@tongorostudio – Senegal

Founded in in 2016 by Paris-born, Ivory Coast-raised creative director Sarah Diouf, Tongoro is a ready-to-wear label with a strong emphasis on African fashion and craftsmanship. Focussing on materials that are sustainably sourced on the continent, each and every piece is made in Dakar, Senegal, by local tailors, renowned for their exceptional quality. The label counts Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell, Iman and Alicia Keys as fans.

@sindisokhumalo – South Africa

Sustainability and craft are close to Sindiso Khumalo’s heart. She designs by hand using watercolours and collage, before working closely with NGOs and small workshops in South Africa and Burkina Faso to develop the handwoven and hand-embroidered textiles, using natural materials such as hemp, linen and organic African cotton. A joint winner of the LVMH Prize in 2020, she has shown at Milan Fashion Week and spoken at the United Nations on sustainability in fashion. Sindiso draws on her heritage to create modern textiles with a strong emphasis on African storytelling, often weaving social equality and female empowerment into her collections.

@orangecultureng – Nigeria

Adebayo Oke-Lawal is a self-taught designer based in Lagos, Nigeria, who utilizes his designer brand, Orange Culture, to challenge macho Nigerian stereotypes and blur the borders between genders. Diverse, androgynous silhouettes are constructed in linen tunics, silk kimonos, and well-cut suits. Colour is cast in stripes, shimmery satins, and unapologetically bright palettes such as neon oranges and lime greens to unshackle the wearer from gender stereotypes and to rather embrace elements of design.