Textile

Sutura (also know as 2AD) is a company producing and marketing sanitary pads in Bamako, Mali. The main mission of Sutura is to reduce the taboo around menstruation and to help teenagers and young girls to blossom during their menstrual cycle by offering them adapted and environmentally friendly sanitary pads.

The entrepreneurs

The company was created by Awa and Adam Drabo, two twin sisters who both completed internships at the National Laboratory of Mali and the Institute of Rural Economy of Mali (IER) before launching into entrepreneurship in 2019. Awa manages the production and the purchase of raw materials, the storage and the management of the relationship with the different suppliers. Adam handles the sales and marketing side and manages the brand's communication on the various social networks. 

Partnership with I&P and Zira Capital

2AD Company is supported by Zira Capital through I&P Acceleration program in Sahel. This partnership has mainly for objective to :

⇒ Improve the production tool and the quality of finished products

⇒ Increase sales to middle class customers through the implementation of an adapted commercial strategy

⇒ Support the company in strengthening the technical skills of human capital

⇒ Structure the organization and cost management through the implementation of internal procedures

Video report

In 2024, I&P produced a video report on the company and its impact:

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Company's website

I&P's article on Sutura

An article on Sutura produced by the GIIN

IKALOOK, "your style" in Bambara, is a Malian company specialized in the confection of women's clothing and advocates ethical fashion.  It is the first Malian company to modernize the woven loincloth, a fabric obtained from the artisanal weaving of local cotton.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

IKALOOK was created in 2016 by Fatoumata Namissa Théra SOW, a young woman strongly committed to eco-responsible fashion. With several years of experience in design, this fashion enthusiast since her early childhood started her clothing business in 2013. She designs original models that she makes from wax, bazin and dampé fabrics, a traditional fabric popular in Mauritania, where her mother comes from.

PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P AND ZIRA CAPITAL

IKALOOK is supported by Zira Capital through I&P Acceleration program in Sahel.

The main objective of this partnership is to :

⇒ Increase the company's working capital by providing more raw materials and tools

⇒ Strengthen the team by hiring new staff and improving working conditions (formalization of employment, medical and social coverage)

⇒ Implementation of a communication and marketing strategy to boost sales

⇒ Technical assistance to formalize and structure the organization (e.g. implementation of internal procedures and internal accounting system)

⇒ Increase the supply capacity and quality of finished products

La Maison Fenel produces and markets fashion accessories (fitted accessories, ordinary sewing accessories and leather goods accessories) from local fabrics woven in Burkina Faso (Faso Danfani). 

The Entrepreneur

Fenel was founded in 2019 by Angéline TRAORE YOUGBARE, who before creating the company, worked for 10 years as manager and main designer at Nagteedo Création, a company specialized in fashion and pearl jewelry. Passionate about fashion since 2007, it is in 2019 that she started to develop local woven loincloths such as the Faso Dan fani.

Discover our video report on Maison Fenel

Contribution of I&P Acceleration in Sahel and Sinergi Burkina

La Maison Fenel is supported by Sinergi Burkina as part of the I&P Acceleration program in Sahel.

The main objectives of this partnership are to :

• Increase production capacity and product quality
• Diversify the company's products by launching a range of ready-to-wear products made from Faso Danfani
• Set up an internal accounting system kept by a professional
• Strengthen the sales force and the visibility of the company 
• Restructuring the company and strengthening its management system

Expected Impacts

• Consolidation of 7 existing full-time jobs and creation of 6 new formal jobs for young people and full-time women
• Contribution to the national economy through the payment of taxes to the tax authorities
• Increased revenues for Faso Danfani loincloth weavers
• Creation of a strong added value through the valorization of local products
• Reducing imports of fashion accessories and strengthening exports

Read more

Company's website

About Sinergi Burkina

Created in 2014, Sinergi Burkina is the first impact investment fund dedicated to financing and supporting SMEs and start-ups in Burkina Faso. Headed by Job Zongo, Sinergi Burkina is the second investment fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap).  → To learn more about Sinergi Burkina​

Created in 2005, Tropic 105 is a clothing company under the brand name Ciss St Moïse. For 30 years, the promoter has been promoting African fashion and has established itself as a key player in the clothing sector. The company has 4 shops open in 3 boroughs of Abidjan.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Holder of a degree in history and geography, M. Moussa Cissé began his career as a history and geography teacher. In 1989, he launched his custom-made clothing business. In addition to being the manager of the haute couture house Ciss St Moïse where he makes ready-to-wear and made-to-measure clothes, he is also the promoter of the N'ZASSA MODE festival organised in Ivory Coast since 2014.

