Nominations are open for the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards 2026

• Entrants are required to fill in one of the nomination forms on the Twyg website. You can nominate yourself or someone else. See below.
• Submissions of each category will be judged against nine criteria and will be rated between one and ten.
• Nominees should be able to demonstrate:
  • Finished, quality fashion garments, accessories, and/or collections;
  • Ethical labour practices, including fair compensation among others;
  • Transparency in design and manufacturing practice, in use of resources and sourcing of materials;
  • A position on climate change, pollution and environmental damage.
• Besides the Emerging Designer, Retail, Student and the Tastemaker categories, designers, businesses, or brands should have been operating for at least three years, and should have made new garments/collections in the last six months and before August 2026. See details on the nomination forms.
• Winners of the 2025 Awards may not apply for 2026.
• The competition is open to South Africans, and people legally working in South Africa, and in the case of the Student Award, students should be legally studying in South Africa.
• Nominees should be aged 18 years or over.
• Nominations close on 14 October 2026.
• All nominees understand and agree that to offer the competition; the promoter must collect and use personal information about participants. This competition is conducted under the terms of applicable privacy legislation including the Protection of Personal Information Act of 2013.

This award recognises an accessory brand that implements ethical labour practices, avoids toxic chemicals, considers end-of-life and uses sustainable materials to create a quality, durable item. Ideally, materials used are locally (South Africa and Africa) sourced, recyclable or recycled materials. The quality, durability, innovation and creativity of the nominated brands will be assessed. Examples of accessories are: jewellery, belts, cufflinks and studs, sunglasses, gloves, handbags, hats and headwear, neckties, purses, socks and stockings, veils and shoes.

Enter the Accessory Award here.

This award recognises a designer who uses artisanal and craft techniques such as weaving, beading, embroidery, botanical dyeing, historic textile knowledge or other artisanal practices to make fashion that foregrounds, celebrates and values the culture and skills of the people who make the garments. Artisanal practices and craft are living examples of slow-paced, resource-mindful and socially and culturally sustainable production. The purpose of this category seeks to recognise the contribution to preserving skills while also integrating them into the contemporary African fashion landscape. This category also promotes a deeper appreciation for the time, skill, and cultural heritage embedded in each handcrafted piece, encouraging consumers to value and invest in artisanal fashion. This award honours the late South African designer Nicolas Coutts who beautifully used and explored traditional crafts and techniques in his design.

Enter the Artisanal Fashion Award here.

This category is suitable for emerging designers who are in the early stages of establishing their brands. Designers can enter using one garment or a collection that addresses the challenges of sustainability in the most exciting and beautiful way. The judging assessment will look for creativity, quality and innovation and for how designers are engaging with environmental, cultural and social responsibilities. The judges will also consider the designer’s commercial potential and promise in building a sustainable business. The designers should have been creating fashion commercially and testing their markets for no more than three years and show evidence of at least two collections, and should have made new garments/collections in the last six months and before August 2026.

Enter the Emerging Designer Award here.

This award recognises a fashion brand, textile producer, brand or manufacturer using innovation to create clothing clothing or textiles while addressing environmental or social challenges along the fashion value chain. Innovation may be expressed through materials, pattern-cutting and construction, reconstruction and waste-reducing techniques, new technologies, circular design approaches, or the creative application of existing and traditional knowledge and practices. The innovation does not need to be entirely new, but where a designer builds on existing knowledge, techniques or technologies, these should be appropriately acknowledged. 

Enter the Fashion Innovation Award here.

The Pan-African Award recognises a designer or fashion brand contributing to the responsible African fashion ecosystem. Judges will consider the strength and originality of the designer’s creative vision, the quality of the work and its cultural, social and environmental considerations. Particular consideration will be given to how the brand supports African production, craft, skills, livelihoods and value chains, helping to retain and grow cultural and economic value on the continent. The award is open to designers and brands from African countries other than South Africa whose fashion is produced on the continent. Due to logistics, the recipient is not eligible for the Changemaker Award.

Enter the Pan-African Award here.

This award recognises a retailer or retail initiative using fashion retail as a force for environmental and social good. It celebrates businesses that support circularity by keeping clothes in use for longer through resale, rental, repair, swapping or other models; support local designers, makers, producers and responsible supply chains; and implement responsible practices within their own operations.

The award also recognises the important role retail can play in building community. Beyond selling products, retailers can create places, platforms and experiences that bring people together, build relationships and a sense of belonging, support local creative economies, share knowledge and encourage different ways of valuing and engaging with fashion.

Enter the Retail Award here.

This category is suitable for students who currently are registered at a South African academic institution. Designers can enter using one garment or a collection that addresses the challenges of sustainability in the most exciting and beautiful way using circular and sustainable design principles. The judging assessment will look for creativity and innovation and will recognise that student designers have the freedom to challenge fashion’s status quo, engaging with environmental, cultural and social responsibilities in a playful and creative way.

Enter the Student Award here.

Tastemakers decide or influence what is, or will become, fashionable. This award recognises a person (photographer, stylist, influencer, writer, thought-leader or content creator) who has actively promoted sustainable, circular, local and African fashion over the last 12 months and who has sparked relevant conversations about sustainable, circular, local and African production systems. The Tastemaker supports slow fashion habits and conscious local businesses. The judges will also look at how the fashion content intersects with issues such as race, diversity, inclusion, identity and cultures.

Enter the Tastemaker Award here. 

This award recognises a collection, garment or brand that promotes trans-seasonal, multi-functionality and versatile style. It supports slower production cycles through trend-less fashion and timeless, well-made pieces that will last.This category also recognises brands that remain invested in garments after their sale, for example, through the provision of lifetime guarantees and repair services. The purpose of this category is to encourage the fashion industry to move away from the fast-paced, trend-driven nature of traditional fashion cycles.

Enter the Trans-seasonal Design Award here. 

• Feature image: Wanda Lephoto receives the Changemaker Award 2025. Credit: Ben Mall
• For any queries, please email jackie@twyg.co.za