As the RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2026 enters its judging phase, attention turns to the distinguished panel entrusted with identifying the designs that best embody this year’s competition brief. More than a collection of respected industry leaders, the 2026 judging panel brings together expertise in leather science, product development, sustainable fashion, entrepreneurship, and market-led innovation. Convened by RLSD Africa on behalf of the Leather and Hide Council of America (L&HCA) in collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), the panel represents a rare combination of regional experience and global industry perspective.
Leading the panel as Head Judge is Preston Viswamo, one of Africa’s foremost authorities in leather product design, entrepreneurship, and value chain development. As Program Manager – Entrepreneurship, Product Design and Development at ALLPI, Preston has spent more than 25 years advancing Africa’s leather sector through sustainable tanning practices, product innovation, technical training, and enterprise development. His work has empowered artisans, SMEs, manufacturers, and emerging designers across the continent while promoting commercially viable and globally competitive leather products. In the judging room, his assessment will be guided by technical precision, craftsmanship, functionality, innovation, and long-term industry relevance.
Also joining the panel is Ruth Girmay, the only designer in RLSD Africa history to win the Most Commendable Designer Award twice, securing back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2024. Her internationally acclaimed design, The Overfishing Bag, demonstrated how thoughtful design can serve as a powerful tool for environmental awareness and social impact. Since representing Africa at the RLSD International Event in London, Ruth has become an influential advocate for sustainable fashion and design innovation. As someone who has successfully navigated the competition at the highest level, she brings a unique perspective on creativity, originality, storytelling, and the ability to transform concepts into impactful leather products.
Adding global depth to the panel is Michael Redwood, an internationally recognized authority in the leather industry and one of its most respected sustainability advocates. A leather chemist by training, with a BSc in Leather Science from the University of Leeds, an MBA, and a PhD, Michael brings more than five decades of international experience spanning industry leadership, academia, policy engagement, and sustainability advocacy. His career has taken him through senior roles across Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America in both leather manufacturing and leather products sectors. As a founding spokesperson for Leather Naturally, he has long championed evidence-based sustainability and consumer education. His presence on the panel brings a critical global perspective on sustainability, innovation, material science, and the evolving role of leather within responsible design systems.
Jacqueline Shaw, Founder of Africa Fashion Guide, brings a strong sustainable fashion perspective to the judging panel. For more than sixteen years, she has championed transparency, fair trade, cultural authenticity, and responsible production within the global fashion industry. As a designer, educator, author, consultant, and international speaker, Jacqueline offers a valuable perspective that balances creativity with sustainability, social impact, ethical sourcing, and business viability. Her contribution ensures that entries are evaluated not only for their design excellence but also for their broader impact within contemporary fashion systems.
The footwear category will benefit from the expertise of Tezera Ketema, a pioneering footwear innovation specialist and product development expert. As founder of Podo Pal and co-founder of Podohub, Tezera has developed solutions that successfully balance functionality, comfort, craftsmanship, and market relevance. His work reflects a rare ability to merge technical excellence with Africa’s creativity and innovation potential. Among his notable achievements is leading the design and development of the parade boots worn by the Canadian Winter Olympic Team, demonstrating his ability to deliver products that meet exacting performance, aesthetic, and manufacturing standards. Tezera brings a product developer’s perspective to the judging process, focusing on construction quality, technical execution, usability, and commercial potential.
Completing the panel is Judy Ngotho, Founder and CEO of Dakari, a Nairobi-based brand recognized for its commitment to sustainability, ethical production, and circular economy principles. Through her work, Judy champions responsible sourcing, community empowerment, waste-conscious design, and African luxury. She brings an entrepreneur’s perspective to the judging process, evaluating entries through the lens of sustainability, market readiness, brand development, and long-term impact. Her experience ensures that innovation is assessed alongside practical business potential and the realities of building successful brands.
Together, this panel reflects the very values RLSD Africa seeks to advance: excellence in leather design without compromise, creativity with purpose, and products that are both beautiful and commercially viable. Their combined expertise ensures a judging process that remains firmly focused on the qualities that determine whether a design can truly succeed in real-world markets: creativity, craftsmanship, functionality, sustainability, innovation, and commercial viability.
The RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase has always been about more than competition. It is a platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of African designers who understand that leather is not merely a material, but a medium for innovation, identity, craftsmanship, and enterprise. Through their work, these designers challenge the culture of fast fashion by creating products that are designed to last, valued for their quality, and appreciated for their enduring relevance.
With a judging panel of this calibre, RLSD Africa 2026 is well positioned to recognize, celebrate, and elevate the continent’s most outstanding leather design talent.
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