Sustainable fashion simply put is when brands, consumers, and other stakeholders in the fashion industry take into consideration the whole ecosystem and their social environment when producing and consuming fashion.
This awareness starts from the production of raw materials used in making clothing and accessories to fashion brands using such materials in producing their garment while taking into consideration the lifespan of the garment and how the consumer will dispose of it.
Sustainable fashion is important for the preservation of our planet and social equality. Here are some sustainable fashion brands in Africa:
NKWO
Nkwo is one of the leaders in sustainable fashion in Nigeria and its ethics is based on the preservation of the environment and its natural resources. The brand’s focal point is on scaling down on waste, using cotton produced in Nigeria, end-of-the-line fabrics, and repurposed denim to make limited edition pieces.
The label aims to utilize old and modern technology to maintain a sustainable form of craftsmanship through research and study with innovative techniques. From placing priority on waste reduction, it has led to the invention of a new African fabric called DAKALA CLOTH. The cloth draws inspiration from the lives of the people who roam the great plains of the African deserts.
In September this year, the Creative Director of NKWO; won the Bicester collection Award for ‘Emerging Designer” at the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italian (CNMI) sustainable fashion Award 2022 .
This global event seeks to recognize brands making a conscious effort to better the environment and people. For this award, Nkwo and thirteen other recipients of the CNMI prizes were given a reproduction of the Venere Degli Stracci- an iconic piece of 20th-century art that was repurposed into a 3D-printed plastic.
Earlier in September, NKWO was featured on the Nasdaq billboard alongside ten female pioneers advancing the fashion industry change for the Conscious Fashion Campaign which increased awareness of leading women in the fashion industry toward a more accountable and responsible future.
Website:- https://www.nkwo.design
MARGAUX WONG
Margaux wong founded by Margaux Rusita is a responsible luxury jewelry brand that uses sustainable materials sourced locally to make its jewelry, it partners with local artisans to preserve the local craft and reduces waste by using Amazonian low-waste technique combined with East African values in its production process to produce opulent jewelry.
Website:- https://www.margauxwong.com/
STUDIO 189
Studio oneeightynine is a sustainable fashion brand that was co-founded by Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah. The brand produces African-inspired clothing and it uses hand batik, kente weaving, and plant-based dye when working with local artisans in Accra, Ghana. Studio oneeightynine has worked with LVMH and Net a Porter, the brand also partners with the United Nations ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, NYU School of Business. It has also won the prestigious CFDA Lexus Fashion Initiative for Sustainability.
Website:- https://studiooneeightynine.com/
ALLEDJO
Alledjo is a sustainable menswear fashion brand founded by Kassim Lassissi which uses local artisans in manufacturing and incorporating the diversity of the world into its garments. The brand expresses people on the move, preservation of culture, and deep respect for ethics.
Website:- https://www.alledjo.com/
REFORM STUDIO
Hazem and HenRiad are co-founders of Reform Studio a re-purposeful sustainable brand based in Egypt. Reform Studio has upcycled discarded plastic bags and invented a new product called plastex. It uses local artisans to produce its Bags, shoes, furniture, and furniture accessories.
Website:- https://reformstudio.net/
SOLEREBELS
The Ethiopian-based sustainable footwear brand founded by Tilahun Alemu produces the world’s finest handmade footwear with exquisite craftsmanship and upcycled materials. Solerebels has been recognized as the world’s first World Fair Trade Federation (WFTO) and Fair Trade-certified company.
Website: https://www.solerebels.com/
