WGSN opens Africa office

With a growing presence in Africa, global trend forecaster, WGSN, has opened its Africa head office in Cape Town, and will host a series of trend seminars across Africa later this year.

WGSN, which was founded 18 years ago, has 14 offices globally and has already been operational in Africa for the past 10 years with over 70 clients, including leading retailers and suppliers in South Africa.

African clients can look forward to expert advice when head of fashion at WGSN, Catriona Macnab, makes a weeklong roadshow in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg for an inside look at seasonal trends.

Macnab, an esteemed creative forecaster based in London, has been part of the WGSN team for 12 years and together with her team provide fashion and design companies with exclusive trend advice regarding colour, fabric and style.

The global trend authority provides fashion and lifestyle forecasting, data analytics and expert consultation to their broad client database all across the globe. WGSN is relied upon by more than 6,000 clients, including 95% of Fortune 500 apparel companies, as well as some of the world’s most creative and innovative businesses, from multinational brands to independent designers.

WGSN regional director for Africa, Hannari Slabbert said, Africa, with its unique people and creative minds, is an emerging market and the logical next step for WGSN to expand our services. “Fashion and creative minds from the continent are already creating a buzz in the industry with designers and brands featured all over the world.”

In May 2015, it was reported that sub-Saharan Africa’s apparel and footwear market was worth $31 billion, making WGSN’s entry into the continent a logical one as it increases its foothold in a growing market. With WGSN’s official launch into Africa, fashion houses, retailers and buyers will be able to stay on trend in a rapidly changing industry.

Jose Papa, CEO of WGSN added that Africa was a hub of creativity and full of growth. “The investment in our first office in Africa signals our belief, as the world’s leading trend forecaster, that Africa will play a bigger part in the future globally. The fact that large international fashion retailers are also extending their presence in the continent, makes this the ideal time for us. We’re hugely excited to see the African market grow and to be a part of that.”

WGSN’s experts provide deep insight and analysis of consumer, fashion and designer trends, to ultimately assist clients with their planning. The trend authority will offer their full range of services to those operating in the fashion and creative space in Africa. These cover online trend services for fashion, lifestyle and interiors; retail data analytics; crowd-sourcing design validation; and expert consulting.

WGSN is owned by Ascential, a leading international media company that informs and connects business professionals in 150 countries through market-leading exhibitions and festivals, and information services.