AFKInsider: Where do you see the fashion industry in Africa developing in the next five or 10 years?

Tesfaye: I definitely know the fashion industry will continue to grow tremendously in the years to come. Kenya, South Africa, Senegal and Ethiopia have already become such important manufacturing hubs. The rate of apparel and accessory production in Africa is growing at such a rate that it feels we will very soon rival China as a major international manufacturing destination.  Major companies like TOMS shoes and H&M are establishing production facilities in Ethiopia and I believe that trend will continue.

AFKInsider: Do you think the fashion industry in Africa is being taken seriously?

Tesfaye:Most definitely, the international design community is paying attention to Africa! Designers like Stella Jean and Duro Olowu are African designers who are internationally recognized and appreciated. They both infuse their work with a lot of cultural influence, but in very inspiring modern ways. Also, Africa Fashion Week has become a platform to showcase a lot of emerging talent.

AFKInsider: What do you hope to accomplish as an entrepreneur?

Tesfaye: I hope the work that I am doing with FOMI Collection inspires people and also challenges the perceptions of what people believe about Ethiopia. Unfortunately, Ethiopia as a country has been stigmatized by images of famine and more recently we have become famous for our track runners, but these are just small pieces of our story. I feel a sense of responsibility to become a participant in showing a broader scope of what defines Ethiopia. My mission is to show that we are more than capable of producing high quality luxury goods.

AFKInsider: What are some tips or words of advice one should know if they are pursing a career in the fashion industry?

Tesfaye: Patience is the number one characteristic. I would encourage someone to cultivate if they plan to work in this industry, but even more so working in Africa. As I said, our manufacturing facilities are developing, but we have not yet worked out all of the challenges.

Almost every designer I have spoken to has encountered frustrations along the way with issues like dyeing mistakes, sewing errors, shipping and customs problems. However, I definitely think the pros outweigh the cons, so it’s important to always focus on the bigger vision and exercise patience while working through the issues.