African Designers are Promoting Sustainable Fashion.

Beyonce wears a piece from Togoro studio

African designers never cease to make mama Africa proud! Over the years the African fashion

industry has groomed giants who keep breaking the boundaries of fashion and making

their own rules prominent in their aesthetical direction. You don’t need to come to Africa

to see them; they have taken Africa to the world, and some of them have done so by

promoting eco-friendly fashion whilst gaining monetary credits. Fasten your seatbelts

people! And prepare to take-off as we take a ride through the African fashion industry,

exploring brands that are making waves by endorsing fashion that is ethical and

ecologically beneficial.

1. Lisa Folayiwo

Beep beep…this is our first stop! Lisa Folayiwo is one of the international pioneer

brands that uphold sustainable fashion in Africa. It was named after its founder and

creative director, Lisa Folayiwo, in 2005. The brand sources and produces locally-made

designs, employing local craftsmen to hand stitch embellishments on the West African

printed Ankara fabrics, which are obtained from eco-friendly raw materials-cotton and

silk. Her creative direction has drawn international recognition and patronage from

Solange, Lucy Lu, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Simmons and Lala Anthony. In 2014, Lisa

collaborated with and international trade centre, the Ethical Fashion Initiative to

showcase her collection at Biffi Boutiques’ Vogue Fashion’s Night Out and Altaroma’s

runway. Beep beep…Our next stop is a studio in Dakar!

2. Tongoro Studios

Here we are, at Senegal’s fashion house, Tongoro Studios, founded by Sara Diouf in

2016. Located in the nation’s capital, Dakar, the brand creates designs with locally

produced materials that are stitched by local fashion artistes. The brand is described as

the first affordable fashion label made in Africa. There is no doubt that the brand takes

pride in showcasing Africa’s beauty, with the use of cowries and prints that celebrate the

beauty of the nation’s culture. The prints are alluring; it’s no surprise that Queen B

wears the brand in her music videos, on stage and at vacations. Coming up next is the

rainbow nation!

3. LUKHANYO MDINGI

Naaaaants ingonyamaaaa…bagithi Baba...Sithi uhm ingonyama! You might wonder

what this is, but don’t worry, it’s not a typo; if you’ve listened to Circle of Life before,

then this should ring a bell. Of course it should, because we have now reached our final

destination for this trip, SOUTH AFRICA. we will explore one of South Africa’s best

ethical fashion designers, Lukhanyo Mdingi. He is a 23 year old dogged designer who

has sailed across borders to present his collections that exude confidence, fluidity and

elegance. He won the ELLE Rising Star Design Award in 2013 and has showcased his

collections in London and New York. His pieces which are a reflection of contemporary

fashion and South African chronicles are made of 100% pure silks, wools, linens &

cottons that are ethically and locally sourced and produced. Mdingi’s designs are an

epithet of sustainable fashion at its best.

Hold up! Wait a minute…issa wrap-up! This brings us to the end of our fashion

expedition in Africa. I hope you enjoyed your trip. Continue to check-in for more features

on the fashion industry