Ouagadougou: Ferragamo collaborates with the Ethical Fashion Initiative to establish a cotton dyeing factory in Burkina Faso, aiming to empower women artisans and enhance local textile production. This initiative, backed by the EU, seeks to improve the cotton supply chain and promote sustainable development.
Ferragamo has entered a notable partnership with the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI), a programme under the umbrella of the International Trade Centre (ITC), which belongs to the United Nations and focuses on supporting small businesses. This collaboration is set to address a significant void in the artisanal cotton supply chain within West Africa, a sector characterised by a predominantly female workforce.
The partnership aims to establish the region’s first cotton dyeing factory in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with operations anticipated to begin in 2026. This initiative is supported by the European Union, as part of its OACPS Business Friendly Programme. The factory will enhance local artisans’ capabilities in dyeing, textile production, and the trade of Faso Dan Fani, a traditional cotton fabric from Burkina Faso. By improving the availability of high-quality, certified, and traceable dyed yarns, the factory will facilitate better access to international markets for women artisan communities in the region.
Cotton plays a crucial role in the economies of various West African nations, especially in Burkina Faso, where women are heavily involved in cotton cultivation. Nevertheless, their contributions are often seen as undervalued, which this initiative seeks to rectify. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the ITC, stated, “Our partnership with Ferragamo to build the first cotton-dying factory of this kind in West Africa – creating jobs and income opportunities for women while bringing visibility to traditional cultural expressions – is an example of private sector-backed sustainable development. It’s not only a socially responsible way to move forward; it’s economically viable.”
According to the latest figures in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, Burkina Faso holds the 120th position out of 146 countries in 2024; highlighting persistent gender disparity challenges in critical areas such as health, education, economy, and politics.
Ferragamo’s contributions have been instrumental at a grassroots level, directly benefiting EFI’s European partner, MANUSA Cooperative Sociale. This Italian social enterprise employs 14 women, the majority of whom are migrants and asylum seekers from various African nations, and focuses on providing developmental support to CABES GIE (Commerce et Artisanat Pour le Bien-Etre Social), which is an Economic Interest Group consisting of 91 productive entities and 2,400 artisans, predominantly women, specialising in the artisanal crafting of Faso Dan Fani.
Farida Ballo, the Dyeing Manager at CABES, articulated the challenges facing their current operations: “We work with three small dyeing units using certified GOTS dyes and traditional methods. However, the yarns produced face quality issues such as entanglement, lack of uniformity, and disgorgement, leading to frequent rejections. The new factory will address these issues, enabling us to pass quality control tests at CABES and with international customers’ laboratories.”
Ferragamo has provided essential support through the supply of machinery imported from Italy, textile engineering consulting, and supplementary equipment for the dyeing factory, which will encompass 1,350 square metres—almost equivalent to the area of six tennis courts. The facility is projected to produce approximately 24 tonnes of dyed yarn annually and generate around 80 jobs, both directly and indirectly, spanning roles for weavers, dyed yarn resellers, and textile experts, among others. There are plans in place to enhance the environmental efficiency of the factory, aligning with sustainable goals.
Additionally, MANUSA’s ongoing service offers the manufacturing of approximately 400 home decoration cushions crafted from cotton fabrics produced by CABES, with plans to sell these items online under the EFI brand ‘Hands of Fashion’, set to launch in 2025.
Leonardo Ferragamo, the Chairman of Ferragamo, commented, “Our support for EFI’s project in Burkina Faso stems from a deep belief in empowering women, fostering their independence, and creating pathways to reduce poverty and gender inequality. This initiative reflects Ferragamo’s enduring dedication to advancing women’s rights and promoting social responsibility within communities.”
This commitment aligns with the legacy of Wanda Ferragamo, whose leadership after her husband Salvatore’s untimely death greatly influenced the company’s trajectory. Her vision is ingrained in the brand’s core values, including a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B), which is central to its sustainability strategy.
Founded in 1927, Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. has emerged as a key player in the luxury industry, known for its footwear, leather goods, apparel, silk products, and accessories. The company continues to blend its rich heritage with creativity and a sustainable approach, epitomising unique craftsmanship synonymous with ‘Made in Italy’.
The Ethical Fashion Initiative aims to facilitate sustainable growth and inclusive progress in emerging economies through increased trade and employment opportunities within the creative and cultural sectors, including fashion and textiles. Since its inception in 2009, the EFI has collaborated with numerous designers, artisans, and major global brands to foster sustainable practices within the industry.
Source: Noah Wire Services
