9 African Streetwear Brands You Need In Your Closet
This is our third gift guide in the run-up to the holidays. Keep checking for more lists of great African products here. And for more ideas check out the Okayafrica Shop.
One of the best ways to express pride in your identity and culture is through clothing.
These featured brands will help you do just that, as they too want to foster a connection between Africa and the diaspora, renew pride and empower while looking fresh and effortless.
Check out our 9 African streetwear picks you may want to stuff stockings with below.
1. IMPALA Clothing
IMPALA is a UK-based independent fashion label that's inspired by African and diaspora culture. The brand's been live online for just over a year, and believes that African culture is a thing of value and is something to be shared with the world.
Shop IMPALA Clothing Here
2. Pop Caven
Pop Caven represents today's contemporary Africa while simultaneously celebrating African culture and pop culture. The brand was born out of realizing the gap in the market for African inspired modern casual wear.
Shop Pop Caven Here
3. JEKKAH
Meaning "to be beautiful or elegant" or "to be well-dressed" in Wolof, JEKKAH sources, designs and manufactures African inspired streetwear in The Gambia using highly skilled local tailors. Founded in 2013, the brand's items are limited edition, where they only make a small quantity in each wax print fabric design.
Shop JEKKAH Here
4. MIZIZI
Last year, we featured MIZIZI's Starting Lineup lookbook of African throwback baseball jerseys. The streetwear brand launched in 2014, founded by Paakow Essandoh and George Kariuki. With origins from Ghana and Kenya, the MIZIZI founders continue to show off and revive African pride with their creative throwback jersey threads (they even have jerseys for our diaspora homies too!).
Shop MIZIZI Here
5. The Okayafrica Shop
In case you're wondering—yes, this is a shameless plug. We most definitely have gear that should be in your closet—from our 'They Will Have To Kill Us First' sweatshirts, our classic Okayafrica tees, to our Puff Puff Pass Fela shirts.
More on the Okayafrica Shop
6. UNIFORM
UNIFORM produces its garments by working mothers in Africa's first fair-trade factories in Liberia, Morocco and Kenya. With every purchase made, a uniform is donated to a child who otherwise could not attend school.
Shop UNIFORM Here
7. AfriTribe
Since 2013, AfriTribe has been "bridging the gap between the Homeland and the Diaspora" with each garment they offer. You can even channel your inner Black President with their "I Feel Like Fela" gear.
Shop AfriTribe Here
8. 2Bop
2Bop is a South African streetwear brand that draws inspiration from games that were popular at corner shops and arcades in the 1980s and early 1990s during apartheid. The arcade games that used 20 cent pieces (a 2Bop) to play were a window into what was happening in the outside world.
Shop 2BOP Here
9. DashikiPride
The Ugokwe sisters—Mirian Chinyere, MarySonia Chizoba and Lilian Chioma—founded DashikiPride in 2014 in hopes of sharing and educating the world about African culture. Born and raised in Nigeria, the sisters hope to empower young entrepreneurs and women to pursue their dreams.