Africa