The Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025 has officially entered its next phase, with the unveiling of the Top 15 finalists, emerging from hundreds of bold, imaginative entries submitted from across the continent.
An initiative of the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA), in collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), and coordinated in Africa by Center for Business Innovation and Training (CbiT), the RLSD Africa Showcase is a transformative platform that champions leather as a sustainable, versatile, and durable material, at the heart of the growing global movement for slow fashion.
Now in its third edition in Africa and fifth globally, the RLSD Africa competition challenges designers to think beyond aesthetics and explore themes of sustainability and practical utility. This year’s entries came from across the continent, reflecting Africa’s growing influence in global design conversations.
Among the creative minds selected, including their project names, are Aisha Salim (Folded Histories), Andrew Chihungu (Black Eden), Annie Chifulemba (Chirengedwe School Shoes), Biniyam Solomon Bekele (Royal Plume Bag), Christina Horace (Arctic Echo), Eddie Louis Ochom (Soaked in Red), Emeka Oguejiofor (Project Rebirth), Farida Eid (Zahw), Francisca Okwiri Odundo (Dwennimmen Boot), George Otieno (Feet-Footwear Awareness), Getaneh Kifle (Dallol Mirage), Gideon Munyao (The Light You Carry – Will be Returned), Omosalewa Ogunjimi (Unburnt), Paulina Mokhothu (Ozone Revival Collection – Wear The Change), and Stephen Maosa (La’ Balaba).
The journey doesn’t end here. These 15 finalists now enter the next phase of the competition, product realisation, as they transform their designs into tangible, wearable works of art in preparation for the Grand Showcase scheduled for December 2025, in Lusaka Zambia.
The RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase is a platform for meaningful growth and impact. Participants gain deeper insights into leather’s environmental credentials and design potential, while connecting with industry leaders, fellow creatives, and sustainability champions from across the continent. The showcase empowers designers to become advocates for responsible fashion, promoting ‘slow style’ as an alternative to fast fashion. Beyond recognition, the competition offers transformative opportunities, positioning winners for business expansion, career-defining exposure, and leadership in the future of Africa’s leather industry.
Meanwhile, the public plays a critical role in determining another key outcome: the People’s Choice Award. For the first time ever, this award is open to all participants who successfully submitted their design concepts, giving every entrant, regardless of shortlist status, a fair shot at continental recognition. The public is encouraged to explore the entries and cast their vote at:
rlsd.internationaldesigncomp.com/competition-event/africa-2025
“This is more than a competition—it’s a movement to reimagine African design through sustainability, innovation, and authenticity. It’s about giving a platform to new innovation and proving that leather design from Africa belongs on the global stage,” said Beatrice Mwasi, Managing Director of CBiT.
As Africa redefines its voice in global fashion, the RLSD Africa 2025 Showcase stands not just as a competition, but as a movement for authenticity, circular design, and creative transformation.
