Africa Textile Talks 2025 To Spotlight Circular Design And Sustainable Innovation
The fifth edition of Africa Textile Talks, Africa’s leading forum on fashion, textiles, and sustainability will take place from 29–31 July 2025 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Co-produced by South Africa’s Twyg and Mauritius-based Imiloa Collective, the summit invites industry stakeholders to reimagine garments as living expressions of care, repair, and regeneration under the theme “Thread with Care.”
The event will feature keynotes, panel discussions, and a week-long exhibition at Church House showcasing innovative African fibres and textiles. It aims to strengthen Africa’s circular design community and inspire collective action in the face of environmental challenges.
Highlights across the three-day summit include:
Day 1: Exploring circular design, recycling systems, and extended producer responsibility with speakers like David Torr (Faro), Luleka Zepe (Elamilina Environmental Project), Gary Erasmus (Connacher), and Jesse Naidoo (Clothes to Good).
Day 2: Focusing on wool’s role in sustainable fashion, with insights from Deon Saayman (Cape Wools SA), Monica Ebert (The Woolmark Company), Matthew van Lingen (Karoo farmer), and designer Gugu Peteni.
Day 3: Celebrating African craftsmanship and local manufacturing, featuring Maria Caley (University of Namibia), Muturi Kimani (Texfad, Uganda), Wacy Zacarias (Mozambique), and Danayi Madondo (Zimbabwe).
Tandekile Mkize, curator of the accompanying exhibition, emphasizes cloth’s cultural and healing significance in African traditions. Twyg founder Jackie May and Imiloa’s Priya Ramkissoon urge collective effort to transform the industry toward circular, nature-friendly models.
Supported by the V&A Watershed, H&M Group, Faro, Fedisa, Cape Wools SA, Mohair South Africa, and Polo South Africa, Africa Textile Talks 2025 promises to unite changemakers shaping the continent’s sustainable textile future. Tickets are available via Quicket.
