Africa’s textile industry is reimagining itself, with sustainability, craftsmanship, and local innovation at its core.
These founders are not just designing clothes, they’re building circular economies, preserving traditions, and creating real jobs.
Here are five African entrepreneurs making a major impact in textiles as of 2025:
— Laduma Ngxokolo (South Africa): Founder of MaXhosa by Laduma, he creates luxury knitwear inspired by Xhosa beadwork and geometry. He uses local wool and mohair and manufactures in South Africa, bringing African knitwear to the world.
— Yayra Agbofah (Ghana): Founder of The Revival, part of AfroDistrict. His upcycling movement transforms secondhand clothing from Ghana’s Kantamanto Market into new garments and accessories, reducing waste and empowering women with upcycling skills.
— Nkwo Onwuka (Nigeria): Founder of NKWO. Onwuka experiments with post-consumer textile waste and natural fibres to create sustainable, limited‑edition fashion. Her brand also supports artisan training and waste‑to‑resource innovation.
— Ditiro Mashigo (South Africa): Founder of Serati Ltd. Mashigo is a textile artist and designer whose work focuses on sustainable fibre art, weaving, and upcycled materials, blending heritage with eco-conscious craftsmanship.
— Adejoke Lasisi (Nigeria): Founder of Planet 3R. Lasisi turns textile and nylon waste into new fashion pieces and teaches weaving at her Jokelinks Weaving School, preserving craft traditions while promoting circular design.
These entrepreneurs are doing more than making clothes. They’re rethinking how textiles are made, used, and reused, helping Africa lead in ethical manufacturing, cultural innovation, and environmental responsibility.
Selected entrepreneurs are African founders in fashion / textile businesses who are committed to sustainability, innovation in materials, and real social impact. Criteria: active work in recent years (through 2024–2025), public verification by media, and clear commitment to eco- or circular-textile practices.
Image Credit: Freepik
