Africa’s fashion and legal communities will witness a turning point on Saturday as Fashion Law in Africa, the continent’s first comprehensive textbook dedicated to the subject, launches in Lagos.
Authored by Bernice Asein, a leading legal innovator and founder of the Fashion Law Institute, the book addresses an urgent gap in Africa’s creative economy: the absence of clear legal frameworks for its vibrant but largely informal fashion sector.
“The creative ingenuity across Africa is world-class, but without the right legal frameworks, much of its value is lost,” Asein said ahead of the launch. “This book is a call to action – to protect, scale, and sustain our fashion economy with laws that reflect our realities.”
Covering topics such as intellectual property rights, digital fashion, cross-border trade, contracts, and sustainability, Fashion Law in Africa provides practical guidance for designers, lawyers, students, policymakers, and entrepreneurs navigating the industry’s unique legal landscape.
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The launch comes at a time when issues of intellectual property, fair trade, and ethical practices are increasingly central to Africa’s fashion discourse, especially with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the sector’s growing digital footprint.
Asein, who founded the Fashion Law Institute, Africa’s first institution dedicated to the intersection of fashion and law, has spent years championing legal literacy and policy engagement for creatives. Her advocacy has amplified the voices of emerging designers while shaping discussions around fair regulation for the industry’s future.
More than just a legal text, Fashion Law in Africa is positioned as a manifesto for protecting Africa’s creative economy and building robust systems that allow it to thrive.
The book will be formally launched in Lagos on Saturday, with key stakeholders, creatives, and legal professionals expected to attend. It will be available in select bookstores and on leading online platforms after the launch.
