African Fashion Ombuds &
Dispute Resolution Centre
A neutral, independent forum for resolving fashion industry disputes fairly, efficiently, and confidentially.
Why We Built This
African Fashion Deserves Its Own Dispute Resolution System.
The African Fashion Ombuds & Dispute Resolution Centre grew directly from years of experience running the Fashion Legal Clinic. We saw the same disputes recurring, again and again — model payment disagreements, designer collaboration breakdowns, IP ownership conflicts between cultural creators and commercial brands, agency contract violations that left talent without recourse.
Standard commercial arbitration systems were not designed for these disputes. They are expensive, slow, and staffed by practitioners with no understanding of how fashion works. The result: most disputes in Africa's fashion industry go unresolved, leaving designers unpaid, models unprotected, and businesses unable to enforce their rights.
The Centre changes that. Purpose-built for Africa's fashion industry, it provides accessible, expert-led mediation, arbitration, and ombuds services — with panellists who understand both the law and the industry.
Who Can Use The Centre
Designers and creative studios
IP disputes, collaboration disagreements, retailer non-payment, brand partnership conflicts.
Models and talent
Agency contract disputes, non-payment, image rights violations, wrongful termination.
Fashion brands and retailers
Supplier disputes, licensing disagreements, trademark conflicts, distribution breaches.
Manufacturers and suppliers
Production contract disputes, quality and delivery disagreements, payment enforcement.
Agencies and institutions
Talent management disputes, industry practice complaints.
Our Services
Mediation
Fashion-expert mediators facilitate structured dialogue between parties helping them reach mutually acceptable resolutions without the cost, delay, or adversarial dynamic of formal litigation. Mediation is voluntary, confidential, and typically the fastest path to resolution.
Arbitration
Binding arbitration for commercial fashion disputes conducted by panels with direct fashion industry expertise. Awards are enforceable and recognised across African jurisdictions. Faster, less expensive, and more specialised than traditional litigation.
Ombudsman Function
An independent ombudsman reviews complaints against industry practices, agencies, brands, and institutions providing an accessible route to redress for individuals who lack the resources to pursue formal legal proceedings. All complaints are treated with strict confidentiality.
Online Dispute Resolution
A digital platform enabling parties across different African countries to submit, track, and resolve disputes without travel or in-person hearings making justice genuinely accessible across the continent.
Join the Panel · ADR Training
We Are Building the Continent's First Roster of Fashion-Specialist Mediators and Arbitrators.
The AFODRC is only as strong as the practitioners who sit on its panels. We are actively recruiting and training mediators and arbitrators with direct experience in fashion law, IP, commercial law, and the African creative economy — building the specialist faculty that this centre, and this industry, requires.
If you are a legal practitioner, arbitrator, or mediator and you want to be considered for the AFODRC panel — we want to hear from you.
ADR Training Programme
For practitioners who want to develop their fashion dispute resolution credentials, AFODRC offers a dedicated ADR training programme — covering the principles of fashion industry mediation and arbitration, the specific legal and commercial dynamics of fashion disputes, AFODRC rules of procedure, and panel practice standards. Completion of the programme qualifies practitioners for consideration for appointment to the AFODRC panel.
The training covers:
- Fashion industry dispute landscape — the most common dispute types, parties, and dynamics
- Mediation skills for creative industry conflicts — power imbalances, IP valuation, relationship preservation
- Arbitration procedure under the AFODRC rules — case management, hearings, and awards
- Ethics and confidentiality standards for fashion ADR practitioners
- Cross-border dispute considerations across African jurisdictions
Who Should Apply for Panel Registration:
- Qualified lawyers and legal practitioners with IP, commercial, or employment law experience
- Accredited mediators or arbitrators with an interest in the creative economy
- Fashion law practitioners and academics with relevant expertise
- Legal professionals from any African jurisdiction
Get in Touch
The Centre is preparing to open fully in 2026. In the meantime, you can reach us directly to register your business, submit a complaint, request our rules of procedure, or enquire about ADR training and panel membership.
Email afodrc@thefashionlawinstitute.org
Head of Centre Theresa Osime Onyido