Spotlight on sustainable fashion and housewares in Africa
Check out these Good Market approved social enterprises and responsible businesses that focus on sustainable fashion and housewares in Africa. ❤️ Know an initiative that should be included? Get in touch or encourage them to apply.
4Africa
Kampala, Uganda
4Africa produces environmentally responsible toys and accessories to empower vulnerable women in Uganda. They offer toy lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, zebras, and other animals that are hand-crocheted from cotton yarn and unique jewelry …
Action for Compassion Ghana aims to provide opportunities for marginalized women and children in Elmira and Cape Coast. They offer sewing classes for women that empower them to generate an income for themselves and their families. …
African Continental Crafts aims to improve market access for underserved African artisans through design innovation, product development, sustainable sourcing, and digital marketing solutions. It was created by Engabu Za Tooro, a Ugandan …
Afrikable uses fair trade to empower women and support economic development in Kenya. They started with a textile producer group in Lamu and expanded to producer groups for recycled waste products, beaded jewelry, and beaded …
AfroWema offers unique clothing and accessories from Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, and creates employment opportunities for the local community. They collect cotton kitenge fabric, denim garments, and secondhand brass from …
Alive and Kicking is a not-for-profit social enterprise that produces and distributes ethical sports balls, creates employment opportunities for vulnerable groups, promotes the right to play, and raises health awareness through sport. …
ASIGE improves the lives of women and girls in northern Ghana through skill development and sustainable livelihood diversification. They specialize in hand woven baskets and shopping bags made from locally harvested elephant grass …
BeadWORKS creates opportunities for pastoralist women in northern Kenya to translate their traditional beading skills into income while retaining a semi-nomadic lifestyle and conserving natural resources and wildlife. It is an initiative that …
Blooh creates modern handcrafted jewelry, supports artisan livelihoods, and funds girls’ education in Kenya. They work with artisan partners that are committed to transparency, fair labor practices, environmental stewardship, and circular design …
CHAKO aims to protect Zanzibar’s environment, empower local women, and increase economic opportunity by enabling artisan craft producers to expand their product ranges and connect with broader markets. The tourism industry …
Collaborative Craft Projects (CCP) works closely with artisan communities throughout Zimbabwe and regionally to design, develop, and produce handcrafted housewares and furniture. They specialize in bespoke basketry and flooring …
Craftmerce is an online wholesale marketplace that connects African brands and artisan groups with international retail partners. They focus on handmade products that are ethically and sustainably sourced. By expanding access to new …
Durian empowers women in rural communities to become self-sufficient by providing them with the knowledge and skills to transform local waste materials into livelihood opportunities. At the Durian Craft Village in Imafon, women learn …
Dandarah is a woman-owned social enterprise that was started to sustain traditional crafts and support marginalized artisans in Egypt. They specialize in blown glass, pottery, brass jewelry, and handwoven Egyptian cotton housewares …
Faces Up Uganda empowers young people from underserved communities through creative arts, mentorship, and hands-on skills training and enables them to take the lead in bettering their own lives. They believe art and creative expression …
Gone Rural was founded in 1992 to economically empower rural women in Eswatini through handwoven basketry, a traditional craft that is passed from mother to daughter. They provide materials, training, product design support, and …
H18 Foundation aims to empower, upskill, and uplift women in the Joe Slovo Park area of Milnerton, South Africa. They provide craft skills training, materials and equipment, a safe and comfortable workspace, and orders for finished products …
Hands of Hope Artisan Carvers is a self help group in western Kenya that uses locally available resources to empower artisans, create sustainable livelihoods, and address community challenges. They specialize in hand carved Kisii …
Kiliim aims to revive and sustain local Egyptian crafts and artisan communities by integrating traditional techniques and modern designs. Decades ago, the village of Fowwa in the Nile Delta had over 2,000 kilim weaving workshops, but when …
Kunzwana Women’s Association was formed in 1995 to economically empower rural women and former farm workers displaced during the land distribution process in Zimbabwe. Today, they work with a network of area leaders to support …
Makao Collective aims to promote sustainable living in Tanzania and create employment opportunities that improve wellbeing. They specialize in environmentally responsible housewares and accessories that are handmade by African …
Mifuko is a “radically sustainable” fair trade social enterprise that celebrates the fusion of Nordic design and African handicraft. They create unique housewares and accessories, empower women, nurture craftsmanship, and contribute …
MitiMeth transforms waste, creates livelihood opportunities for women and youth, and empowers communities through craft skills training. They started in 2011 with Nigerian riverine communities that were struggling with the spread of water …
Namugongo Good Samaritan Organization empowers impoverished women and girls in Uganda with emotional, social, and vocational skills to become entrepreneurs, positive role models, and leaders who meaningfully contribute to their …
Njombe Beyond is an initiative started by the Southern Highlands Participatory Organisation (SHIPO) to reduce waste and recycle plastic in Njombe town. Since 2000, the import of plastic and synthetic rubber to Tanzania has increased …
Paper Fig Foundation provides healthcare and clean water to underserved, rural communities and uses fashion and the arts to unleash women’s power in East Africa. Their sewing school in Kasese, Uganda offers a free, six-month course designed …
Rwenzori Sustainable Trade Center (RSTC) works with communities in the Rwenzori region of Uganda to create viable cooperative businesses that contribute to sustainable social development. They export handwoven baskets and crafts, …
Sabahar produces hand spun and hand woven textiles in Ethiopia from natural fibers like linen, wool, and locally sourced cotton and silk. Most of the silk in Ethiopia comes from eri silk caterpillars which eat castor, an environmentally …
Seeds & Stories uses regenerative fashion as a tool to promote gender equality, community development, and environmental regeneration in Bigodi, a rural village in western Uganda. They create social and economic opportunities …
Seeds to Sew International is a fair trade not-for-profit organization that aims to improve the lives of women and girls in disadvantaged communities through education and job skills training. Their retail outlet and online store feature …
The Slum Studio is a multifaceted Ghanaian research brand that explores the politics of clothing while creating handpainted textiles and wearable art out of fabric waste. They start by visiting and documenting secondhand clothing …
Three Sisters was founded to connect ethical artisans in West Africa to a global market of conscientious consumers and build capacity in the artisans’ communities. Products include hand-carved soapstone cups, wooden spoons, …
Tooro Gallery uses locally available natural resources to produce handmade baskets, improve livelihoods, and empower women, youth, and the elderly in the Tooro region of Uganda. They offer learning tours to visitors and sell handwoven …
Township is a fair trade social enterprise that has been creating sustainable economic opportunities for women in South Africa’s township communities since 1997. They specialize in custom branded bags and accessories for conference …
WomenCraft works with over 600 women artisans in the tri-border area of Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. The region has experienced decades of violence and insecurity including multiple genocides which have caused mass …
Yadawee promotes fair trade housewares and accessories, preserves Egyptian heritage crafts, and creates livelihood opportunities for artisans in disadvantaged communities throughout the country. They specialize in handblown recycled …
Zoa Collective creates artisanal housewares in Kenya with a focus on conscious collaboration and mutual exchange of knowledge. They offer handloom towels, throw blankets, and other home textiles made from East African cotton …
Zubo was started by rural Tonga women in the Zambezi Valley to champion the sustainable use of natural resources and the rights of women. They bring women together so they can realize their social, economic, cultural, and political potential …