#FashionCall, Our New Thematic Call for Fashion Designers in Ethiopia

WIDU launches WIDU #FashionCall Ethiopia to support fashion designers by pairing matched grants with tailored business coaching, fuelling creative, inclusive, and sustainable growth. With this competitive thematic call, WIDU aims to provide personalized training, funding, and showcasing opportunities to designers so that they can grow their businesses, create jobs, and contribute to local economic development. 

By participating in this call, you can:

• Access financial support to boost your business with a matching grant model
• Receive tailored business coaching to enhance your business strategy and operations
• Join a growing network of entrepreneurs focused on sustainable growth and job creation
• No diaspora co-funding—this opportunity is 100% locally driven and accessible

To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Must be 20 years of age or older
• Must be an Ethiopian citizen
• Must own the business they are applying with
• Must own a registered business with a valid license for at least 2 years
• Must be willing and able to invest between 160,000 – 320,000 ETB during September and October
• The business must be in the field of fashion design within the specified categories
• The business can have up to 20 employees
• Applicants who have participated in WIDU's previous local calls are not eligible
• Applicants who have applied for the Original WIDU Grant must first complete their existing project application before applying

Businesses that promote sustainability, practice inclusive employment, foster gender equality, and/or support disadvantaged communities are encouraged to apply.

• Bank Statement

Upload your bank statement as proof that you have the necessary funds available for your private investment.

• Pitch Document

It is recommended to prepare your pitch document in PDF format, not exceeding 15MB.

Applicants must submit a pitch document that clearly addresses the following points:

1. Business Sustainability: describe how your business maintains long-term sustainability, including financial and operational aspects.
2. Target Group & Business/Product Accessibility: describe your customer base and how your business/product is made accessible to your customers.
3. Collection & Style: present your design style and vision, including sample drawings or visuals that reflect your unique design concept.
4. Brand Identity: share your brand story and values, along with your social media handles and/or website link.
5. Relevant Education & Experience: detail your background in fashion-related fields such as fashion design, textile design, and tailoring.
6. Business Model & Marketing Strategy: describe how your business operates, generates revenue, and markets your products locally and beyond.

Please note that this is a competitive call; we kindly ask all applicants to carefully fulfil the stated requirements.