Everybody needs shoes. We don’t just buy them to protect our feet; shoes are a popular way to express our style and fashion sense. With a population of over one billion people, footwear is one of the fast and emerging business opportunities in Africa. It’s not just the size of Africa’s market that’s attractive to the footwear industry. Africa is also richly endowed with the raw materials, impressive talent and affordable labor that gives it the edge to build a multi-billion dollar footwear industry.
African countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria (just to mention a few) are leading the footwear revolution on the continent.
Meet the top 10 Made-in-Africa footwear brands…
- Sole Rebels
- Taag
- Enzi
- Buqisi-Ruux
- T.T. Dalk
- Swaheelies
- HTW – Heel The World
- Haus of Hercules
- Passport ADV
- Hesey Designs
Sole Rebels (Ethiopia)
Sole Rebels is arguably the most popular and fastest-growing African footwear brand in the world! Despite its very humble beginnings, Sole Rebels now makes up to $1 million in sales every year.
Sole Rebels’ footwear is unique because they are 100 percent made by hand using locally sourced and recycled materials like old car tyres and hand-loomed organic fabrics.
(Source Sole Rebels)
TAAG (Ghana)
TAAG is an innovative Ghanaian footwear brand fusing simplicity with sophistication - call it ‘Ghana to the world’ in style. With the stereotypical analogy of Ghanaian made goods not being good enough, TAAG is breaking the boundaries with timeless fashion-forward footwear that takes into account the elaborate style of the African woman without compromising on quality.
(Source Taag)
Enzi (Kenya & Ethiopia)
ENZI is a promising footwear brand from Africa that focuses on a specific niche in the global footwear market–luxury leather shoes for men.
They conceived the idea for ENZI when Jawad was visiting Azariah in Ethiopia, where they discovered an abundant supply of premium leather and an emerging footwear industry.
ENZI’s brands itself as a company that is out to break the pessimistic view about Africa as well produce shoes of the best quality in Africa, for the world market.
(Source Enzi)
Buqisi-Ruux (Kenya & Uganda)
Buqisi-Ruux is an interesting new startup in Africa’s footwear industry that is certainly turning heads. The brand features 4+ inch platform heels in locally made Ankara print designs that celebrate powerful African women and represent the diversity, vibrancy, and boldness that lies within the African continent.
T.T. Dalk (Nigeria)
T.T DALK is a Nigerian-based fashion brand that is redefining the African footwear industry. It makes simple, trendy, and elegant footwear for both men and women that appeal to a wide range of consumer tastes.
T.T Dalk is definitely a promising brand to watch in Africa’s fast-evolving footwear landscape.
(Source T.T. Dalk)
Swaheelies (Kenya)
The Swaheelies brand of shoes is fabric footwear made with African cloth. The African prints featured in its designs are sourced from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and Nigeria, while local artisans only handcrafted the shoes in Nairobi.
The Swaheelies footwear brand considers itself as a social enterprise that empowers Kenyan artisans to grow with each sale of its shoes.
(Source Swaheelies)
HTW – Heel The World (Ghana)
HTW assembled a team of local artisans and shoemakers who apply their talents and produce beautiful and high-quality shoes that can compete with international luxury brands. At the moment, HTW shoes sell between $200 to $400 for each pair.
HTW provides jobs for local shoemakers and has supported other young entrepreneurs financially.
(Source HTW)
Haus of Hercules (Nigeria)
Haus of Hercules (HOH) is a footwear and accessories brand based in Lagos, Nigeria. It specializes in simple yet stylish and exquisite handmade shoes.
The HOH collection includes loafers, oxfords, brogues, toms, and moccasins made from luxurious fabrics such as velvet and a soft suede and traditional fabrics like denim, tweed, and batik-patterned fabrics.
(Source Haus of Hercules)
Passport ADV (Ethiopia)
Passport Articles de Voyage (Passport ADV) is a fast-growing footwear brand conceived and founded by Ethiopian-born designer and entrepreneur, Mikhayel “MikJagga” Tesfaye in 2009.
Passport ADV’s footwear is predominantly sneakers. Tesfaye’s bold use of fish skin, sheepskin, and even handwoven textile into his footwear distinguish the sneakers.
(Source Passport ADV)
Hesey Designs (Nigeria)
Hesey Designs is an African-inspired fashion label that makes beautifully handcrafted shoes, apparel, and fashion accessories (bags, purses, etc.).
(Source Hesey Designs)
Like I mentioned earlier, Africa’s footwear market is still a virgin. With high population growth, developing economies, and booming consumer demand, there’s still a wide gap between the demand and supply of suitable footwear to satisfy the market. Learn from the success stories of the brands and entrepreneurs in this article. You don’t even need to be an expert in shoemaking and design to become a part of this interesting industry. You could organize local artisans or partner with somebody with know-how.
Above all, you need raw passion, creativity, curiosity, and determination to succeed in the footwear business, or in any business at all.
