Ferragamo for artisan communities in Burkina Faso to promote women’s empowerment through the Ethical Fashion Initiative
Ferragamo has partnered with the Ethics Fashion Program (EFI) of the United Nations Small Business Institution International Trade Centre (ITC) Program (ITC) to address the critical gap in the handmade cotton supply chain in West Africa.
The goal of this multi-year partnership, including EU support and its OACPS business-friendly program, is the construction of West Africa’s first cotton dye factory in Burkina Faso. The plant is expected to be operational in 2026 and will promote craftsmen’s production capacity in dyeing, textile production and trade Faso and Fanitraditional Burkina Faso cotton fabric. As a result, the availability of high-quality, certified and traceable dyed yarns will increase and promote access to international markets, especially to benefit from the country’s female artisan community.
Cotton has a strategic position in the economies of several West African countries (especially Burkina Faso), and women play an undeniable role in agriculture, especially in cotton growth – however, their work is widely considered Underestimated.
Executive Director of ITC Pamela Coke-Hamilton, explain, “Our partnership with Ferragamo is the first factory to build such cotton in West Africa – creating jobs and income opportunities for women while bringing visibility to traditional cultural expressions – is an example of private sector-supported sustainable development . It’s not just a socially responsible way to move forward; it’s economically feasible.”
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, which measures the relative gap between men and women in four key areas (health, education, economy and politics), Burkina Faso ranked No. 146 countries in 2024 120 digits.
Ferragamo’s contribution is delivered directly to EFI’s European partners Social Cooperation GlovesIt is an Italian social enterprise employing 14 women, 12 of which are immigrants and asylum seekers of various ethnic groups, mainly from Africa and belonging to vulnerable groups. Manusa for Cabes Gie (“Commerce et artisanat pour le bien-etre society-group d’Interet Economique”), EFI as a network of 91 productive entities and 2400 artisans (mainly women) created in Burkina Faso and Social enterprise specializing in the manual production of hand-woven Faso and Fani.
Farida Ballo, Cabes staining manager, said “We use certified GOTS dyes and traditional methods to work with three small dyeing units. However, the yarn creates facial quality issues such as entanglement, lack of unity and harassment, resulting in frequent rejection. The new factory will address these issues, Enable us to pass quality control testing through CABES and international clients’ laboratories.”
The main service provided through the Ferragamo donation is the provision of machinery, textile engineering consulting and supplementary equipment imported from Italy for the 1,350 m2 new textile dye factory, almost the size of six tennis courts. The plant will produce about 24 tons of dyed yarn each year and provide approximately 80 direct and indirect for weavers, dyed yarn distributors, biomass collectors, transporters and handlers, textile technicians and engineers, etc. Work. Work is also being made to improve the environmental efficiency of plants.
Another service offered by Manusa, thanks to Ferragamo’s contribution, which manufactures about 400 home decor pads using cotton fabrics produced by Cabes, will be under the brand “Fashion Hands” of EFI Network Artisans For sale online, the brand will be launched in 2025.
Chairman Leonardo Ferragamo said “Our support for EFI’s project in Burkina Faso stems from deep belief in empowering women, fostering their independence and creating ways to reduce poverty and gender inequality. This initiative reflects Ferragamo (Ferragamo). ) Lasting commitment to promoting women’s rights and promoting social responsibility within the community.”
The commitment sparked the legacy of Wanda Ferragamo, whose visionary leadership and resilience changed the company after her husband Salvatore’s early death. Her example reinforces the core value of the brand: a firm belief in women’s potential for change to shape a better future. Today, this legacy is reflected in Ferragamo’s emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEI&B), a cornerstone of its strategic sustainability plan.
Salvatore Ferragamo Spa It is the parent company of the Salvatore Ferragamo Group and one of the leaders in the luxury industry, with its origins dating back to 1927. Salvatore Ferragamo is known for creating, producing and globally distributed luxury products, leather products, leather products, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing, clothing and other accessories for men and women, including glasses, watches and perfumes, and License obtained. Ferragamo embeds the spirit of its founder to reinterpret its legacy with creative, innovative and sustainable approaches. The fusion of uniqueness and exclusivity, as well as the style and sophistication of Savoir-Faire, is the hallmark of all Ferragamo products.
Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) It’s a program International Trade Center (ITC), joint agency WTO and United Nations. The mission of the program is to promote sustainable and inclusive development in emerging economies by increasing trade and employment in creative and cultural industries, fashion and textiles.. Since its inception in 2009, EFI has worked with countless designers, craftsmen and entrepreneurs, and has worked with dozens of global brands and institutions in fashion and other creative industries.
Distributed by Apo Group on behalf of the International Trade Center.
