AAKS was founded by Ghanaian designer Akosua Afriyie-Kumi with the intention of introducing the traditional weaving techniques she remembers from childhood to an international audience. Each piece is crafted into contemporary silhouettes with locally sourced raffia—the exuberant colors capturing the spirited essence of the brand.

Born in Nigeria and now based in Nairobi, Adele Dejak’s namesake jewelry brand draws inspiration from a variety of African and European cultural influences. Each piece is expertly handcrafted out of recycled materials, with her statement-making aesthetic extending to daring neckpieces and elegant earrings with sculptural silhouettes.

Kenya’s natural beauty is an enduring source of inspiration for designer Ami Doshi Shah. Her pieces are characterized by unexpected, sculptural designs and spellbinding natural materials consisting of local metals and minerals.

Nigerian swim and ready-to-wear designer Dumebi Iyamah created Andrea Iyamah to pay tribute to the native designs of her home country and other African nations. A celebrity favorite, her resortwear oozes versatility and can be worn straight from the beach to the street.

Meaning “happiness” in Maasai, Ashepa creates bold yet timeless jewelry pieces—as well as beautiful homeware and accessories—rooted in a responsible ethos and craftsmanship tradition. Kenyan-born founder Chetna Bhatt weaves references to her multicultural background into every design, fiercely championing diverse perspectives and a deep commitment to the environment—celebrating the past, present, and future of fashion.

Designer Aisha Babayo Shehu is a master of dichotomy. Trained as an economist, she launched her label in Lagos, embroidering authentic cultural narratives onto modern designs at the intersection of style and comfort.

Designer Cynthia Otiyo-Abila’s clothing is created, from concept to construction, in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja. She channels her passion for storytelling into the Cynthia Abila label, interpreting traditional subject matter for a modern audience. Collection narratives are rendered as standout takes on wardrobe classics like suiting and shirt dresses for the contemporary woman, produced by a predominately female team of artisans in handwoven silks and cottons.    

Founded in 2021 by Rukky Ladoja, Nigerian label Dye Lab celebrates the traditional dyeing methods indigenous to the Yoruba people, showcasing the beauty of Adire and Aso Oke materials, as well as lively Batik prints.

Founded in Nigeria by Emmanuel Okoro, Emmy Kasbit was born out of a passion for dressing the unconventional man and woman with fierce sartorial instincts, using traditional West African weaving techniques.

Nigerian designer Frank Aghuno's collections are designed for the modern woman; his work features elegant silhouettes crafted from sumptuous Nigerian fabrics, challenging societal notions of how Nigerian women are expected to dress. 

Nigerian twin sisters Sylvia Enekwe-Ojei and Olivia Enekwe-Okoji channel an inherited passion for artistry into their label, Gozel Green. Design codes leverage deconstruction, color blocking, linearity and asymmetry to create unexpectedly elegant silhouettes for the statement dresser. The twins see fashion as a tool for self expression, consciously creating modern pieces that empower the wearer to explore and celebrate various facets of her personality.

Founded by Jennifer Mulli in 2016, Jiamini is a Kenya-based fashion and accessories label made for women by women. Each piece is artisanally crafted out of precious and repurposed materials, their statement-making aesthetic explored through elaborate beaded collars, sculptural takes on earrings and arm cuffs, and woven basket bags.

Founded in 2014 by Katungulu Mwendwa, Katush is a sustainable Kenyan label defined by its modern, trans-seasonal designs driven by textures, craftsmanship, and innovative fabrics.

Khokho in siSwati means "grandmother;" a reference to the brand's entirely women-led team and its matriarchal influences. The accessories label—which operates out of Eswatini (formerly known in English as Swaziland)—seeks to preserve and elevate traditional Swati weaving techniques, while empowering the community by providing income and learning opportunities. Basket-style bags are crafted from locally sourced natural fibers, found in the country's indigenous vegetation, and finished with luxury details—from ethically sourced and hand-carved cow-horn tags, to luxury brass hardware which is expertly crafted in Italy. 

