AFRICAN DESIGN TAKES CENTER STAGE IN GLOBAL LUXURY WITH INDUSTRIE AFRICA’S NEW VENTURE

Industrie Africa blends fashion and travel with new B2B retail arm, bringing African design into luxury resort spaces.

Industrie africa Fashion Luxury travel destinations Tanzania Select.

Industrie Africa unveiled B2B retail consultancy Select

Industrie Africa has unveiled a pioneering B2B retail consultancy-Select-designed to bring the continent’s artisanal design directly into the heart of luxury travel destinations.

As the digital fashion platform marks its fifth anniversary, the launch of Select marks a significant strategic evolution, signaling Industrie Africa’s intent to embed fashion not just in closets, but in experiences. Moving beyond traditional e-commerce, the consultancy aims to transform high-end hospitality environments into living showrooms for contemporary African design.

The debut partnership with SoLA (Society of Luxury Artisanship), a boutique located on Zanzibar’s exclusive Bawe Island, demonstrates this vision in action. Guests at the award-winning resort can shop a bespoke capsule collection by Senegalese label Tongoro, a brand beloved by global icons such as Beyoncé. The collection is not only displayed on-site but is also available worldwide through Industrie Africa’s online platform, seamlessly linking physical presence with digital reach.

For Nisha Kanabar, founder and CEO of Industrie Africa, Select is a response to changing consumer behaviors. “Travelers today are seeking depth, context, and authenticity. African design has been underutilised in this equation, and we believe there is a meaningful opportunity here,” she said.

The consultancy crafts tailor-made retail strategies for each partner property, carefully curating collections that reflect the locale’s cultural landscape and aesthetic. Participating designers are chosen independently, without pay-for-play arrangements, ensuring curatorial integrity remains central to the experience. Products bear a custom label and guests are encouraged to engage with the designer stories via QR codes that link back to the Industrie Africa platform.

This physical-digital loop does more than promote fashion; it fosters cultural appreciation. “Our goal is to create retail that is emotionally and geographically grounded,” Kanabar added. “Select is about scaling the connection between designers and consumers by embedding fashion into emotionally resonant travel environments.”

Select’s business model contrasts sharply with conventional fashion retail or dropshipping marketplaces. Partner resorts carry their stock, allowing for better brand storytelling and quality control. The consultancy’s offerings range from seasonal guidance to fully realized retail concepts, with optional add-ons such as private label capsules and guest-driven design activations.

Bawe Island is just the beginning. With a second SoLA location in development and interest from resorts in Tanzania’s Serengeti region, Industrie Africa is positioning itself to become a key cultural broker in the luxury travel industry. The timing is strategic: post-pandemic travelers are increasingly seeking deeper meaning and connection in their journeys.

Kanabar, who is based in Dar es Salaam, noted that the consultancy arm will also serve as a proof-of-concept for potential investors, with a funding round on the horizon in 2026. With its e-commerce business already shipping to 57 countries and the U.S. accounting for 80% of sales, Industrie Africa is now doubling down on the intersection of storytelling, commerce, and place-based design.

As the lines between travel, retail, and culture continue to blur, Industrie Africa’s new direction could very well set a blueprint for how fashion is consumed not just as a product, but as an experience.

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AFRICAN DESIGN TAKES CENTER STAGE IN GLOBAL LUXURY WITH INDUSTRIE AFRICA’S NEW VENTURE

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