COTERIE provides an opportunity for brands to showcase their collections and connect with international buyers/Courtesy
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 22 – Ten women-owned businesses from Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya will next week attend COTERIE, one of the United States’ top fashion trade shows, with support from the International Trade Centre’s SheTrades initiative.
Taking place at the Javits Center, New York City, on 25 – 27 February, COTERIE provides an opportunity for the brands to showcase their collections and connect with international buyers.
All ten companies are part of SheTrades in the Commonwealth Programme, funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).
In 2018, SheTrades sponsored a delegation of 9 brands from Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria to attend the fall edition of COTERIE, which led to meetings with 100 buyers and secured US $495,000 USD in trade leads.
One of the participating companies was Afrodesiac, a Ghanaian company that has seen tremendous success following its attendance at COTERIE.
‘The International Trade Centre has helped our company reach international markets by giving us access to new buyers through trade shows and exhibitions. Thanks to support from SheTrades and DFID, we expanded our business by over 50 percent.’ said Chiedza Makonnen, Founder of Afrodesiac Worldwide.
This year SheTrades is showcasing new brands including Bello Edu, a Ghanaian company, and Lilabare Clothing from Kenya.
The SheTrades in the Commonwealth programme aims to increase economic growth and job creation in Commonwealth countries by increasing the participation of women-owned businesses in international trade.
The project is funded by the UK Department for International Development and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the framework of the SheTrades Initiative.
