Celebrating African craftsmanship, innovation and responsible design, the eighth edition invites nominations for the people shaping a more sustainable fashion future.
African fashion’s enduring appeal lies in its creativity, cultural depth and craftsmanship. As conversations around luxury increasingly embrace provenance, thoughtful production and lasting quality, the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards 2026 place these values in the spotlight.
Nominations are now open for the eighth edition of the awards, recognising designers, makers, retailers, students and tastemakers working towards a more sustainable, circular and regenerative fashion and textile industry.
From artisanal techniques and innovative materials to timeless design and responsible retail, the awards celebrate the people and organisations rethinking how fashion is created, consumed and valued.
Nominations close on Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
Recognising craftsmanship and responsible innovation
Established by South African non-profit media platform Twyg, the awards champion a fashion industry that is kind, fair, inclusive, diverse, nature-friendly and circular.
“Since we launched the awards eight years ago, our judges have identified people and organisations working towards a fashion and textile industry that is kind, fair, inclusive, diverse, nature-friendly and circular. They are added to our growing ecosystem and trusted online directory,” says Jackie May, director of Twyg.
This year’s edition places particular emphasis on artisanal practice, innovation and the richness of fashion and textile production across Africa.
For readers who value craftsmanship and considered design, the awards offer a window into the skills, cultural knowledge and creative businesses helping shape African fashion’s future.
Nine categories celebrating the fashion ecosystem
The 2026 awards feature nine categories open for nominations:
- Accessory Award: Recognising accessory brands that combine quality, durability and thoughtful design with ethical labour practices, responsible materials and consideration of a product’s end-of-life.
- Artisanal Fashion Award: Celebrating designers and makers using techniques such as weaving, beading, embroidery and botanical dyeing, while valuing the skills, people and cultural heritage embedded in craft.
- Emerging Designer Award: Recognising designers in the early stages of establishing their brands who demonstrate creativity, quality and environmental, social and cultural responsibility.
- Fashion Innovation Award: Celebrating approaches to fashion’s environmental and social challenges through materials, technologies, construction techniques, waste reduction and circular design.
- Pan-African Award: Recognising a designer or fashion brand from an African country other than South Africa, with fashion produced on the continent, that supports responsible production, local skills, livelihoods, craft and value chains.
- Retail Award: Celebrating retailers and initiatives advancing environmental and social good through resale, rental, repair, swapping and other circular models.
- Student Award: Recognising students at South African academic institutions who use sustainable and circular design principles to challenge conventional approaches to fashion.
- Tastemaker Award: Celebrating photographers, stylists, influencers, writers and content creators who promote sustainable, circular, local and African fashion.
- Trans-seasonal Design Award: Recognising versatile, timeless and durable fashion that challenges the trend-driven cycles of fast fashion.
The Artisanal Fashion Award honours the legacy of the late South African designer Nicolas Coutts, whose work explored traditional craft and techniques within contemporary fashion.
The Pan-African Award extends recognition across the continent, highlighting brands that retain and grow cultural and economic value through African production.
R100,000 for the Changemaker Award winner
Alongside the nine open categories, the Changemaker Award recognises an exceptional contribution to transforming the fashion system through sustainable, circular, ethical or regenerative practice.
This award is not open for direct nominations. The recipient will be selected from the winners of the eligible categories and will receive R100,000.
The Pan-African Award winner is not eligible for the Changemaker Award due to logistical considerations.
How to submit a nomination
Entrants can nominate themselves or a peer by completing the relevant category form on Twyg’s website. No garment submission or traditional portfolio is required to enter; nominees must provide information about their work and demonstrate how it meets the category criteria.
Entries will be assessed on factors including quality and design, ethical labour, transparency, material sourcing, resource use, waste and pollution, environmental impact, and sustainable and circular practice.
Eligibility requirements vary by category, so applicants should review the relevant nomination form before submitting.
View the award categories and submit a nomination on Twyg’s website.
Celebrating African fashion futures
Fashion’s transformation depends on an entire ecosystem: craftspeople, designers, producers, retailers, students, educators and communicators.
By recognising contributions across that ecosystem, the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards encourage a deeper appreciation of the people, processes and cultural knowledge behind what we wear.
The 2026 winners will be announced on 19 November, with a celebration hosted in Cape Town on the same day.
Nominate yourself or a peer by Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
About Twyg
Twyg is a South African non-profit media platform championing sustainable fashion and textile design. Through stories, events and projects, it encourages thoughtful fashion, regenerative practices and positive systems change.
Twyg supports Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and is a member of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network.
