10 Black Owned SA Sneaker Brands You Should Know About
Over the past couple of years we’ve seen the rise of local brands in fashion, not only that but the public embracing them and supporting proud black owned brands.
These ten sneaker brands are proudly black and proudly South African, making a mark on the market locally with so much potential to go global. Check out these 10 black owned sneaker brands you need to know about.
1.Bathu
In 2015, after months of conceptualizing, feasibility studies and being rejected by 13 different factories, the Mesh Edition Sneaker was born. Once in production, and having dealt with the rigorous 18 month processes of design, production, quality assurance and financing related to the Mesh Edition, Theo founded the business – Bathu – meaning shoes in Kasi slang – and launched 100 pairs of Mesh Edition to the people of Alexandra, Soweto, Midrand and Thembisa. Bathu has since opened up additional stores in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Thohoyandou, Polokwane & Rustenburg where the responses have been nothing short of incredible.
2. Mpahla
Mpahla is a story that every household with siblings would identify with. The birth of Mpahla came about from a story of two brothers that used to share or alternate sneakers to clothes. Although they have over 10 year age gap between them, the younger one’s structure was such that he was able to fit in to his older bros clothes and sneakers. Each season they’d be excited about new sneakers lines & clothes releases & would sit & chose which items to try & buy & alternate so as to save money as it would not have been possible to afford two pairs of every item they liked. As time went by & continuing to share clothes & sneakers, they decided to create their own sneaker. An affordable,unisex, stylish, comfortable sneaker line for an African child. Early 2016, they decided to start the process of realizing their dream of owning their own line however they didn’t follow through it. Mid 2019 they decided to revert back to the plan & started coming up with different designs. And as they say, the rest is history.
3. Drip
In 2003, Growing up in an informal settlement of Ivory Park, Lekau Sehoana didn’t have any Shoes to wear. He saw an old Torn Sneaker, he redesigned it using Denims and Polyurethane. The Sneaker became a hit and people started ordering it. Making an entry into the Shoe Making business and exchanging Pain with Profit , for the next 5 Years of his High School Years.
16 years later in 2019, the commercial Brand was born and he named it DRIP. The concept behind the Name and branding of this Footwear business comes from the modern day usage of words. Changing meaning of words to a whole different meaning, to make the word cool or what its being changed to even cooler. Drip means drops of Liquid although In urban street culture it means looking nice, having high fashion senses, Ukotini, style or being highly fashionable.
4. Mama Kea
Mama Kea is a Proudly African brand developed with love by a passionate group of highly-skilled African craftsmen and women.
5. Koena
Koena Clothing is an international company that is engaged in worldwide marketing and selling of footwear, equipment, accessories and services. It is highly recognised with its small letter PHI sign, 21st letter of the Greek alphabet, with trademark “K-O-E-N-A”. The company was created to bring the best clothing ranges at the best prices. Its styles include differentiated smart wear that stretches to intimacy and excitement. Coupled with quality, Koena Clothing styles bring superb details and fabric for sophistication.
