Tessy Oliseh-Amaize, a UK-trained Nigerian designer and creative director of Tesslo, has called upon Nigeria’s Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy to take urgent action in addressing the challenges faced by the country’s fashion industry. In the June 6 episode of “Fashion Professor,” a popular Instagram vlog series, Oliseh-Amaize emphasized the need for regulatory frameworks to make the industry more profitable and sustainable for designers.
Despite the Nigerian fashion industry’s potential, Oliseh-Amaize argued that it might not achieve the same global success as Afrobeats without proper intervention. One of the primary obstacles she highlighted is the lack of regulatory oversight, which leaves designers vulnerable to unauthorized replication of their unique designs by local tailors. This issue deprives designers of their rightful earnings and undermines the industry’s integrity.
Oliseh-Amaize also drew attention to the absence of a regulatory framework for tailors in Nigeria, contrasting it with sectors like transportation, where even motorcycles require license plates. She argued that this lack of regulatory standards exposes designers to exploitation and intellectual property theft.
Another concern addressed in the episode is the proliferation of fashion academies across the country without clear oversight or regulation. Oliseh-Amaize, a recipient of Nigeria’s Best Designer Award in 2006, likened these institutions to a “pandemic” within the industry, questioning their quality of education and substandard practices, which further erode the industry’s credibility.
While acknowledging the government’s support for the fashion sector, Oliseh-Amaize called for more structured intervention from the Ministry of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy to tackle these challenges head-on. She drew parallels with the music industry, where structured streaming systems enable artists to generate income long after their peak years, emphasizing the importance of establishing a similar framework in fashion to support designers sustainably.
Oliseh-Amaize stressed that having a large population does not necessarily translate to a profitable and sustainable fashion industry for designers. She urged the ministry to take proactive steps in developing regulatory frameworks that protect designers’ intellectual property, ensure quality education in fashion academies, and create a structured system that allows designers to thrive financially.
As the Nigerian fashion industry continues to grow and gain international recognition, addressing these challenges through government intervention and collaboration with industry stakeholders will be crucial in realizing its full potential and securing a sustainable future for designers.
Credit: Guardianng.com
