Malindi Minute: African Fashion, Steph Curry and Culture

Happy Sunday! Whether you're a new subscriber or an existing subscriber, welcome back. Here are a few articles you should check out from this week!

Lagos Fashion Week came to a close, and the scope and scale of it were another marker of the scope and scale of the African fashion market. Business Insider had the African fashion market valued at $31 billion in 2020 and estimates it will be worth $50 billion by 2030. Designers from across the continent descended on Nigeria for a week. As the continent develops and more people realise that there is more than enough opportunity in Africa, hopefully, the infrastructure will be built to sustain a self-contained fashion system that isn’t too heavily reliant on outside influence. The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) is working on pathways to making Africa’s fashion industry a $500 billion industry.

This week, it was announced this week that Stephen Curry is officially parting ways with Under Armour after more than a decade. Their partnership reshaped Under Armour itself. When he initially signed, they weren’t a force in basketball. His rise and the global impact of his style helped raise Under Armour’s profile in the basketball sneaker market.

Now that the partnership is ending, Curry Brand becomes an independent entity under his control. And that opens the door to something bigger: true ownership. At this point in his career, Curry doesn’t need another traditional sneaker deal. He has the leverage to build a standalone label and even widen his reach beyond basketball into performance, lifestyle, and wellness. The current trend of athleisure being in style would be a perfect transition for a name and brand as big as Steph Curry. He has both the resources, name recognition, and brand to place the right people around him to create something big. Reports are that Curry, although splitting with Under Armour, will retain ownership of Curry Brand, and it will now be an independent brand. He will not have to rename or rebrand.

For Black athletes, transitions like this raise bigger questions about how cultural impact can translate into business power. The current landscape of athletes and sneakers is interesting. Lebron James and Kevin Durant both have lifetime contracts with Nike, and James Harden is lobbying for a lifetime deal with Adidas. Curry’s next move isn’t predictable, but whatever direction he chooses, the ripple effects on sport, style, and culture will be significant.

"The Terminal": Where we navigate the vast sea of information to bring you the essential stops for our global Black audience. As a bustling terminal serves as a gateway to new destinations, our curated content will be your passport to knowledge, empowerment, and connection. Embark on this journey with us as we explore the world from a unique perspective—yours.

Conversations this week

Designer Martine Rose speaks with SHOWStudio.

Steve Stoute speaks with Emma Grede about his career, influence, and culture.

Tap in to the full playlist and follow along as we update it weekly.Check out our Malindi Press Play playlist that’s updated weekly! Listen Here!

Song of the Week: “Possessed” by BLK ODYSSY (U.S.A.)

For sponsorship inquiries, please reach out via email: [email protected]

The AI economy is booming, and smart entrepreneurs are already profiting. Subscribe to Mindstream and get instant access to 200+ proven strategies to monetize AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more. From content creation to automation services, discover actionable ways to build your AI-powered income. No coding required, just practical strategies that work.

Subscribe to Get Your Free Guide