Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase
2025
Now celebrating its third year in Africa and fifth year globally, the Real Leather. Stay Different. Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase is a transformative platform that promotes 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 (L&HCA) to secure leather markets worldwide. In collaboration with the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI), L&HCA promotes the principles of slow fashion across the continent while highlighting Africa’s exceptional design talent.
Specifically, RLSD Africa:
- Promotes: leather’s beauty, versatility, strength and durability.
- Engages and educates designers on the application and sustainable credentials of leather
- Creates ambassadors for leather who will influence their peer groups and the fashion and design industries at large
- Recognises and rewards innovation in fashion and design providing a stepping-stone to rewarding careers and thriving businesses for entrants
- Champions ‘Slow Style’- the opposite of environmental damaging ‘Fast Fashion’
The RLSD Africa Design Showcase offers more than an opportunity to exhibit talent—it’s a journey toward creative recognition, sustainable impact, and industry influence. The RLSD Africa Design Showcase 2025 invites visionary designers to create iconic pieces that celebrate the beauty, versatility, strength and durability of leather.
The competition opens on March 3, 2025, and design submission runs from March 3, 2025 to June 6, 2025, 23:59 BST. Any entries submitted after that date will not be accepted.
To enter, first create your student profile on this platform. Once your profile is registered, you can upload your entries for review. Click Sign Up or Log In to get started!
THE BRIEF & DELIVERABLES
You are asked to use leather as the inspiration for a single item, either clothing, shoes, or accessories. Entries must be at least 50% cowhide leather by surface area and use natural materials wherever possible. While exceptions may be made for items such as zippers, snap fasteners, the overall design will be evaluated holistically, and a comprehensive list of materials must be provided upon submission. It is important to emphasise that natural materials should be used whenever possible. Please note that the use of fur or exotic skins is strictly prohibited. We would like your piece to capture one or more of the facets of leather, from beauty and versatility to strength and durability.
Entries should include the following elements:
- A summary of your project provided in English.
- Storyboards and design inspiration.
- Sketches, flats, technical specifications (including full list of materials used), and final design (the item does not need to be physically made at this stage).
- A short two-minute video to introduce you and your design. This is optional but encouraged, as it would make a great addition to your entry.
Please give consideration to ease of recycling, reuse and disposal at the end of the product’s life, and also think about the practicalities of commercial production, as we are looking for designers who will start new brands, fashion movements, or style trends.
THE PRIZE
- Finalists designs will be unveiled at the RLSD Africa Talent Leather Design Showcase event hosted in December
- All finalists will be invited to the final event, with travel and acommodation covered by the organisers.
- The Most Commendable Designer will be invited to attend the final International Award Ceremony as a representative of the Africa Showcase.
- Trophy and Certificate.
- Publicity including, but not limited to, social media promotion, website promotion and print and digital collateral.
JUDGING PROCESS
The Competition will be judged by a panel comprised of representatives chosen by Real Leather. Stay Different. The Panel will select the category winners and Most Commendable Winner. There will also be a People’s Choice award, selected by public vote (Voting open from June 20, 2025, Closing July 30, 2025)
