Luxury Concept Store Launches on Zanzibar’s Bawe Island
Industrie Africa is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a bold move. The African fashion platform has opened a luxury concept store on Zanzibar’s private Bawe Island. Named Society of Luxury Artisanship (SoLA), the store highlights high-end African fashion and global design.
The launch includes an exclusive resort wear collection from Tongoro, the brand founded by Sarah Diouf. This limited-edition capsule reflects the spirit of Zanzibar, blending bold prints with chic silhouettes. It marks a new chapter for African creativity in luxury spaces.
Nisha Kanabar’s Mission to Elevate African Designers
Founder and CEO Nisha Kanabar says this step aligns with her vision of giving African designers a global stage. “Five years in, what I feel most is clarity,” Kanabar shared. “I believe more deeply in the purpose of this work and its potential to shift narratives.”
Kanabar created Industrie Africa in 2018 after realizing there was no unified space for African brands. Today, the platform features 49 labels from across the continent, including Andrea Iyamah and Onalaja. About 80% of its customer base comes from the United States, with growth in Europe and Africa.
From E-Commerce to Luxury Retail Spaces
Industrie Africa started as a digital showroom. By 2020, it evolved into a multi-brand e-commerce platform. Now, with SoLA, the company is expanding into physical retail while keeping storytelling at its core.
Kanabar explains that the decision to open in Zanzibar was driven by intuition. “The architecture, the island’s ecology, and the privacy of the space gave us an inspiring canvas,” she said. The Bawe Island resort offered a perfect setting to connect luxury travel with African fashion.
Select: A New Chapter for African Fashion in Hospitality
Alongside SoLA, Industrie Africa is launching Select, a retail consultancy for luxury hospitality. This service aims to integrate African design into high-end spaces across the continent. “We’ve always treated retail as a storytelling tool—beyond just a sales channel,” Kanabar noted.
Select will allow hotels and resorts to feature curated collections, creating immersive experiences for guests. Kanabar hopes this approach will revive what she calls “the lost art of consumer intimacy.”
Tongoro’s Capsule Brings Resort Luxury to Life
The first designer collaboration at SoLA features Tongoro, a brand endorsed by Beyoncé. The resort wear capsule includes statement maxi dresses, a zebra-print playsuit, and bold jumpsuits in vibrant hues. Each piece celebrates both the energy of Zanzibar and Tongoro’s signature style.
Industrie Africa has also introduced “The Exclusives Shop,” offering made-to-order pieces from top designers like Lisa Folawiyo and Hertunba. This expansion positions the platform as a global hub for luxury African fashion.
Shaping the Future of African Fashion
For Kanabar, this milestone is about more than business growth. “Industrie Africa was built on the belief that fashion from our continent deserves the same investment, visibility, and consideration as any established luxury market,” she said.
With SoLA and Select, Industrie Africa moves closer to redefining Africa’s role in global fashion. The brand continues to blend digital innovation with physical experiences, giving African creativity the recognition it deserves.
