STORY: Zambian fashion designer thinks big after attending China-Africa trade expo
DATELINE: July 23, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:37
LOCATION: Lusaka
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of Kabaso Nkandu in an interview
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KABASO NKANDU, Creative director and head designer at Nkanda Yatu
3. various of Kabaso Nkandu in an interview
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KABASO NKANDU, Creative director and head designer at Nkanda Yatu
5. various of Kabaso Nkandu in an interview
 
STORYLINE:
 
A young Zambian fashion designer said participation in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo has enabled him to appreciate and understand the Chinese business model and how to penetrate the market.
 
Kabaso Nkandu, creative director and head designer at Nkanda Yatu, a Zambian fashion brand, said his participation at the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in the central Chinese city of Changsha from June 29 to July 2, provided him an opportunity to not only sell his brand to the Chinese market but meet important players in the garment sector.
 
Nkandu, 34, participated at the expo under the auspices of a China-Kenya marketing agency, Development Reimagined, which is committed to taking African brands into the Chinese market. The agency organized sessions that focused on understanding the Chinese market and business model, as well as marketing and finding business partners.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KABASO NKANDU, Creative director and head designer at Nkanda Yatu
"And that was very important because it opens our minds to say that we cannot just limit ourselves to just the Zambian market, it opens our minds, and we are able to tap even into other markets like the Chinese market which was very, very good."
 
Nkandu, who specializes in custom-made suits for both men and women as well as wedding garments, said during the expo he met with fabric manufacturers, which is important because textiles have been one of the biggest constraints to the growth of the garment industry in Zambia, as most textiles have to be imported.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KABASO NKANDU, Creative director and head designer at Nkanda Yatu
"Through the expo, I was able to meet tremendous manufacturers of fabric, because as you have seen the Zambian industry, textile has been one of the biggest obstacles to the growth of the industry. Because we don't have a local textile industry that is being made from here. So most of the textile that we use is the one that we import from other countries and for us to be able to process them. There are a lot of things involved. So, I was able to meet people that are very influential and who are willing to work with a Zambian brand like myself, to make sure that they introduce their products in this textile market and that was a very key element."
 
He expressed optimism that his brand will enter the Chinese market because of the enthusiasm shown during the expo. "The major highlight of this trip was seeing Chinese people appreciating products from Africa. The Chinese market is something that will absorb our brand because I could tell from the interest."
   
The fashion designer has since urged Zambian companies to take a keen interest in attending platforms such as the China-Africa trade expo, which are of great help in introducing Zambian products to other markets.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Lusaka.
(XHTV)