Call for Papers for the Inaugural Issue of the African Journal of Fashion Law & Policy (AJFLP)

Theme: The Business of African Fashion: Law, Policy and Emerging Markets
Submission Deadline: 31 January 2026

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Theme Overview:

Africa’s fashion industry is evolving into a dynamic multi-billion-dollar ecosystem, shaped by creativity, entrepreneurship, and expanding cross-border trade. Yet its legal and policy foundations remain uneven and under-developed. As designers, manufacturers, and digital platforms scale operations from Lagos to Nairobi, Johannesburg to Accra, questions about law, trade, finance, and market regulation are more urgent than ever.

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This inaugural issue invites scholarly and practice-based submissions that examine how legal and policy frameworks influence the business and globalisation of African fashion. Contributors may adopt doctrinal, comparative, empirical, or interdisciplinary approaches to explore how law supports, or constrains, the evolution of fashion as an engine of sustainable development.

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Suggested Areas of Focus:

Submissions may engage, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. Trade Policy and Cross-Border Regulation: AfCFTA, AGOA, ECOWAS, SADC, and other frameworks shaping textiles and apparel trade.

2. Investment and Taxation: Access to finance, fiscal incentives, and creative-industry funding policies.

3. Informal Economy and Local Production: Tailoring, artisanship, and small-scale manufacturing, what regulation works?

4. Intellectual Property (IP): Protecting designs, branding, and creative identity within African contexts.

5. Export Barriers and Customs Compliance: Labelling, product standards, and market-entry challenges for African brands.

6. Public Policy Innovation: National and regional initiatives positioning fashion as a tool for cultural diplomacy and economic development.

7. Corporate Governance and Ethics: Sustainability, fair labour, transparency, and compliance in emerging markets.

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Publication Ethics and Review Policy:

AJFLP adheres to international standards of scholarly integrity and responsible research. The Journal enforces a peer review process to ensure fairness, anonymity, and academic quality. Authors are required to acknowledge all sources accurately, obtain permissions for copyrighted materials, and comply with applicable research ethics standards.​ Any form of plagiarism, duplicate submission, or misrepresentation of data will result in disqualification.

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Publication Details:

• Publication Frequency: Biannual (two issues per year).

• Format: Digital publication via the AJFLP website, with print-on-demand options for institutions and contributors.

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Important Dates:

• Call Opens: 6 October 2025

• Submission Deadline: 31 January 2026

• Notification of Acceptance: April 2026

• Publication Date: June 2026

 

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Submission Guidelines:

• Manuscripts: 1,500–3,000 words.

• Abstract: 150–250 words with 4–6 keywords.

• Format: MS Word (.docx), Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 spacing, OSCOLA referencing.

• Originality: Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.

• Submission: Email manuscripts to info@fashionlawacademyafrica.com with the subject line “AJFLP Inaugural Issue Submission.”

• Review Process: Peer review.

• Submission Deadline: 31 January 2026.

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Why Contribute?

Contributors to the inaugural issue will shape the intellectual foundation of fashion law and policy in Africa, establishing AJFLP as the continent’s first dedicated platform for rigorous, policy-relevant scholarship in the field.

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Selected papers will be published in the 2026 Inaugural Issue and featured in the Journal’s Launch Symposium, convening leading voices in law, fashion, and creative-industry policy.​​

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For enquires, please contact the editorial team at info@fashionlawacademyafrica.com​

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The African Journal of Fashion Law & Policy is an initiative of the Fashion Law Academy Africa. The Journal acknowledges the growing community of researchers and professionals committed to strengthening Africa’s creative industries through knowledge, advocacy, and innovation.