We come from Africa and it is increasingly evident that we are returning to Africa, a “new” continent to look to. Signals are growing ever stronger, especially the idea of replacing the ambiguous “for” them with a genuine “with” them in order to look to the future together. This is exemplified by a small yet remarkable success story from the world of high fashion, one so emblematic that it not only challenges a fading stereotype but redefines the very paradigm of sustainable development in its three main dimensions: economic, social, and environmental.
All of this—and probably more—can be found in “Made For A Woman”, the brand created by Eileen Akbaraly. Born from the idea of transforming the fashion world into a tool for empowerment and beauty, creating opportunities, restoring dignity, and doing so with a low environmental impact, the brand now employs 750 artisans in Madagascar and collaborates with the big luxury fashion houses.
“From an early age, I felt the need to do something: it was not enough for me to observe, I wanted to take action,” says Eileen, the 30-year-old founder of the atelier, who grew up in Madagascar (“One of the most beautiful places on Earth, rich in culture and biodiversity, but marked by profound inequalities”) in a family with Italian, Indian, French and Malagasy roots. This is how “our journey, which started in 2019, officially began in 2020, and we haven't stopped since.” Moreover, Eileen acted without being discouraged either by sceptics or by the utopian idea of making high-quality fashion involving marginalised women in one of the ten poorest countries in the world.
Only five years later, the thirty-year-old fashion designer, who graced the cover of Forbes Africa Under 30, was not only recognised as a successful entrepreneur, but she is said to have redefined the very contours of luxury, demonstrating that there is another way of doing business.
Providing employment could have been a goal in itself, but offering work in order to compete in the world of high fashion was more complex—even risky. Going further, to create a space where everyone could feel valued, seemed almost audacious. Yet, stopping there would still have been limiting. In fact: “We welcome,”—she says—“artisans with complex backgrounds and support them on a path of training and growth that goes far beyond their professional work, which is of very high quality. Each of them has access to an ecosystem of services that includes health care, psychosocial support, financial education, literacy, and nursery school, all of which are also extended free of charge to the families of the artisans to generate a real impact on the entire community”.
From this, it is clear that one of the most demanding challenges was “breaking down barriers, first and foremost cultural ones, and building trust to make women believe in their own value after whole lives spent feeling invisible”.
The other challenge, which was also a considerable one, was that of bringing two worlds together: sustainability and the needs of the international luxury market. Finding a balance between the pace of slow artisanal fashion and the demands of the industry has not been and is not easy, “especially when you want to remain true to your values”.
Today, it can safely be said that both challenges have been overcome through a journey of entrepreneurial and social commitment, which forms the very foundation of the brands high-quality creations. Entirely handmade from sustainable materials such as raffia, these pieces preserve traditional knowledge interpreted by excellent craftsmanship and are now proudly presented to the world under the banner of made in Madagascar.
Verification by the WFTO, collaborations with Chloé and Fendi, appearances at Milan Fashion Week, international awards, a visit by France's First Lady Brigitte Macron, and, finally, the Forbes Afrique cover, have all been key milestones that have brought visibility and credibility to the brand, establishing it as a model for the fashion industry at large. Today, Made For A Woman is not just a successful brand. It is a hard-working community, a model that can be replicated and that demonstrates that “another, fairer way of doing business is not a utopia but is really possible”. Collaborations with brands like Fendi and Chloé are not merely supplier arrangements; they are co-creative endeavours to design and craft products that walk the world's most prestigious runways and feature in top magazines.
This powerful message of a virtuous model would be incomplete without acknowledging the brand's environmental commitment. The Atelier uses only natural raffia of local origin. The raffia is collected from certified suppliers in an environmentally friendly manner following a transparent supply chain, then dyed with non-toxic pigments and processed according to a variety of artisanal techniques, such as crochet, macramé, tressage, embroidery and weaving. To further reduce the environmental impact, the brand uses second-hand materials, such as cotton, and recycles raffia that would otherwise be thrown away or discarded, transforming it into “Rainbow” products, multicoloured creations that are completely unique and different from each other: a practice that has made it possible to significantly reduce waste.
It's a strong contribution to a fashion industry that emits over 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases, almost 4 percent of global emissions, and produces 92 million tonnes of textile waste, 87 percent of which ends up in landfill.
In its challenging but calm journey toward as comprehensive a circularity as possible, Made For A Woman succeeds in protecting and promoting both people and the environment, reinvesting the largest possible share each year to expand and consolidate social impact alongside economic, physical, and mental wellbeing. The brand's psychosocial department cares for employees—often women in fragile or impoverished circumstances.
Eileen’s dream is “to leave a footprint that inspires colleagues and shows that it is truly possible to run a business with a positive social impact”.
Culture, energy, training, infrastructure, creativity: these are the key sectors in which to invest. Within this vision, fashion has emerged as a powerful tool for dialogue and cultural diplomacy, capable of creating connections, shared visions, and new opportunities, both in Italy and Africa.
