Explore East Africa's textiles and apparel industry through data. Get insights, trends, and analytics.

Why Make It East Africa?

The value this website gives

The Problem: For investors seeking to unlock the potential of the textile and apparel industry in East Africa, there aren’t consolidated resources providing well-presented information.

Our Solution: Make It East Africa helps you explore the investment potential of East Africa’s textile and apparel industry, providing insights, trends, and analytics to empower investors, researchers and industry professionals alike.

potential of the textile and apparel industry in East Africa

East Africa is the birthplace of mobile money, home to the silicon savanna and the next frontier of innovation, creativity and fashion in Africa and the world.

East Africa at a glance

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania & Rwanda

Green Energy: Kenya to Double Geothermal Output by 2030

Kenya will rank fourth on the global list of geothermal users. Read more

Stable political environment

Stable political environment 
and recognition of international law

English speaking

Educated English speaking population of 100 Mio domiciled and indigenous

Young & Educated Population

Rich youthful population that is well educated and informed in current affairs.

Cotton availability

Capabilities in Organic, rain-fed and sustainable cotton of up to 1mio bales/year

Robust exchange rate

Robust exchange rate regimes with convertibility of foreign currency and easy repatriation of funds

Interconnectivity

Efficient interconnectivity between 4 major developing markets KE UG TZ ET 
and RW

Natural resources

Plenty of arable land for raw material production

Marine ports

5 International Marine Cargo ports (3 under expansion)

Long coastline

4000Km of coastline. Gateway to the AfCFTA market of 350Mio consumers

East Africa's Green Energy Landscape

Leading the Charge in Sustainable Development

CountryResourceCapacityReference
KenyaGeothermal950 MW (approx.)IMF (2022)
Hydroelectric825.69 MWKenGen
Solar4 x 40 MW plants (Selenkei, Malindi, Alten, Cedate)Business Daily (April 2024)
Wind310 MW (Lake Turkana)Rodl & Partner (2021)
TanzaniaHydroelectric200 MW+ (Kidunda & Mtera Dams)AFISC
Thermal951.6 MWInternational Trade Administration
RwandaHydropower123.4 MWREG (2022)
Biomass (Peat)155 million tonnes potential, 7% of total generation
Biomass (Peat Plants)Gishoma (15 MW), Hakan (80 MW - 40% operational)
Solar12.050 MW
UgandaGeothermal450 MW (estimated potential)Sector Brief Uganda
Hydropower2,000 MW (approx., mid-2021)Sector Brief Uganda
Bioenergy94% of total energy consumptionSector Brief Uganda

East Africa, the next frontier in Textile 
and Garment Manufacturing and Sourcing

East Africa provides a great platform to build better. With ample competitive and trainable labour, an emerging industry and a strong government commitment to growth and development, the region presents a robust and stable platform to develop a vertical sourcing solution within the region.

Kenya 🇰🇪

The leading single exporter of garments under AGOA with under USD 600Mio of exports annually and the highest concentration and growth in manufacturing capacity.

Textile Mills

15 Textile Mills 3- fully vertical (cotton to clothing)

Garment manufacturing

27 Garment manufacturing units, including names such as MAS Intimates, Hela Clothing, Best Lifestyle Corp, United Aryan, Mega Apparel and Goldkas of India

Fabric Capabilities

Fabric Capabilities in Woven and Knits: Sheeting; Uniforms, Flannels; Home Furnishings, knitted cotton and synthetics, digital printing and embroidery

Leading brands

Leading brands; Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, TCP, Wrangler, Lee, North Face, Vans Levi’s, HM, Walmart

Exports

Exporting Woven Denim Bottoms & Jackets, Cotton Cargo pants & shorts, Knitted Tops & bottoms, Synthetic Bottoms Stretch Wovens shirts, Woven Tops & Bottoms; scrubs & neckties, T-Shirts, Polo, Shorts, Pants, Sportswear, Jacket, track suits) Active Wear (sports bras, tops and pants, yoga wear), sleepwear and lifestyle wear (hoodies, T-shirts, pants, jackets)

Cotton sourcing

BT Cotton Conventional, Area under cultivation : 11,700 Ha

Has access to cotton from her immediate neighbors, Tanzania and Uganda who are both net exporters.
Import from the region 8,900 MT Harvest season- Nov-Feb
Smallholder farmers: 6000
Traceability- possible

Demographics

Population: 52 Mio people
Literacy: 83%
Languages: English and Swahili
Avg operator wage: 
USD 100-150/m

FX

Open market no restrictions.
FX cover 3 months of GDP.

Tanzania 🇹🇿

The leading producer of cotton in the region with ample organic cotton, traceability and strong potential for natural fibre. Tanzania has an emerging garment industry.

Textile Mills

4 large textile mills, one already supplying fabric for exports to the US. Tanzania also has the biggest fully integrated textile facility in EAC, with over 30,000 spindles, full traceability in cotton and 40 knitting machines.

Fabric Capabilities

The country also has massive potential in banana, pineapple and sisal fibres. There are several manufacturers in the domestic market seeking investment opportunities. With a right off-taker, they would be willing to invest in further verticality.

