10 Sustainable African-Owned Shoe Brands To Know

Africa, with over one billion people, is an untapped market for the global footwear industry. It’s not just the size of the market that makes Africa attractive; the continent is rich in raw materials, skilled workers, and affordable labor, making it well-positioned to build a multi-billion-dollar footwear industry.

Countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria are leading the charge in the production of footwear. Ethiopia, for example, earned over $30 million from shoe exports, ranking it ninth in the global leather goods industry in 2015. This is just the start. As more African countries get involved, the footwear industry on the continent could reach $1 billion in the next decade.

In recent years, the global fashion world has turned to Africa for fresh, creative designs that mix modern style with traditional elements. African-owned shoe brands are making a mark, not only in local markets but also on the global stage. These brands are challenging traditional fashion with shoes that are bold, sustainable, and culturally rich.

What makes these African-owned shoe brands stand out is their focus on sustainability, community, and cultural heritage. Many of these brands use recycled and organic materials, support local artisans, and ensure fair trade practices. Their designs also tell stories of Africa’s diverse cultures and histories.

Ahead, we’ll highlight 10 African-owned sustainable shoe brands that are making waves and changing the future of fashion.

SoleRebels is an Ethiopian footwear brand that embodies sustainability and ethical entrepreneurship. Founded by Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu in 2004 with less than $10,000 in capital from family savings, the idea came to her after noticing that many skilled artisans in her community, despite creating beautiful footwear, remained jobless and impoverished.

Today, SoleRebels employs over 100 people and works with nearly 200 local suppliers of raw materials. The brand has expanded internationally, opening retail stores in North America, Europe, and Asia, and has established itself as a leader in the global footwear market, with a strong focus on eco-friendly and fair-trade practices.

Its commitment to sustainability is reflected in the use of recycled materials such as car tires, organic cotton, and jute in their shoe designs. SoleRebels combines traditional Ethiopian craftsmanship with modern global trends, creating shoes that are both stylish and comfortable.

The brand’s eco-friendly footwear is sold in more than 50 countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan, and Switzerland. Despite starting with humble resources, SoleRebels now generates annual sales of up to $1 million, with projections suggesting that sales could reach $10 million in 2016.

What makes SoleRebels stand out is its dedication to handcrafting shoes using locally-sourced, recycled materials like old car tires and hand-loomed organic fabrics. It became the first footwear company in the world to be certified by the World Fair Trade Organization.

Bethlehem’s accomplishments have earned her numerous accolades, including being named Young Global Leader of the Year in 2011 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and winning the Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship that same year. Her inspiring journey with SoleRebels has been featured by Forbes, BBC, and CNN.

Beyond its products, SoleRebels is committed to offering fair wages to local artisans and promoting the economic empowerment of Ethiopian communities. This African sustainable shoe brand’s message is clear: fashion can be stylish, sustainable, and ethically made.

Enzi Footwear is a Kenyan luxury brand known for its premium casual shoes and high-quality apparel, all proudly handcrafted and distributed across East Africa. The brand focuses on combining quality and style, offering unique, African-inspired designs. Enzi’s products are gaining recognition for their craftsmanship and commitment to local manufacturing.

Enzi is carving out a niche in the global market with its luxury leather shoes for men. The brand was founded by four long-time friends from different countries: Sam Imende (Kenya), Azariah Mengistu (Ethiopia), Christian Ward (UK), and Jawad Braye (USA). The idea for Enzi came about during a visit to Ethiopia, where they discovered an abundance of premium leather and a rapidly growing footwear industry.

Enzi uses high-quality, ethically sourced, and environmentally sustainable Ethiopian leather to create its footwear. The company partners with manufacturers in Ethiopia and Kenya to design stylish, “dressy-casual” shoes made from the best materials.

This brand aims to change the negative perception of Africa and produce the highest-quality shoes for the global market. Its footwear is available on its online store and in boutique retailers in cities like London, Hong Kong, Paris, New York, and Johannesburg.

The African sustainable shoe brand is known for its minimalist yet sophisticated designs, focusing on timeless, comfortable, and durable shoes that offer both style and functionality. Enzi also prioritizes ethical sourcing, selecting leather from responsible suppliers and supporting local artisans throughout the production process.

ZAAF Collection, founded by Abai Schulze, is a luxury Ethiopian brand known for its beautifully crafted leather shoes, bags, and accessories. What makes ZAAF unique is its blend of modern fashion with Ethiopian heritage.

ZAAF’s shoes are made from high-quality leather sourced from local tanneries, with designs inspired by Ethiopian culture and traditional handwoven fabrics. ZAAF’s footwear is not just stylish—it tells a story of African heritage.

The brand is committed to sustainability, using locally sourced materials and supporting local artisans by offering fair wages and promoting skill development. ZAAF is redefining luxury footwear by making it both ethical and deeply rooted in African culture.

Brother Vellies, founded by Aurora James, draws inspiration from South African and African heritage to create sustainable, handcrafted footwear that honors both African culture and the environment.

As a designer of African and Caribbean descent, James collaborated with artisans across Africa to blend traditional techniques with modern style. The brand’s shoes are made with luxurious, eco-friendly materials like vegetable-tanned leather and sustainable fur, appealing to the high-end market.

Brother Vellies has built a loyal following among celebrities like  Beyonce, Hailey Beiber, and more, influencers, and sustainability advocates, thanks to its premium products and commitment to empowering African artisans. The African sustainable shoe brand represents the perfect fusion of creativity and sustainability, producing footwear that is both beautiful and functional.

