At the market most of the women still wear the colourful pagnes, contributing to an extraordinary human patchwork.
Nevertheless, also here the local manufacture of cotton fabric is endangered by the cheap productions from Asia, often under the administration and property of European companies.
Faso Fani the legendary factory of Thomas Sankara’s land of incorruptibles has been closed under the pressure of the stabilisation policies enforced by the international economic institutions.
Consequently, Africa loose not only one of the rare opportunity for industrial production (and jobs) but also an important instrument for the construction of national identity.
Togo, Malawi and many other countries do not produce any cotton fabric yet.
Abidjan market’s retailers react with surprise when asked for local materials, and only Woodin, an upper market production destined to a wealthy public, has got some reputation.
You may see some exemple below.
MC7858attitude 
Hello Paolo,
I hope things are going ok there. Here are my comments for your latest blog entry.
I am not sure “contributing” is the right word in this context. Do you want to say that the women are a part of the extraordinary human patchwork that is there?
“Nevertheless, the local manufacture of cotton fabrics is endangered by the cheap imports from Asia..”
“Consequently, Africa has lost…”
Togo, Malawi and many other countries do not produce any cotton fabric yet. – do you mean anymore? If you say yet it means they have not produced fabrics in the past and have still to do so.
“…only Woodin, an upper market product aimed at a wealthy public, has got some reputation.
Below you can see some examples.”
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