Jacqueline Shaw
Jacqueline Shaw is the Founder and Director of AfricaFashionGuide (AFG). Jacqueline is a professional Fashion Designer by trade with a background working and designing for fashion companies PUMA, Russell Athletic, Ocean Pacific, Fila, Chilli Pepper in London to name a few, and Babylon Princesse (Talent in Shanghai) in China.
Considered an eco-entrepreneur, Jacqueline is also the Director of ethical designer wedding dress company Latibeau Ltd and with a large interest in Africa’s fashion and textile industry, ethical fashion, sustainability and even more for international development through trade.
Jacqueline holds a Ba (Hons) degree in Fashion from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design and most recently a Masters Degree in Ethical Fashion. She has worked with the Ethical Fashion Forum representing African businesses at their first Source Expo tradeshow and has written for the West Africa Trade Hub/USAid website and even for Dazed and Confused magazine whilst on placement with them during her BA (Hons) degree.
Jacqueline forged AFG with the focus to promote the African fashion and textile industry to the greater global textile industry and thus to create links with African fashion businesses and the UK and EU fashion retail and consumer markets. She has self-published, curated and created her first book on African fashion which launched August 2011 entitled ‘Fashion Africa’.
?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?
JS: I choose a future where the continent of Africa has an impact on the world and not the rest of the world needing to impact Africa. I choose a future where my nieces can have other black female role models in their life and know that the colour of their skin and their gender will not set them apart from others in their future. I choose a future where the consumers at the other end don’t have to make a more considered decision in their shopping purchase because every area of the textile industry that I work in has a fair impact on those who work throughout the supply chain and on the environment.
?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?
JS:
The Bible – the most read book in the world.
The Renaissance era in art – in my opinion the best and most influential period in art history
The writings of Maya Angelou
The career of Oprah Winfrey – truly an inspiration
Dunn’s River Fall in Jamaica – a beautiful natural waterfall in amazing scenery on a beautiful island
?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose?
JS: Smiling at strangers – something small but impactful. Try it 9 times out of 10 you smile at someone they will smile. Then add a good morning to it and even better!
As Gandhi says ‘be the change you wish to see’ – if something bothers you – go and work in that field, go and campaign, go and help out – do your part. We have one life and it should be one that positively affects others we encounter
?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?
JS: Supporting the various cotton programs that help African farmers farm organically, get their cotton to retailers and new markets and also add fairtrade premiums which allows them to be self sufficient.
- Fair Trade Africa
- Environmental Justice Foundation
- Cofta – Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa
- Cotton Made In Africa
- See Africa Differently
- Brand Africa
Upcoming projects with my new social enterprise Africa Fashion Guide.
?!X: Future Soundtrack – What song would you take with you into the future?
JS: ‘Agnes Dei’ by gospel artist Donnie McClurkin
?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?
Follow Jacqueline on Twitter @JacquelineMShaw
How can we Create the Future you Choose? Take part here.
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