Picture: Getty Images/firn
South Africa has become a leading voice in sustainable fashion in the past year.
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According to the clothing brand Urban Ocean, South Africa has an innovative hand in indigenous plant dyes and pioneering recycling programmes. South Africa has an advantage in sustainable fashion practices due to the country’s rich indigenous knowledge and abundant natural resources.
Fashion designers prioritising sustainability
Aside from the South African landscape providing the country with an advantage, a few local designers are leading the sustainable fashion movement.
Sindiso Khumalo
Sindiso Khumalo, who is deeply inspired by African femininity, is known for her recycled cotton smocks and playsets. Her clothing is rigorously sustainable and politically conscious. This is evident in her working with weavers from Burkina Faso through the United Nations’ Ethical Fashion Initiative.
Mandy Style, an online fashion blog, credits Sindiso as a pioneer of upcoming female designers from South Africa on a global scale, especially after Sindiso won an LVMH award in 2020.
Shamyra Moodely
The founder of Laani Raani is known for using donated vintage fabrics from saris and embroidery to scraps and reclaimed T-shirt yarn. Belmond.com reports that Shamyra uses these fabrics to create elegant works of art that tell a narrative through the lens of her African, Indian, and Irish heritage.
Tumie Mohoasa
The founder of Nguo, a young Motswana woman, was the most talked-about brand at Africa Fashion Week (AFW) 2026. According to Trendsetters Only, the brand is fiercely committed to sustainability. Tumie builds her collection using linen for its durability and breathability.
Also see: Sowetan fashion designer helps shape future of African luxury design
Even with linen fabrics, she still prioritises upcycling and waste reduction.
Gugu Petenicom
The GUGUBYGUGU founder has made sure that sustainability and local sourcing were the cornerstone of her brand. According to Glamour, Gugu explained that she fell in love with mohair fibre and made it a point to remind local consumers of what they had in their backyard.
Laduma Ngxokolo
The founder of MAXHOSA, Laduma’s world-renowned luxury brand blends traditional Xhosa beadwork and contemporary knitwear. The brand uses natural materials such as mohair and wool in its knitted clothing. It has also grown on a global scale with stores all around the world and showcasing its work on runways during New York Fashion Week.
Tsakane Mashaba
The HAMETHOP founder uses handcrafted pieces to specifically carve out a niche within the ‘indecorous’ realm of fast fashion, explains Mandy Style. Mashaba draws inspiration and wisdom from generations of women and exemplifies the intersection of African art, textiles, and architecture.
Nokukhanya Zungu
The Makhosazana founder champions African textiles and contemporary silhouettes with deep cultural resonance. The Design Indaba Emerging Creatives alumni showcases African beauty, culture and heritage. She started Makhosazana to honour her grandmother, who would bring back African batiks, Kente cloth and Adire fabric from her travels.
Also see: Best South African Designers to Know in 2026 – Established Icons & Rising Stars
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