Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025: Press Release

1st February 2025

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Do You Have What It Takes to Be Africa’s Top Leather Designer?  

Entries are now open for the Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025—a premier platform for Africa’s designers to showcase their innovation in leather products design and commitment to sustainable fashion. Here are the key highlights: 

• Competition kicks off on February 3, 2025, when registrations officially open. 

• The final showcase will take place in December 2025 at a venue to be announced. 

• A distinguished panel of judges will select category winners and the Most Commendable Designer 2025. 

• The Most Commendable Designer will earn the opportunity to present their work on an international stage. 

• Find out more about the competition: chooserealleather.com/competition/africa-competition/ 

Ruth Girmay, Overall Winner Kerry Brozyna: President of the LHCA

Nairobi, Kenya, February 5th, 2025 – The Leather & Hide Council of America (L&HCA) and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) are proud to announce the commencement of Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025.

Now in its third, the Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase serves as a transformative platform promoting leather as the material of choice for a sustainable future. RLSD is the consumer-facing initiative of a global campaign led by the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) to strengthen leather markets worldwide. In partnership with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), LHCA champions the principles of slow fashion across the continent while showcasing Africa’s outstanding design talent. 

Over the past five years, the campaign has engaged over 7,500 students from 720 universities across 48 countries fostering innovation, responsible material use, and slow fashion advocacy. 

The RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025 is more than just a competition—it is a movement dedicated to transforming the future of fashion. It celebrates leather’s beauty, versatility, strength and durability, providing a platform for designers to showcase their creativity while embracing sustainability. 

Through education and engagement, the showcase empowers designers with knowledge of sustainable fashion and responsible material use, ensuring ethical practices remain at the forefront of Africa’s design. By recognising and rewarding innovation, it serves as a launch–pad for designers to build their careers and their businesses. 

Beyond the competition, RLSD Africa nurtures global ambassadors, equipping them to advocate for ethical and responsible leather craftsmanship. At its core, the showcase champions Slow Fashion, challenging the wastefulness of fast fashion by promoting high-quality, sustainable designs that stand the test of time. 

“The fashion industry cannot afford to ignore its environmental impact. Consumers are informed and change is inevitable. Leather stands at the heart of slow fashion because of its durability, offering an ethical and sustainable alternative to disposable fashion trends. By investing in products that last, we send a powerful message on sustainability—one that today’s conscious consumers deeply value. As we move forward, our collective responsibility is clear: prioritise sustainability, amplify our industry’s voice and foster value creation to ensure long-term growth and impact.”

Kerry Brozyna, President, Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA).

Ruth Girmay: Winning Design 2024

“The Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025 champions leather as the material of choice for a sustainable future, providing designers across Africa with the skills, exposure and platform to harness its beauty, versatility and durability. Now is Africa’s time to lead in creating ethical, high-quality leather products and shaping the future of sustainable fashion.”

Nicholas Mudungwe, Executive Director, Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI). 

The RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase ‘25 is now open for entries. Here is what you need to know:  

• Registration: Opened on 3rd February, 2025. 

• Categories: Apparel, Accessories, and Footwear. 

• Design submission: Opens on 1st March, 2025. 

• Design submission: Closes on 31st March, 2025, midnight BST. 

• Announcement of winning designs: Selected designs will be announced on 14th, April, 2025, along with invitations to submit the physical product. 

• Submission of the physical product: This will run from 15th April, 2025, until 30th June, 2025. 

• Material Requirements: Entries must be at least 50% cowhide leather by surface area and use natural materials wherever possible. While exceptions may be made for items such as zippers and snap fasteners, the overall design will be evaluated holistically, and a list of materials must be provided with submissions. It is important to emphasise that natural materials should be used whenever possible. Please note that the use of fur or exotic skins is strictly prohibited. 

• RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025: Scheduled for December 2025 (venue and date to be confirmed), with the possibility of a digital showcase should travel restrictions apply. 

2024 Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase

Highlights of RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2024 

The 2024 edition of the Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase, held alongside the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was a remarkable display of Africa’s talent.  

• Ethiopia’s Ruth Girmay emerged as the Most Commendable Designer 2024, winning over the judges with her Overfishing Bag, a marine conservation-inspired accessory that seamlessly blended purpose with style. 

• In the apparel category, Eddie Louis from Uganda captivated audiences with his Contemporary Leather Armour Collection, a bold fusion of heritage and modernity. 

• Zimbabwe’s Nompumelelo Marilyn Samambgwa paid homage to nature through her Amaluba Collection, a footwear line inspired by floral elements. 

• Kenya’s Stephen Maosa claimed the People’s Choice Award with his Transformable Travel Bag, a testament to sustainable design, crafted using upcycled denim and leather. 

Each finalist brought a unique perspective to the competition, reinforcing Africa’s role as a powerhouse of sustainable fashion. The 2024 event set the stage for an even more exciting 2025 edition, with designers pushing boundaries, redefining leather craftsmanship and embracing slow fashion as a movement for the future.