The Fashion Industry Crisis: Why Chasing the Runway Means Going Broke

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The podcast is free. The room is on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/cw/Afropolitanpodcast Mai Atafo told me something I can't unhear: "95% of luxury goods are made in China. They just put an Italian label on it." Made in Guangzhou. Blessed in Florence. Priced like a miracle. Mai could have played the same game. Source cheap. Label expensive. Collect the margin. He refused. Sixteen years ago, he walked away from a senior brand manager role at Guinness to build one of Nigeria's most recognized fashion houses. His mother called his wife: "Are you sure about this man?" She believed before the evidence existed. Today, Mai has dressed grooms across the continent, built a brand synonymous with Nigerian luxury, and learned every brutal lesson the fashion industry has to teach. He chose to manufacture in Nigeria when everyone told him he was crazy. He chose time over a house in Banana Island. This conversation goes far beyond fashion. It's about what it really costs to build something authentic in a country that fights you at every turn. AUNTY'S SCULPTURE COLLECTION A limited collection by Anthony Azekwoh x Afropolitan. 100 pieces. Application only. Apply here: https://formless.ai/c/q1GB9jAzOWTr WHERE TO FIND MAI ATAFO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maiatafo Atafo Brand: https://www.instagram.com/atafo__ EPISODE SPONSORS Vban: Open a free global account in minutes. Use code AFROPOLITAN: https://vban.com CONVO BY AFROPOLITAN Book 1:1 calls with Africa's boldest thinkers: https://convo.vip/ AFROPOLITAN Twitter/X: https://x.com/afropolitan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afropolitanpodcast Newsletter: https://www.afropolitan.io/newsletter Patreon: Patreon.com/AfropolitanPodcast