10 African Ethical Fashion Brands Highlighting Artisanal Craft and Contemporary Design
These boundary-pushing fashion designers and brands from Africa are reclaiming African fashion and what made in Africa can mean. With their fresh visions rooted in heritage, they are illuminating a bold and beautiful path forward for African fashion and design. They are telling their own stories and it's time the world listens.
As Sengelese designer and Tongoro founder Sarah Diouf shares in her Made in Africa documentary, “The most exciting part for me in what I do is creating visual stories because they contribute to that narrative of the Africa that no one wanted to believe existed for so long and there is so much pride in celebrating our cultures. […] Fashion is an amazing tool to tell stories, but it can be so much more if we use it as a catalyst for change.”
With that, let's dive into 10 Black-owned ethical fashion brands (mostly) based in and all responsibly made in Africa that are celebrating the rich cultures, craftsmanship, and artistry of Africa all while creating sustainable employment opportunities and supporting eco-design innovation (like the zero waste designs from Bola Yahaya and upcycled bags from Suave).
P.S. If you're a conscious brand or future social entrepreneur looking to manufacture your products ethically in Africa, check out Jacqueline Shaw, an African Fashion Business Coach who has a deep understanding of sustainable production and African supply chains.
SisIano
The timeless, free-flowing designs from Sisiano reflect Creative Director Paolo Sisiano's past choreographic career. With their vibrant colors and elegant movement, Sisiano's natural fiber garments are true standouts.
Based in: Lagos, Nigeria
Investment: $$$
Anyango Mpinga
An innovator in eco and circular fashion design, Anyango Mpinga has been featured in the likes of Vogue, Elle, Forbes, and InStyle. Mpinga's 2021 “Pupil Collection” made head waves with its bold 3D-printed designs worn by 9 inspiring women — who each shared their insights on diversity and inclusion as part of the collection campaign — from around the world.
Based in: Nairobi, Kenya
Investment: $$$$
Studio 189
Studio 189 is an artisanal, African-inspired fashion and lifestyle brand co-founded by Ghanian designer Abrima Erwiah and actress Rosario Dawson. The brand partners with artisan communities who are highly skilled at their various crafts, including indigo dyeing and hand batiking.
Based in: Accra, Ghana
Investment: $$$$
Tongoro
Founded by Sarah Diouf, the Senegalese designer behind the Made in Africa documentary, Tongoro prioritizes local craftsmanship and community involvement in their production process. Tongoro — a brand that can name Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell, and Alicia Keys among its fans — aims to “foster the economic and social development of artisanal workers in Western Africa” and illuminate a brighter future for African fashion design and manufacturing. (Fun fact: Beyoncé wore Tongoro for her Spirit music video!)
Based in: Dakar, Senegal
Investment: $$$
Lisa Folawiyo
Lisa Folawiyo's boldly printed and vibrantly hued clothing is slowly handcrafted using natural fibers. The garments feature contemporary, feminine silhouettes and incorporation of traditional African aesthetics. Designer Lisa Folawiyo is known for transforming Ankara (local West African fabric) in a way that honors its heritage while creating a global print.
Based in: Nigeria
Investment: $$$$
Allëdjo
Founded by Kassim Lassissi, Allëdjo (which means ‘wanderlust, nomad, or traveler’ in Yoruba, the founder's mother tongue) is a line of timeless unisex silk shirts handmade in West Africa — specifically, in Cotonou, Benin and in Dakar, Senegal.
Made in: West Africa
Investment: $$
Bola YahayA
Bola Yahaya is an eco-friendly fashion label from Nigeria exploring “African heritage and its re-interpretation into contemporary fashion”. This green-minded brand crafts low-waste designs through upcycling materials and using zero waste pattern cutting techniques.
Based in: Lagos, Nigeria
Atto Tetteh
Exquisitely crafted with exceptional attention to detail, the designs from Atto Tetteh are elevated while keeping a sense of adventure. Each garment is made in Ghana and tells the story of African art and culture. Atto Tettah was founded by Ghanian George Tetteh.
Based in: Accra, Ghana
Investment: $$$
AAKS
Ghanian native Akosua Afriyie-Kumi created AAKS to showcase the weaving techniques of Ghana to the world while creating sustainable employment in Africa. AAKS colorful handbags are available in a variety of unique shapes and are all handcrafted from woven raffia.
Made in: Ghana
Investment: $$
SUave
It's no secret that Africa has long been the dumping grounds for the west's excessive amounts of secondhand clothing. Kenyan entrepreneur Mohamed Awale is flipping this paradigm by sourcing fabric, and inspiration, from Gikomba — East Africa's largest open air flea market — to create upcycled eco-chic bags and wallets for his label Suave.
Based in: Nairobi, Kenya
Investment: $
Note: Sustainability-driven companies take different approaches to this common goal and are all in different parts of this journey. At Conscious Fashion Collective, we celebrate, respect, and honor this diversity in values, expertise, and context of craftsmanship on the supply side, and we also encourage consumers to make purchases aligned with their personal style and values. Please refer to each brand's official website to learn more.