Hesey Designs is a Nigerian footwear and accessories brand known for its vibrant, colorful shoes that celebrate the rich cultural heritage of West Africa. The brand stands out for using Ankara, a brightly colored African fabric, to create trendy and culturally inspired shoes, ranging from sandals to heels.

Founded by Odiete Eseoghene, a young Nigerian fashion entrepreneur, Hesey Designs offers handcrafted shoes, apparel, and accessories like bags and purses. Odiete, who graduated from university just a few years ago, started the brand with less than $100 of her savings. Through hard work and passion, she has raised about $60,000 to grow her business.

Hesey Designs gained attention when Odiete created sneakers worn by Sir Richard Branson, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, during the launch of their new uniforms and 30th Anniversary celebration in London.

The brand is committed to sustainability by using locally sourced materials and supporting local artisans with fair wages and community initiatives. More than just a shoe brand, Hesey Designs represents the bold, vibrant spirit of African fashion.

Swaheelies is a footwear brand made from African fabrics, featuring vibrant prints sourced from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and Nigeria. The shoes are handcrafted by local artisans in Nairobi.

The brand was founded by Chania Lackey, a young Kenyan entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate lawyer to follow her passion for designing functional, comfortable footwear with African prints.

Swaheelies is more than just a sustainable footwear brand—it’s a social enterprise that empowers Kenyan artisans. Chania chose to work with artisans from Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest slums, where many talented workers struggle with unemployment and lack of income. By creating jobs for these artisans, Swaheelies helps support their families, and a portion of each shoe sale goes towards educating underprivileged children in Kibera.

This African sustainable shoe brand offers a variety of collections, including the Swaheelies Flip Flops, the Mila “Kikoy” Collection, the African Print “Ankara” Collection, and the African Tritik Collection.

NioFar should be your top choice when it comes to stylish sneakers made from mudcloth fabric. Founded by Milcos Badji, a talented young designer from Senegal, NioFar brings together casual chic and Senegalese traditions in a fresh, modern way. The brand’s handmade footwear captures the essence of both style and culture, offering unique sneakers that stand out for their craftsmanship and design.

Nio Far’s designs draw inspiration from lesser-known African folklore, weaving cultural stories into every piece. African proverbs are intricately stitched into shoe patterns, while design elements symbolize rich traditions—circles representing family and community, and zigzagging triangles inspired by the iguana’s elbow, a symbol of good fortune.

Specializing in high-quality, handmade leather shoes, NioFar uses locally sourced leather to create sleek, minimalist designs for both men and women. Each pair is crafted with precision and care, highlighting the attention to detail and commitment to promoting local craftsmanship.

What sets this African-owned shoe brand apart is its focus on sustainable sourcing and production. The brand is not only dedicated to high-quality materials but also ensures that the artisans involved in the production process are supported, empowering local communities. Thanks to its commitment to sustainability and local craftsmanship, NioFar is rapidly gaining recognition both within Africa and globally.

Ikwetta is a brand of leather bags and footwear, handcrafted by skilled Kenyan artisans with a strong commitment to sustainability. The brand focuses on creating luxurious, timeless pieces designed to last for years, even decades. To ensure quality, they use only the finest materials sourced from ethical factories.

All leather comes from Africa’s largest and first LWG Gold-rated tannery. LWG certification guarantees that the leather is tanned responsibly, with attention to traceability, resource consumption, and waste treatment.

This African sustainable shoe brand collaborates with artisan craftspeople from East Africa, using locally sourced materials like leather, handwoven fabrics, raffia, and other traditional textiles. They actively repurpose excess leather and offcuts that might otherwise go to waste as part of their Zero Waste Initiative. 

Ikwetta crafts ethically made, handcrafted products from high-quality, homegrown materials that are designed to last. The goal is to build a community of conscious consumers who understand the true cost of what they buy.

Ebuka Omaliko, a self-taught designer from Nigeria, founded Maliko, a Lagos-based brand that pushes the limits of traditional shoemaking. Since its establishment in 2015, Maliko has been recognized for creating unique, handcrafted sandals, slip-ons, and heels that showcase the beauty of Nigerian craftsmanship.

The brand stands out for using locally sourced materials such as recycled leather and the iconic Nigerian fabric, aso oke, which adds a distinctive cultural touch to each pair of shoes.

Omaliko is deeply committed to working with local artisans, collaborating with them to not only create stylish, high-quality footwear but also to preserve and celebrate Nigeria’s rich tradition of craftsmanship. His vision goes beyond just making shoes; it’s about keeping age-old techniques alive and ensuring that these artisans can continue their work, passing down their skills to future generations.

Through Maliko, Omaliko is helping to elevate the global recognition of Nigerian-made fashion while providing a platform for local talent. 

RAMLA is an Egyptian sustainable shoe brand founded by Reem Hamed in 2017. Drawing inspiration from her background in architecture, Hamed created a brand that blends artistic design with comfort and style. RAMLA’s footwear collection features a variety of styles, including leather mules, loafers, and sandals, each carefully crafted with attention to detail.

One of the standout elements of this African sustainable shoe brand is the incorporation of serma embroidery, a traditional technique from Upper Egypt, adding a distinctive touch to each piece.

The designs of RAMLA reflect Hamed’s personal vision and experiences. Her time studying and living in Florence, Italy, greatly influenced her approach to design, allowing her to merge European elegance with Egyptian craftsmanship. 

Hamed’s deep connection to her Egyptian roots is evident in the brand’s commitment to showcasing traditional Egyptian techniques, while her architectural background brings structure and modernity to each design. 

Photo: Instagram/brothervellies