Waste reduction has remained a big topic on the lips of every visionary for so many years now. As Nigerians produce more than 32 million tonnes of solid waste every year, creative entrepreneurs are stepping up with innovative fashion solutions.
Through the use of upcycled and non-synthetic materials, Nigerian brands are proving that sustainability and fashion go hand in hand. These brands are also creating jobs and preserving traditional crafts while building a circular economy.
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1. Planet 3R
After weaving Aso-oke for about 23 years, Adejoke Lasisi was reluctant to start Planet 3R. Planet 3R was born out of a passion to provide a solution to indiscriminate waste disposal. The ‘3R’ in Planet 3R means reduce, reuse and recycle.
With the use of a pure water sachet a typical Nigerian will carelessly dispose, Lasisi and her team weave fashion pieces like laptop bags, backpacks and shopping bags.
According to the Culture Custodian, Lasisi says a plastic sachet becomes almost seventy inches long when shredded. When it is turned to a plastic yarn, and woven with a bit of cotton thread, a plastic textile emerges. This makes the textile 90% plastic and 10% cotton.
2. Azach
Skirts, dresses, jackets, hats, trousers and even tote bags at Azach are made from discarded denim materials.
What started as DIY for Uche Nwosu, where he reconstructed personal clothing, quickly turned into a deeper passion into the rabbit hole of material waste, fashion consumption and upcycling beyond sustainability alone.
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3. Tuntunré
Founded by Temilade Olanrewaju, Tuntunré which is the Yoruba translation of ‘this is new’, also creates fashion pieces by upcycling denim.
However, unlike Azach, Tuntunré designs and produces fashion accessories like bags, card holders and sandals from used denim. Tuntunré proves that the future of African fashion is sustainable.
4. Nkwo Design
At the forefront of the sustainable fashion movement is Nkwo Design.
Here creativity meets culture as Nkwo Onukwa weaves shredded upcycled denim post-consumer textile waste and locally sourced natural fibres into limited-edition garments. With this innovation, she has earned global acclaim like the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange recognition.
5. This is Us
Instead of artificial fabrics, This is Us uses locally grown Funtua cotton and avoids synthetic dye to create simple, minimalist fashion pieces.
From shirts and trousers to hats and tote bags, This is Us shows that it’s possible to create fashion with purely organic materials.
Beyond creating beautiful products, these brands also raise awareness about indiscriminate waste disposal and promote responsible consumption through fashion.
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