TLG Capital, a leading African investment firm, has announced its 40th deal, providing a $5m financing line to Liberty & Justice, an Africa-made swimwear line.

TLG is pleased to be the first institutional investor in the business, according to Aum Thacker, Investment Professional at TLG Capital.

“The retreat of multinationals from Africa presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for nimble and passionate entrepreneurs to build things in the markets they know best. We are beyond excited to partner with Chid, Georgie, and the Liberty & Justice team, supporting their vision of "Made in Africa" being on the clothing-tag in shops around the world. This deal is the first of its kind for an African apparel company and we're excited to work with the business to reach new heights. TLG has been invested in Liberia for more than a decade and we see that the opportunity is huge, if you know how to navigate the market complexities.”

Liberty & Justice [L&J] is the first apparel line made in Africa to feature in Target's catalogue as well as the first African swimwear brand to reach big box distribution in the USA.

L&J was founded in 2022 by Chid Liberty, who founded the first fair-trade certified apparel factory in Liberia, and Georgie Badiel Liberty, a Burkinabé model and activist who won Miss Africa in 2004. 

Known for vibrant and culturally rich designs, L&J's swimsuits are already lighting up the shelves of over 250 Target Stores across the US. The business is committed to the highest ethical standards of production and worker rights, including fair-trade, creating meaningful work for 700 Africans to bring African-inspired prints to the world. TLG's investment will catalyze L&J to expand manufacturing including the opening of a future factory in Liberia.

Chid Liberty, CEO of Liberty & Justice, stated, “I've always been passionate about fashion that is inspired by Africa and made in Africa. Today, African people need jobs. We started manufacturing in Liberia when there was an 80 percent unemployment and 87% poverty, and we thought that apparel would be the best way to tap an international market while giving people good work. We've worked with many partners over the years to get off the ground, and TLG has been the best in the business. They get exactly what we're trying to do, they see the vision and they are exactly the kind of partner to help African businesses stand out on the world stage. Beyond that, they're also the kind of people that you want to work with.”