Africa’s fashion industry is booming, and so is the waste. But these innovators are turning trash into treasure and building a circular fashion economy.
Here are the Top 5 African entrepreneurs leading clothing recycling innovation in 2025:
— Yayra Agbofah (Ghana): Founder of The Revival, rescuing unsellable clothes from Accra’s Kantamanto market and transforming them into new fashion items.
— Esethu Cenga (South Africa): Co-founder of Rewoven, turning pre-consumer textile waste into high-quality fabrics for new garments.
— Adejoke Lasisi (Nigeria): Founder of Planet 3R and Jokelinks Weaving School, transforming textile and plastic waste into handcrafted fashion while training young designers.
— Nkwo Onwuka (Nigeria): Designer of NKWO and Dakala fabric, giving discarded denim and cotton a second life through stylish handwoven creations.
— Liz Ricketts (Ghana): Co-founder of The Or Foundation, a globally recognized organization working on textile waste in Kantamanto and circular fashion systems.
These entrepreneurs are proof that African creativity can turn waste into wealth, creating sustainable jobs and shaping the future of fashion.
Selection focused on verified African founders working in textile recycling, clothing upcycling, or circular fashion initiatives across Africa as of 2024–2025. Criteria included innovation, environmental impact, and contribution to sustainable fashion and recycling systems.
Image Credit: Freepik
