Global Courant
The increasing popularity of made-in-Nigeria products is a major trend driving the growth of the Nigerian leather industry. Consumers at home and abroad are increasingly looking for products made in Nigeria. This is due to several factors, including a desire to support local businesses and an increasing number of Nigerian companies producing affordable, high quality and sustainable products. This makes it easier for Nigerian consumers to find the products they are looking for.
In general, Nigerians are more attracted to “imported” products than locally made ones due to social status and brand reputation and have come to value them more than locally made goods. While more goods are bought from other countries than locally, there is a slow but steady shift to buying locally manufactured goods.
Over the years, there have been several advocates and campaigns for made-in-Nigeria products, as the quality of made-in-Nigeria products has long been perceived as low, especially related to the use of substandard materials, poor craftsmanship, a lack of attention to detail and inadequate quality control. As a result of these factors, made-in-Nigeria products were often seen as inferior to imported products, leading to a reluctance on the part of many Nigerians to purchase made-in-Nigeria products.
However, several industry leaders and stakeholders are working to change this narrative and significant progress has been made. This is achieved through investment in research and development to improve the quality of made-in-Nigeria products, upskill employees and implement quality control measures to ensure products meet international standards.
These initiatives are starting to bear fruit. The quality of made-in-Nigeria products is getting better and there is a growing demand for these products at home and abroad. This accelerates the Made-in-Nigeria campaign. There is a growing awareness of the importance of supporting local businesses, and Nigerians are beginning to see the value in buying made-in-Nigeria products.
LLF
According to a report by Statistical Nigeria’s shoe market is experiencing a surge in demand for locally made, handmade shoes due to a growing appreciation for traditional craftsmanship. The report showed that by 2023, revenue from the footwear market in Nigeria will reach US$2.40 billion, and it is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of 8.43% from 2023 to 2028. The Nigerian Institute of Leather Science and Technology (NILEST) reports that Nigeria has the capacity to make 200 million pairs of shoes annually, worth more than $1.4 billion. The growth of the industry extends to bags and accessories, not just shoes.
The growing population of the country of over 200 million people coupled with the increased and more importantly consistent growth in the leather industry are contributing to the booming market in Nigeria.
One of the industry stakeholders that has consistently changed the story through an initiative, Lagos Leather Fair, LLF, is Femi Olayebi, the founder, LLF and creative director of My World of Bags, FemiHandbags, a premium leather handbags and accessories brand based in Ibadan, Niger. Year after year, Olayebi had experienced firsthand the many challenges within the industry and decided to create a platform that would begin to change the narrative within a neglected and misunderstood industry.
The Lagos Leather Fair initiative, which LLF launched more than five years ago, aims to raise awareness of the industry’s potential value by providing a much-needed platform for leather designers to showcase their products and their talent and to work to find sustainable solutions to move the industry forward and ensure that the Made-in-Nigeria project and the Zero-Oil initiative become a reality.
LLF is committed to achieving various goals and objectives, some of which are to facilitate market entry through various programs and increase brand extension opportunities through international trade shows and pop-ups, to establish strategic partnerships engage with relevant industry stakeholders and put in place the right structures and policies to grow the finished leather goods industry in Nigeria and beyond.
The initiative has largely contributed to the visibility of made-in-Nigeria products as it has showcased high-quality, affordable and sustainable leather products from Nigerian leather designers in recent years. This has helped change the narrative that all Nigerian made products are low quality; now Nigerians can see that there are designers in the industry who work tirelessly to ensure that quality products are designed and produced while also considering cultural heritage in the designs.
Not only does LLF showcase products and talents, but some of LLF’s achievements over the past five years include: more than 150 exhibiting brands – leather designers of shoes, handbags, apparel, jewelry, and furniture; raw material producers (tanners); artisans and manufacturers; machinery and equipment suppliers; leather shops, etc., were featured in the fair; the fair has brought more than 100 local and international speakers and numerous masterclasses and workshops.
The LLF 2023, the sixth edition themed Staying Ahead: Creativity, Collaboration, and Commitment, will take place June 17-18 at The Balmoral, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event will encapsulate the dynamic spirit of the growing leather industry. It will celebrate the relentless pursuit of innovation, the power of collaboration and the unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability.
The event is well-stocked and features various activities such as exhibitions from both local and international designers, talks and masterclasses, workshops, runway shows, and Pitch-A-LeatherBiz, a unique opportunity for emerging leather designers to pitch their business ideas to potential investors. To celebrate creativity, excellence and innovation while recognizing pioneers and renowned brands, LLF 2023 introduces the LLF Awards.
