RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025 announced

By Michel Nkurunziza.

The Leather & Hide Council of America (L&HCA) and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) are proud to announce the commencement of Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase 2025.

Real Leather. Stay Different. is a global campaign that has reached some 750 million people around the globe.

It makes the case for leather and other natural materials and for making the best use of society’s waste, particularly the hides that are by-products of the dairy and meat industries, before looking to the petrochemical industries for manmade materials.

Now in its third, the Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase serves as a transformative platform promoting leather as the material of choice for a sustainable future.

RLSD is the consumer-facing initiative of a global campaign led by the Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) to strengthen leather markets worldwide.

In partnership with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), LHCA champions the principles of slow fashion across the continent while showcasing Africa’s outstanding design talent.

The showcase, which supports a new generation of designers rooted in ethical fashion values and circular economy models through mentorship, industry partnerships, and access to international markets, is scheduled for December 2025 .

In an organized competition whose registration started on March 3, 2025, and ends on June 6, the winning top designers in apparel, accessories, and footwear categories will be announced on July 2, 2025, after considering ease of recycling, reuse, and disposal at the end of the product’s life according to the statement.

The rlsd.internationaldesigncomp.com is the official Real Leather. Stay Different.
competition platform, hosting an ever-growing number of competitions around
the world as it works to move the fashion agenda forward.

Those in need of participation are applying through https://chooserealleather.com/competition/africa-competition/

Apparel refers to clothing, garments, or attire worn by individuals. It includes a wide range of clothing items such as shirts, pants, dresses, jackets, skirts, suits, and accessories like hats, scarves, and shoes. This category includes any clothing item made primarily from leather. You can design anything from jackets, trousers, dresses, skirts, or even outerwear.

Accessories are supplementary items such as bags, jewelry, hats, and headwear that enhance or complement an outfit, adding style, functionality, or personal flair. In their designs, competitors are asked to use leather as the inspiration for a single item, either clothing, shoes, or accessories.

In footwear, design can focus on shoes, boots, sandals, or any other kind of leather footwear.

Selected designers will be awarded an Exhibitor’s Certificate, cash prizes, and have their work featured in Africa’s Talent Leather Design Showcase in Ethiopia, as organized by the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) and The Leather and Hide Council of America (L&HCA).

The Leather & Hide Council of America (LHCA) is the driving force behind the U.S. leather industry, committed to promoting the quality, sustainability and EDITOR’S NOTES Page 4 of 4 traceability of U.S.-sourced leather.

The Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) is a specialized intergovernmental organization under COMESA, dedicated to advancing the leather and leather products value chain across Africa.

Headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ALLPI serves as a hub for innovation, research and policy advocacy to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and sustainability.

Nicholas Mudungwe, Executive Director of the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), said the fashion industry can no longer afford to ignore the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

“The Showcase 2025 champions leather as the material of choice for a sustainable future, providing designers across Africa with the skills, exposure, and platform to harness its beauty, versatility, and durability. Now is Africa’s time to lead in creating ethical, high-quality leather products and shaping the future of sustainable fashion,” he said.

“The fashion industry cannot afford to ignore its environmental impact. Consumers are informed and change is inevitable. Leather stands at the heart of slow fashion because of its durability, offering an ethical and sustainable alternative to disposable fashion trends. By investing in products that last, we send a powerful message on sustainability—one that today’s conscious consumers deeply value. As we move forward, our collective responsibility is clear: prioritise sustainability, amplify our industry’s voice and foster value creation to ensure long-term growth and impact,” said  Kerry Brozyna, President, Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA).

Beyond the competition, RLSD Africa nurtures global ambassadors, equipping them to advocate for ethical and responsible leather craftsmanship. At its core, the showcase champions Slow Fashion, challenging the wastefulness of fast fashion by promoting high-quality, sustainable designs that stand the test of time.

Through education and engagement, the showcase empowers designers with knowledge of sustainable fashion and responsible material use, ensuring ethical practices remain at the forefront of Africa’s design.

By recognising and rewarding innovation, it serves as a launch-pad for designers to build their careers and their businesses.

Over the past five years, the campaign has engaged over 7,500 students from 720 universities across 48 countries fostering innovation, responsible material use, and slow fashion advocacy.