ABOUT COMOE CAPITAL

Comoé Capital is the first impact investment fund dedicated to the financing and support of Ivorian SMEs and start-ups. Headed by Issa Sidibé, Comoé Capital is the fifth African fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Burkina Faso (Sinergi Burkina), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap). →Site of Comoé Capital​

PRINCE DESSUTI INTERNATIONAL is a sole proprietorship operating in the textile and clothing sector. PRINCE DESSUTI is a clothing brand that has established itself on the national and international market and has won several distinctions by offering several types of garments sewn to measure and at the customer's request, or in ready-to-wear.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Marcel OUEDRAOGO is passionate about styling, fashion and creation. After several years of apprenticeship in sewing workshops in Burkina Faso, he decided to launch his own brand PRINCE DESSUTI INTERNATIONAL in 2001 under the label Prince D.

Since 2016, Mr OUEDRAOGO has been the president of the Union des Professionnels du Textile et de l'Habillement du Centre (UPROTEX-HAC), a cluster which aims to promote African textiles in general and Faso Danfani in particular. This internationally renowned designer, like other designers and fashion creators, turned to couture out of necessity and discovered a passion that allows him to impose himself today and promote the culture of Burkina Faso. He participates in several training courses and exhibitions nationally and internationally.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF SINERGI BURKINA

The objectives of the partnership are to :

• Contribution to the marketing and sales effort
• Reinforcement of the production capacity
• Organizational capacity building

IMPACTS

• Consolidation of more than 40 full and part-time jobs
• Improvement of employee income and contribution to the national economy
• Valorization of local production

ABOUT SINERGI BURKINA

Created in 2014, Sinergi Burkina is the first impact investment fund dedicated to financing and supporting SMEs and start-ups in Burkina Faso. Headed by Job Zongo, Sinergi Burkina is the second investment fund sponsored by Investisseurs & Partenaires as part of the I&P Développement 2 fund. The fund network currently includes a fund in Niger (Sinergi Niger), Côte d'Ivoire (Comoé Capital), Senegal (Teranga Capital) and Madagascar (Miarakap).  → To learn more about Sinergi Burkina

ABOUT USAID PROGRAM

Investisseurs & Partenaires and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched in 2016 an innovative acceleration program for start-ups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The partnership is designed to support high-potential start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in order to facilitate their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still poorly developed. Click here to learn more

Niger Chaussures is an artisanal company which has a manufacturing and marketing unit of high-end city shoes produced from tanned leather.

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Abdou ALHASSANE began his studies up to high school, which he left to start the craft activity at a very young age. He thus started to produce shoes for men that he exhibited in his workshop located in the artisanal village of Niger. After several trainings, he improved the design of his products and integrated other models including one for women in his product range.

ABOUT

SINERGI S.A. is a private investment company created in 2006 and supported by I&P with a group of key individual and institutional shareholders in the Nigerien and international SME support landscape. Headed by Ibrahima Djibo, its objective is to contribute to the economic and social development of Niger through the promotion of entrepreneurship and the development of SMEs. SINERGI S.A. provides the means for entrepreneurs in Niger to achieve their growth projects by providing long-term financing and local support.  → Find out more about Sinergi

ABOUT USAID PROGRAM

Investisseurs & Partenaires and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched in 2016 an innovative acceleration program for start-ups in Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The partnership is designed to support high-potential start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises in order to facilitate their access to financing in a region where the ecosystem supporting entrepreneurship is still poorly developed. → Click here to find out more

Created in 1998, Ultramaille is a textile factory specialized in mid- and high-end fashion knit wear.

The factory produces on average 400 000 sweaters per year. Its customers include brands such as Sandro, Ekyog, Woolworth, Armor Lux…

THE ENTREPRENEUR

ULTRAMAILLE was created by Frédéric Wybo, Managing Director of the company. Frederic lives in Madagascar for more than 20 years and benefits from an extensive experience in the textile industry.

Frédéric Wybo is also Chairman of the board of Solidis Garantie, a surety company based in Madagascar, and associate member of Malagasy Association of Private-Equity Investors.

Frederic is deeply involved on environmental and social issues, which is reflected in the management of the company.

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PARTNERSHIP WITH I&P 

I&P committed alongside with Ultramaille to:  

• Reinforce the working capital of the company to finance the purchase of raw materials

• Support the company to expand its range of products

• Work on the launch of a new brand of tailor-made cashmere sweaters sold online

IMPACTS 

• Creation of many qualified jobs, mostly for women

• Develop the work with local producers