Top 10 African Menswear Designers You Need To Know About

African inspired designs have been seen on runways, since the dawn of the western fashion industry. We possess an innate awareness of style rooted in culture and tradition.

The style aesthetics celebrate multiple ethnicities and nationalities. The garments are vibrant and electric.

Designers adhere strictly to standards of craftsmanship and design. They innovatively use textiles and prints to tell stories. They are passionate about displaying what home means to their global consumers.

We’ve compiled a list of 10 menswear designers and brands that stand out to us:

1. Ikiré Jones 

"Awake & At Home In America" 📸 @joshuakissi

A post shared by Ikiré Jones (@ikirejones) on Mar 23, 2017 at 7:05am PDT

Philadelphia based attorney, musician, and designer Walé Oyéjidé partnered with musician and tailor Sam Hubler to start Ikiré Jones in 2012. The label marries classic art with an African aesthetic. The two men pride themselves on the fact that the items in their collections mean something. Their garments delve into how the West has impacted the African continent as well as migration. The pair’s work will soon be featured in the upcoming Black Panther film.

2. Daily Paper

Available now! The black PUMA x Daily Paper cotton tee. This range of graphic tees comes with an exclusive embroidered badge on the front to celebrate the 20 years of PUMA and African football. It also features a special laser quilting that show the borders of all African nations on in it. Shop now at our flagship store and online. #PUMAxDailyPaper

A post shared by Daily Paper (@dailypaper) on Sep 20, 2017 at 5:49am PDT

In 2010, friends Hussein Suleiman form Somali, Jefferson Osei from Ghana, and Abderrahmane Trabsini from Morocco, founded the Dutch streetwear label, Daily Paper. With contemporary designs inspired by their African heritage, the men have made serious headway in the fashion industry. They’ve collaborated with Puma, notable Parisian retailer, colette, and Filling Pieces to name a few.

3. Simon and Mary

The Power of Collaboration. @trevor_stuurman x #Simonandmary featuring @dear_ribane113 & @kwenasays

A post shared by Simon and Mary (@simonandmary) on Aug 18, 2017 at 3:25am PDT

South African brand, Simon and Mary, has been worn by Will.i.am, Steve Tyler, as well as model and actor Masego “Maps” Maponyane. Dean Pozniak has transformed his family’s 70 year old millinery into a fashion-forward business known for its vibrant, unisex wool, felt, straw and leather hats. With fashion photographer and influencer, Trevor Stuurman, behind its visuals, it’s no wonder its imagery always excites.

4. Kente Gentlemen

Poetry. Color. Culture. - These are the essential themes that we wish to convey through the very first collection of Kente Gentlemen. A full reveal of our website and store will occur this fall. 🌹Photography by Ivorian artist, Dadi! Art Direction by Kente Gentlemen's very own 🌹 - #Poetry #Color #Culture #Photography #Editorial #ArtPhotography #Fashion #Style #Africa #Mode

A post shared by Kente Gentlemen ® (@kentegentlemen) on Oct 25, 2016 at 4:19pm PDT

Launched this year by its Ivoirien founder, Aristide Loua, Kente Gentlemen boasts a “poetic, colorful, and cultural universe.” With his premiere collection, he explores both color and the use of Baoulé wax material in making shorts, shirts, vests, and sweaters. His work is inspired by voyages and an exploration of heritage.

5. Dent de Man

regram @ethicalfashion #TBT: @dent_de_man bling & prints backstage at @pittimmagine #PittiUomo88. #AfricanFashion #AfricanTalent #IvoryCoast

A post shared by DENT de MAN (@dent_de_man) on Mar 24, 2016 at 10:35am PDT

In Britain in 2012, Ivorian designer Alexis Temomanin founded Dent de Man. The brand, named after a mountain in his homeland, is rooted in challenging men to dress “like themselves”. Much like the other designers on this list, Alexis’ early artistic direction came from a desire to display his roots and identify with a culture that wasn’t his own. His work is meticulously tailored and full of remarkable prints, surely due to close ties with VLISCO, Dutch print manufacturer.

When Alexis was a boy, he ventured to Abidjan with his mother and she abandoned him there. He holds his love of print comes from his quest to find the blue print his mother had on the last time he saw her. He also holds the prints we identify with most on the continent actually come from Indonesia and were brought to us by Dutch, French and English colonizers and the we accepted these prints because of their warmth and vibrance.

6. Rich Mnisi 

@francisbuseko wearing pieces from Xingelengele 🚀🚀 shoes by @clarksshoes #adayinclarks #clarksforlife

A post shared by RICH MNISI (@rich_mnisi) on Aug 22, 2017 at 11:35pm PDT

South African Rich Mnisi’s 3 year old unisex brand blurs gender lines. It’s designs, though, minimal, are extremely vibrant. The aforementioned comes as no surprise when the brand’s inspiration comes from art, music, film and nature.

7. Lukhanyo Mdingi

Lukhanyo Mdingi . Purgation . Lookbook . Credits Photographer: Kent Andreasen Models: Lebohang Otukile & Khashane William Assistant: Tshepi Vundla

A post shared by Lukhanyo Mdingi (@lukhanyomdingi) on Oct 10, 2016 at 8:53am PDT

25-year-old Lukhanyo Mdingi has created quite the resume. He is yet another creative that hails from South Africa and whose four collections are comprised of conventional silhouettes, an acute attention to detail, and sophistication beyond that of other designers like him.

8. Tokyo James

We have been twining since 1986 our SS16 Campaign

A post shared by Tokyo James (@tokyojamess) on Aug 16, 2017 at 1:13am PDT

British Nigerian designer Toyko James has a penchant for visuals that move his audiences. His collections are simple yet edgy. His passion can be seen in the cleanliness of his garments’ lines. He meticulously crafts each piece

9. MAISON CHÂTEAU ROUGE

@maisonchateaurouge x @betoncire x @ojoz

A post shared by MAISON CHÂTEAU ROUGE (@maisonchateaurouge) on Dec 8, 2016 at 1:18pm PST

In 2015, Senegalese brothers Youssouf and Mamadou Fofana founded Maison Château Rouge in Paris. The house specializes in streetwear pieces made with wax print.The first generation immigrants are hell bent on ensuring the african continent is at the center of their entrepreneurial projects.

Their minimalist concept store shines and speaks to Paris's undeniable grip on what it means to be stylish, while embracing Africa's influence on modern day fashion.

10. Teddy Ondo Ella

TEDDY ONDO ELLA SS18

A post shared by Teddy Ondo Ella (@teddyondoella_brand) on Jul 11, 2017 at 9:04am PDT

This summer Teddy Ondo Ella debuted his self-titled brand at New York Fashion Week. He did so with an Okuyi rite of passage and Gabonese dancers. It comes after Ella’s already established marketing agency, sneakers club and streetwear brand. With his new venture, he hopes to shed light on his country, Gabon, and others across the continent.