Twyg Awards Open New Categories to Recognise Sustainable Fashion Across Africa
Twyg Awards Open New Categories to Recognise Sustainable Fashion Across Africa. Nominations have opened for the 2026 Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards, with the eighth edition introducing categories focused on artisanal practice, innovation and fashion from across Africa.
The awards recognise designers, makers, retailers, students, tastemakers and changemakers contributing to a more sustainable, circular and regenerative fashion and textile industry.
According to Twyg director Jackie May, the awards have spent eight years identifying people and organisations working towards a fashion industry that is ethical, inclusive, diverse and environmentally responsible. These individuals and organisations form part of a growing ecosystem and an online directory maintained by Twyg.
Nine categories are open for nominations this year: Accessory, Artisanal Fashion, Emerging Designer, Fashion Innovation, Pan-African, Retail, Student, Tastemaker and Trans-seasonal Design.
The categories cover different aspects of responsible fashion. These include durable accessories, traditional and contemporary craft techniques, emerging design businesses, new materials and circular production methods. The awards also recognise retailers using resale, rental, repair and swapping models, as well as students applying sustainable design principles.
The Pan-African Award is open to designers and fashion brands from African countries outside South Africa. It recognises contributions to responsible fashion through local production, skills development, livelihoods, craft and value chains.
The Changemaker Award is not open for nominations. Instead, it will be awarded to the strongest overall candidate from the eligible categories, recognising an exceptional contribution to transforming the fashion system through sustainable, circular, ethical or regenerative practices. The recipient will receive R100,000. The Pan-African category is excluded from consideration for this award due to logistical considerations.
Entries will be assessed against criteria covering design quality, labour practices, transparency, resource use, material sourcing, waste, pollution, environmental impact and circular practices.
Nominations close on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. Individuals may nominate themselves or a peer by completing the relevant entry form and explaining how the work meets the selected category’s requirements. Garments and traditional portfolios are not required.
