The second Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase was the hit of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week in Addis Ababa, Kenya. The 14 finalists showed off their designs, each highlighting the versatility and sustainability of leather, at the Skylight Hotel before events culminated in a catwalk show and awards ceremony, attended by Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) President Kerry Brozyna.
Winner of the 2024 Most Commendable Designer, for the second consecutive year, was Ruth Girmay for her design Overfishing Bag, a powerful piece inspired by marine conservation.
Image 1: Jane Li, Vice President L&HCA with Kerry Brozyna, President L&HCA. Image 2: Ruth Girmay, 2023 & 2024 Most Commendable Designer with Justina Torry, USDA FAS
An initiative of LHCA and ALLPI, and coordinated by the Centre for Business Innovation & Training (CBiT), the event highlighted the role of leather in advancing sustainability in the fashion industry.
Designers in this year’s showcase were tasked with creating a single piece inspired by leather in one of three categories: Apparel, Accessories, or Footwear. Each design had to be composed of at least 50% cattle-hide leather, complemented by natural or organic materials wherever possible.
The highlight of the showcase on November 10 was the much-anticipated catwalk show, featuring the designs of all 14 finalists.
The event also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding promoting cooperation between LHCA and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI).
Stephen Maosa of Kenya earned the People’s Choice Award for his Transformable Travel Bag. Crafted from Kenyan leather and upcycled denim, the versatile bag became an audience favourite. Designed with multiple configurations to suit the modern traveller, this innovative piece is both practical and sustainable.
In the Apparel category, Uganda’s Eddie Louis was celebrated for his Contemporary Leather Armour collection, a bold reinterpretation of medieval aesthetics crafted from sustainable materials. Zimbabwe’s Nompumelelo Marilyn Samambgwa won the Footwear category with her Amaluba/Maruva Collection, a remarkable showcase of storytelling through design, demonstrating how personal narratives paired with artisanal skill make authentic and evocative creations.
A key milestone of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between LHCA and ALLPI, a partnership committed to promoting sustainable leather practices, providing technical support, and expanding market access for African designers. This MOU underscores a shared commitment to elevating Africa’s role in the global leather industry and sets a new benchmark in cross-continental collaboration.
Themed ‘Redefining Fashion’s Environmental Footprint, this year’s showcase highlights leather as a sustainable material choice, emphasizing its role as an eco-friendly by-product of the meat industry. Real Leather. Stay Different. promotes slow fashion, advocating for the use of materials that are durable, versatile, and sustainable. The showcase aims to shift the fashion industry towards environmentally conscious practices by demonstrating leather’s longevity and adaptability.
Image 1: Nicholus Mudungwe, Executive Director, ALLPI with Kerry Brozyna, President, LHCA. Image 2: Beatrice Mwasi, Managing Director, CBiT.
Kerry Brozyna, President of LHCA, said: “There are so many exciting and readily available materials we can choose in our clothing, our shoes, our cars and our furniture. We should be thoughtful, however, how many times we can wear or use our favourite products and what happens to those favourite products at their end of life. Fast fashion and the synthetic materials used in fast fashion are horrible for our environment; depositing millions of tons of waste to our lands, rivers and oceans each year. Much of that waste will never biodegrade. Leather, as a by-product of the dairy and meat industries, offers a sustainable alternative. Leather is long-lasting, repairable, durable, recyclable and beautiful. It will last a long time and you will love your end product for a long time. Demand the best material for products you choose to purchase…demand genuine leather.”
Nicholas Mudungwe, Executive Director of ALLPI said: “The leather industry has long supported our economies, providing livelihoods, fostering innovation, and driving the growth and development of our nations. We must acknowledge that we are at a crossroads—faced with both formidable challenges and unprecedented opportunities. By adding value to our leather products, we can create more income, empower future generations, and ensure that Africa’s leather industry continues to lead in redefining fashion’s environmental footprint. This is what the Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2024 is all about—giving our designers the opportunity to showcase their talents and transform the future of fashion.”
See the rest of the finalists’ designs here.
Josslyn Shi from California College of Art has been crowned Overall Winner of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition at a glittering final event held at the U.S. Embassy in London.
And we’re off: the first Global Leather Design Competition has been launched across the UK, calling students from eligible universities and design schools to submit their unique designs showcasing leather.
Meet one of our 45 shortlisted individuals in the running to become the next leader in leather fashion.
Onwards and upwards – just look at what our design stars are achieving in the worlds of style and show business.
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