African Fashion Is Changing the Rules | Beatrace Oola on Power, Waste & Representation

What if the future of fashion is already being created — just not by the people the industry has traditionally chosen to put in the spotlight? Fashion is never just about what we wear. It tells stories about identity, culture, power, value and belonging. And the way the fashion industry operates reveals a lot about whose creativity is celebrated, whose labour is undervalued, and whose voices get to shape the future. In this episode of CHANGE_liscious, I sit down with Beatrace Oola, founder of Fashion Africa Now and APYA Productions, to challenge the narratives we've inherited about fashion, African creativity and the global industry. We talk about a fashion movement that is rewriting the rules — from contemporary African and Afrodiasporic design to circular production, cultural responsibility and new ways of creating value. And we look at an uncomfortable reality: clothes discarded in one part of the world can become mountains of waste in another. What if the answer isn't simply to consume more responsibly, but to rethink the system itself? IN THIS CONVERSATION: Why African fashion is far more than the stereotypes many people still associate with it Who gets visibility, recognition and economic opportunity in the global fashion industry The hidden consequences of overconsumption and textile waste How designers are transforming discarded materials into exceptional fashion Why limited editions and pre-order models can offer alternatives to overproduction The difference between cultural appreciation, appropriation and genuine collaboration What fashion can teach us about identity, power and the stories we tell Why real change requires courage, new perspectives and a willingness to question the status quo MEET BEATRACE OOLA Beatrace Angut Lorika Oola is the founder of Fashion Africa Now and APYA Productions. She is an interdisciplinary curator, creative consultant, lecturer and speaker working at the intersection of fashion, culture and social change. Through her work, she creates visibility and access for designers of African origin, connects creatives with institutions and businesses, and challenges established narratives within the fashion and cultural industries. A THOUGHT TO TAKE WITH YOU What if we stopped asking how to make the existing system a little better — and started asking who gets to shape the system that comes next? ABOUT CHANGE_LICIOUS CHANGE_liscious is a podcast about the people, ideas and inner shifts shaping change — in business, leadership and life. Hosted by Hedi Schaefer, founder of The Impact Boutique, TEDx speaker and Change Maker Activator. Subscribe for conversations that challenge the way we think, lead and create what comes next. Find Beatrace and her work: Fashion Africa Now: https://fashionafricanow.com/ APYA Productions: https://apya-productions.com/ #AfricanFashion #FashionIndustry #SustainableFashion