Africa’s talent takes the spotlight in the RLSD Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase ’24

Business a.m.

The Leather & Hide Council of America (L&HCA) and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) have announced the commencement of the Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase 2024. The programme is aimed at celebrating and supporting the talented designers and artisans of Africa, showcasing their work and creating a platform for them to reach a global audience.

The RLSD Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase ‘24 is building on the success of its inaugural event in 2023, which saw a high level of engagement from designers and artisans across Africa. 

According to the organisers, the event is now open for entries from small and medium enterprise (SME) designers and university students across Africa. The competition will run until June 7th, 2024. Design submissions will be judged on creativity, innovation, and the use of leather. The physical product submission period will run from June 17th to August 12th, 2024, and successful submissions will be displayed at the end of August 2024.

In order to be eligible for the competition, designs must contain at least 50 per cent cow hide leather, in recognition of its strength, beauty, and durability. The use of fur and exotic skins is not allowed. This is to ensure that all submissions align with the competition’s focus on sustainability and ethical production. The event will be held in October 2024, with the possibility of a digital showcase in the event that travel restrictions are in place. This will ensure that all participants can share their work, regardless of their location or ability to travel.

Potential participants are required to enter online at https://rlsd.internationaldesigncomp.com/competitionevent/africa-2024/ 

The winning designs from the RLSD Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase ’24 will be exhibited in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with widespread publicity across Africa and beyond. In addition, one designer will be chosen to present their work at the final of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Design Competition in Europe. The travel and accommodation costs for this event will be covered by the competition organisers. The winning designers will also receive certificates, cash prizes, and trophies.

The RLSD Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase ’24 comes at a time when the fashion industry is under increased scrutiny for its environmental impact. The disposable nature of fast fashion, in particular, has been highlighted as a major contributor to pollution and waste. In this context, the RLSD Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase ’24 stands as a champion for the use of sustainable materials and circular design.

Kerry Brozyna, President of L&HCA, stressed that the RLSD Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase ’24 is about more than just competition, but is about creating a movement for sustainability in the fashion industry

“We work to inspire designers to envision a future where fashion and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. With categories spanning apparel, accessories and footwear, we’re setting the stage for innovation, originality, and breathtaking design that celebrates leather’s enduring beauty and versatility,” Brozyna said.

Nicholas Mudungwe, executive director at ALLPI, has said that the RLSD Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase ’24 embodies the institute’s commitment to growing the leather sector through innovation and sustainability. He explained that the event is a perfect fit for ALLPI’s mission to enhance value addition, sustainability, and long-term competitiveness in Africa’s leather industry.