Leading brands

Leading brands sourcing from Tanzania include Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, TCP, North Face, Wrangler, Vans, Levi’s

Products

The factories have capabilities in Denim, Sportswear, and Leisure wear.

Investors

Most investors are from Mauritius, China, Kenya, Taiwan

Natural Energy

Natural Energy Tanzania (1,700 MW Hydro, Gas, LNPG (2030), 42% coverage)

Cotton sourcing

Conventional and Organic Cotton
641,000 Ha under cultivation,
141,000 MT produced in 2022

98,000 MT exported in lint. (Approx. 70%)
Season for planting May – Aug

Demographics

Population: 65 Mio people
Literacy: 82%
Languages: English and Swahili
Avg operator wage: 
USD 80- 100/m

FX

Open FX regime for inflows and traders registered with the central bank.
FX cover 3 months of GDP.

Uganda 🇺🇬

Known as “The Pearl of Africa” Uganda offers an unparalleled opportunity to set up a fully vertical operation.

Resources

Uganda has an extensive natural dividend with plenty of food, water, and power. Electricity in Uganda is the second cheapest in the region and fully supplied by hydro. The country has room for the development of commercial farms.

Literacy

Uganda also has high literacy rates, and thanks to its food dividend, labor tends to be cheaper.

Textile mills

There are 3 large textile mills, 2 are fully integrated, 1 already exports to the EU and is BCI/ CMIA certified.

Products

Products being sourced: Knits Mens, Women’s and Kids clothing, Knitted & Woven Fabrics, Tops & Bottoms; Uniforms. Medical Textiles Spinning (cotton); Weaving; Knitting; Processing; CMIA/ BCI,  ISO 9001 – 2015, ISO 14001 – 2015, ISO 12485 – 2016

Energy

Uganda (2600MW, Hydro, 45% coverage)

Cotton sourcing

Conventional and Organic Cotton
104,000 Ha under cultivation,
45,000 MT produced in 2022

33,000 MT exported in lint. (Approx. 73%)
Season for planting May – Aug
Two crops per year

Demographics

Population: 47 Mio people
Literacy: 79%
Languages: English and various indigenous
Avg operator wage: 
USD 60- 120/m

FX

Open market no restrictions.
FX cover 5 months of GDP.

Rwanda 🇷🇼

Africa’s safest cities, modern country and an investment environment built for creativity, innovation and large scale garment manufacturing.

Potential

Rwanda has a smaller industry but very high potential for a textiles and garments solution.

Logistics

Rwanda’s geographical location makes it more suitable for airlifted cargo. The population and literacy levels make it a great place to host a hub, design and merchandising operation.

Uniqueness

Rwanda has a Meta campus, is home to the Africa NBA HQs, and its one of the few places on the continent where you can open a business in 24hrs.

Incentives

To nurture the country’s industry, Rwanda provides duty-free imports for all inputs and fabrics with several tax holidays granted by the Rwanda Development Board.

Manufacturing

Rwanda has 1 textile mill and 1 large-scale garment operation exporting to EU and the US.

Brands

Brands sourcing include Tesco, Otto Group, Intersports, Kate Spade. Products range from Ladies, Mens, Kids, and Protective Gear

AGOA

Rwanda does not have AGOA.

Cotton sourcing

Conventional and Organic Cotton
Rwanda has access to cotton from her immediate neighbors, Tanzania and Uganda who are both net exporters.

Demographics

Population: 13 Mio people
Literacy: 76%
Languages: English and French
Avg operator wage: 
USD 60- 120/m

FX

Open market no restrictions.
FX cover 5 months of GDP.

East Africa's manufacturing industry showcases resilience and innovation, with a growing focus on sustainable practices and the production of eco-friendly products.

Regional Fabric Mills

Leading manufacturers of textiles

Thika Cloth Mills 🇰🇪

Wovens
Vertical Farm to Fabric

Rivatex 🇰🇪

Wovens
Vertical Farm to Fabric

Ken Knit 🇰🇪

Knits
Yarn to Fashion

Red Earth 🇹🇿

Wovens
Yarn to Fashion

Bedi Investments 🇰🇪

Wovens
Vertical Farm to Fabric

Fine Spinners 🇺🇬

Knits
Vertical F2F CMIA/ BCI

Nytil 🇺🇬

Wovens and Knits
Vertical F2F

What does sustainability in the textile and apparel industry involve and how do the benchmark countries compare?

Resources

Useful downloads, resourceful website, and much more

In this section, you’ll discover a curated collection of downloadable assets, ranging from insightful e-books to handy templates, aimed at providing you with practical solutions and knowledge. Navigate through our carefully compiled list of recommended resource websites, handpicked to serve as invaluable references across various domains. Whether you’re seeking educational materials, productivity tools, or creative inspiration, we’ve got you covered.

Data Sources

Make It East Africa was pioneered by Gatsby Africa

Make It East Africa Blog

News Articles & More

Dive into the heart of the industry with our cutting-edge blog, where we unravel the latest trends, insights, and data shaping the future of textiles. Immerse yourself in a tapestry of articles that explore everything from sustainable fashion revolutions to the technological breakthroughs defining the modern wardrobe. Our blog is your gateway to a treasure trove of information, offering a glimpse into the dynamic landscape of textile and apparel.