Esther Imonmion
Renowned Nigerian fashion designer Alphadi marked this year’s World Cotton Day with a creative masterclass at Rome’s Academy of Fashion, celebrating African cotton and design as part of activities organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 7 October 2025.
During the two-day class held in September, Alphadi—known globally as “the Magician of the Desert”—guided 14 fashion students on how to blend African and Italian fashion traditions. The participants collaborated with the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for African Innovation and Creation to produce seven original cotton-based designs.
“For me, this is a way to highlight all that Africa is capable of,” Alphadi said. “It’s a fitting tribute to our continent and a way to illustrate Africa’s strengths. African cotton is a quality product that can be used by people of the Sahel, as well as Europeans, Americans – the whole world.”
One of the students, Cecilia Marchesini, described the experience as “really interesting,” noting that it offered a chance to work directly with a different culture and discover similarities through fashion.
World Cotton Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in August 2021, following a proposal from African cotton-producing countries to promote the fabric globally. Since then, FAO and its partners have led the initiative, highlighting how cotton travels “from field to fashion” and creates opportunities for new generations.
According to El Mamoun Amrouk, Senior Economist at FAO, “The idea for World Cotton Day came from many African cotton-producing countries that wanted the world to celebrate and promote their product.”
The cotton sector employs millions globally and remains a major source of export revenue for developing nations. The annual observance aims to raise awareness of cotton’s vital role in economic development, international trade, and poverty reduction across more than 80 countries.