Established in New York City in 2009, Loza Maléombho’s self-titled brand soon made its way to the Côte d’Ivoire, a country in which the designer spent much of her childhood. Her pieces are crafted by local Ivorian artisans and feature bold decorative details—an ode to the synergies between Ivorian tribal aesthetics and New York City’s urban style.

Autodidact designer Ebuka Omaliko’s bespoke accessories label, Maliko, champions the value of the artists’ touch. Whether crocheted, embroidered, carved or painted, his thoroughly modern rotation of sandals, slides and bags feature mindfully executed artisanal techniques with a contemporary sensibility. Drawing inspiration from his interactions with the diverse people of Lagos, Nigeria, the designer distills the city’s kinetic energy into purist pieces with global appeal.

Founded by Guyana-born Margaux Rusita, Margaux Wong is a Burundi-based jewelry brand that brings low-waste values and precious East African materials together to create collections of distinctive, wearable art. Crafted from cow horn, brass, and other sustainable materials using traditional East African crafting techniques, each unique, hand polished Margaux Wong piece serves as an ode to the natural beauty of Guyana and Burundi, as well as to the opulent traditional styles worn by their indigenous communities.

Designer Ijeoma Adesanya reimagines Nigerian storytelling through Neema Tai's luxurious silk scarves, where hand-drawn prints and vivid color harmonies come alive. Each ethically crafted piece partners with Lagos artisans and champions girls' education, making every accessory both meaningful and collectible.

Sustainable brand NKWO relaunched in 2012 in Nigeria, with a focus on the preservation of traditional craft while curbing the damaging effects of textile waste. Each ready-to-wear piece is crafted using traditional West African weaving, beading, hand-dyeing and embroidery. The designer created her own fabric—using a modern strip weaving technique—dubbed “Dakala.” This hand-loomed upcycled fabric has a distinctively rich feel and is featured in each collection.

Led by creative director Akébéhi Kpolo, Ivorian jewelry brand Ohiri creates conceptual pieces that serve as both sartorial adornments and artistic statements. Their approach is to understand the symbolism of ornamentation in certain ancient African cultures and to reinterpret it through different mediums, making free and abstract designs that are wholly unique and thoughtfully sustainable.

 

 

Launched in 2011, Lagos-based men’s and womenswear label Orange Culture creates silhouettes with unexpected twists and employs artisanal techniques, native to the Yoruba community, into his textiles. A former LVMH Prize and Woolmark Prize semi-finalist, his daring and gender non-conforming approach to design has built him a global cult following.

Merging his training as an Accra-based visual artist with luxury fashion, Papa Oppong creates opulent pieces defined by distinctive textile work and framed by streetwear silhouettes. His collections, which have attracted global attention including Beyoncé's stylists, reimagine Ghana's rich textile heritage through a bold, contemporary lens.

Inspired by Zimbabwe’s extraordinary wildlife, each piece from Patrick Mavros is hand-crafted with sterling silver and 18-karat gold, intended to be a timeless heirloom that will be handed down between future generations.

Rooted in its African heritage and inspired by ancient traditions and cultures around the world, Pichulik is an ethical jewelry brand based in Cape Town, South Africa. The label seeks to empower women and impart sacred feminine wisdom with its bold designs. 

Sidai Designs is deeply rooted in Maasai culture. Since 2011, designers Eszter Rabin and Rebecca Olivia Moore have been collaborating with female Maasai artisans to create contemporary designs made from traditional beading techniques belonging to their community. The result is wearable art pieces—striking adornments that have captured the attention of major stores across the globe.

Founded in 2016 by Oroma Cookey-Gam and Osione Itegboje, the Nigerian label THIS IS US™ uses locally grown cotton, known as Funtua, and natural indigo dyes from the centuries-old Kano dye pits, to create a unisex lineup of elevated everyday pieces.

Founded in 2019 by designer Lezanne Viviers, South African label Viviers offers handcrafted concept pieces that eschew the latest trends in favor of unique, considered, and sustainable styles. Created from Viviers’ Johannesburg-based Lotus House atelier that also doubles as a concept store, the studio’s garments present a unique marriage of femininity and androgyny.