Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards Return With A Bigger Focus On African Craft And Innovation
Sustainable fashion is increasingly becoming about more than what happens on the runway, and the 2026 Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards are putting that broader view at the centre of their eighth edition.
Nominations are now open for the annual awards, which recognise designers, makers, retailers, students, tastemakers and changemakers working towards a fashion and textile industry that is more sustainable, circular, ethical and inclusive.
This year's awards place particular emphasis on artisanal practice, innovation and fashion across Africa, reflecting a growing conversation around how clothing and textiles are made, valued and kept in circulation.
“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.
The 2026 awards feature nine open categories, covering areas ranging from accessories and emerging designers to retail, student design and trans-seasonal fashion. The categories are:
Accessory Award: Recognising accessory brands that combine quality, durability and thoughtful design with ethical labour practices, responsible materials and consideration of end-of-life.
Artisanal Fashion Award: Celebrating designers and makers using artisanal and craft techniques, including weaving, beading, embroidery and botanical dyeing.
Emerging Designer Award: Recognising designers at the beginning of establishing their brands who demonstrate creativity, quality and a commitment to environmental, social and cultural responsibility.
Fashion Innovation Award: Recognising innovative approaches to fashion's environmental and social challenges, including new materials, technologies, construction techniques, waste reduction and circular design.
Pan-African Award: Celebrating a designer or fashion brand from an African country other than South Africa that is contributing to a more responsible African fashion ecosystem.
Retail Award: Recognising retailers and retail initiatives using fashion retail as a force for environmental and social good, including resale, rental, repair and swapping.
Student Award: Celebrating students at South African academic institutions who are using sustainable and circular design principles to challenge conventional approaches to fashion.
Tastemaker Award: Recognising photographers, stylists, influencers, writers, thought leaders and content creators helping to shift the conversation around responsible fashion.
Trans-seasonal Design Award: Celebrating versatile, timeless and durable fashion that challenges the trend-driven cycles of fast fashion.
One of the notable additions is the Artisanal Fashion Award, which recognises designers and makers using techniques such as weaving, beading, embroidery and botanical dyeing, alongside other traditional and contemporary craft practices.
The category is intended to recognise not only the finished work, but also the skills, knowledge, people and cultural heritage embedded within these forms of production. It also honours the legacy of the late South African designer Nicholas Coutts and his exploration of traditional craft techniques within contemporary fashion.
The Pan-African Award expands the awards' focus beyond South Africa, recognising a designer or fashion brand from another African country that is contributing to a more responsible fashion ecosystem.
The category looks at practitioners supporting local production, skills, livelihoods, craft and value chains, highlighting the different approaches emerging across the continent.
Innovation also has its own category this year, with the Fashion Innovation Award recognising approaches to fashion's environmental and social challenges. This can include new materials and technologies, alternative construction techniques, waste reduction and circular design.
Elsewhere, the Retail Award focuses on businesses and initiatives using retail as a force for environmental and social good, including resale, rental, repair, swapping and other circular models.
The Trans-seasonal Design Award takes aim at another familiar part of the fashion system by recognising versatile, timeless and durable clothing designed to challenge the trend-driven cycles associated with fast fashion.
There are also awards for emerging designers, students and the people influencing the conversation around sustainable fashion. The Tastemaker Award includes photographers, stylists, influencers, writers, thought leaders and content creators promoting sustainable, circular, local and African fashion.
The awards therefore take a broader view of the fashion ecosystem, recognising that changing the industry involves more than designers alone. Makers, craftspeople, producers, retailers, educators, entrepreneurs and communicators all have a role in changing how fashion is designed, produced, sold, worn and valued.
While the Changemaker Award is not open for direct nominations, it will be awarded to the strongest overall candidate emerging from the eligible categories.
The award recognises an exceptional contribution to changing the fashion system through sustainable, circular, ethical and/or regenerative practice, with the winner receiving a R100,000 cash prize.
There is no requirement for nominees to submit garments or prepare a traditional portfolio. Individuals can nominate themselves or a peer by completing the relevant entry form and providing information about their work and how it meets the criteria for their chosen category.
Entries will be assessed against criteria including design and quality, ethical labour, transparency, resource use, material sourcing, waste and pollution, environmental and climate impact, and sustainable and circular practices.
Nominations for the 2026 Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards close on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The winners will be announced on 19 November, with a celebration taking place in Cape Town on the same day.
