About
TFLAS is a platform dedicated to protecting, promoting, and expanding the African fashion industry with a strong focus on fashion law, business development, and preserving cultural heritage. We work to empower African designers by providing the resources, education, and legal tools needed to safeguard their creations and cultural identity while elevating their work to a global stage.
At the heart of our mission is the protection of African fashion’s cultural heritage—from textiles to traditional craftsmanship—ensuring that African creativity is respected and protected against exploitation. By offering guidance on brand protection and intellectual property, we help designers retain control of their work and cultural stories while fostering innovation and global visibility.
Mission
The mission of TFLAS is to protect, promote, and expand the African fashion sector by equipping designers and entrepreneurs with the tools they need to safeguard their creativity, preserve their cultural heritage, and build sustainable businesses. Through the lens of fashion law and business education, we work to ensure that African designers understand the importance of protecting their intellectual property, from trademarks and patents to cultural heritage protection.
We are dedicated to ensuring that African designers are not exploited, that their creations are respected, and that their rights are defended in a global market that often overlooks their unique contributions. By offering legal resources, brand protection education, and business mentorship, we empower designers to take control of their work and prevent unauthorized use or exploitation of their designs.
At the same time, we place a strong emphasis on preserving the cultural heritage of African fashion. This involves safeguarding traditional techniques, indigenous textiles, and the stories embedded within each design. Our efforts are aimed at ensuring that African fashion is not only a thriving business but also a source of cultural pride, rooted in the rich history and diversity of the continent.
Vision
Our vision is to see African fashion recognized as a powerful force in the global fashion industry, where designers are not only celebrated for their creativity but also respected for their cultural contributions. We envision a future where African designers have the tools, support, and global platforms to showcase their work, protect their heritage, and lead the fashion industry toward a more inclusive, sustainable future.
We strive to create a world where African craftsmanship, textiles, and cultural stories are valued and protected, and where African fashion takes its rightful place as a leader in global fashion innovation.
How we do this
At TFLAS, we combine fashion law education, business development, global exposure, and cultural preservation to support African designers. Through workshops, panels, and keynote discussions at our Annual Summit—our largest event of the year—we bring together fashion law experts, marketing professionals, finance strategists, and retail specialists. These sessions provide actionable insights on brand protection, intellectual property, trademark law, and strategies for scaling businesses. We also offer guidance on marketing, financial planning, and retail expansion, helping designers build sustainable brands and connect with global markets.
In addition to education, we provide pro bono legal services and business mentorship year-round to ensure designers can apply what they’ve learned to protect their work and grow their businesses. Our New York Fashion Week showroom offers a platform for designers to showcase their collections to an international audience, helping them gain global exposure and build valuable connections.
Through initiatives like the African Cultural Textile Ownership Initiative (ACTO), we help designers preserve traditional techniques and safeguard their cultural heritage. By fostering global partnerships and offering educational resources, we empower African designers to protect their creativity, scale their businesses, and make a lasting impact on the global fashion industry.
