Nigerian designer Omosalewa Ogunjimi has been named the Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) Africa 2026 Most Commendable Designer after emerging at the top of a highly competitive pan African field with her striking creation, EXUVIA.
Inspired by the human spine, ribcage and the natural process of moulting, EXUVIA explores resilience, protection and renewal through a bold sculptural design.
Rather than using leather simply as a surface or decorative material, Ogunjimi incorporates it into the garment’s architecture. Its modular construction allows the design to transform and take on multiple expressions.
The result combines storytelling, functionality and material experimentation, qualities that distinguished EXUVIA in the final stages of the competition.
Her victory also earned Ogunjimi the opportunity to represent Africa at the international RLSD competition in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 27 to 29, 2026.
Ogunjimi said EXUVIA reflects her distinctive design language, bringing together structure, functionality and storytelling.
“EXUVIA is a reflection of my design language where structure, functionality and storytelling come together to create something distinct. I’m honoured to carry this work forward and represent Africa on the global stage,” she said.
From Concept to Creation
Now in its fourth year in Africa and sixth year globally, Real Leather. Stay Different. challenges emerging designers, creatives and design students to rethink the potential of leather while exploring its creative, sustainable and commercial possibilities.
The 2026 Africa edition attracted hundreds of designers from more than 12 African countries. Following several rounds of evaluation, 15 designers advanced to the final stage, representing Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda across the Apparel, Accessories and Footwear categories.
For the finalists, reaching the final stage was only the beginning. They were required to transform their ideas into physical products, taking their work from research and sketches to concepts, prototypes and fully functional designs.
Each completed design was presented to an international panel of six industry judges and assessed against five criteria: Individuality, Conceptualisation, Relevance, Sustainability and Commerciality.
EXUVIA stood out during the final assessment, with lead judge Preston Viswamo describing the concept as “spectacular” and Ogunjimi’s work as “really outstanding”.
He praised her creativity, modular design development and prototyping, while also highlighting the strength of the design’s sustainability proposition and commercial potential.
The assessment reflected the central objective of RLSD Africa: to promote designs that combine originality, craftsmanship, responsible material use, functionality and commercial viability.
Following the final presentations and judging, Ogunjimi emerged as the RLSD Africa 2026 Most Commendable Designer.
Africa’s Design Talent Steps Forward
Ogunjimi’s achievement came from a particularly competitive Apparel category, where three of the five finalists, Ogunjimi, Clara Udegbe and Emeka Oguejiofor, were from Nigeria, highlighting the growing depth of emerging design talent on the continent.
The competition has, over four years, evolved beyond a design contest into a continental platform connecting creativity, craftsmanship, sustainability and commercial opportunity.
RLSD Africa seeks to discover and nurture a new generation of African designers while creating opportunities for their ideas to reach continental and international audiences.
The programme is part of the global Real Leather. Stay Different. movement, which promotes leather and other natural materials, encourages the responsible use of hides arising as by-products of the meat and dairy industries, and challenges the culture of disposable fast fashion.
The movement promotes leather as a material capable of supporting a more sustainable approach to fashion, while encouraging the development of durable products designed to last.
In 2025, the campaign reached 750 million people worldwide, expanding the conversation around responsible material choices, slow fashion and long lasting products.
The ambition extends beyond producing competition winners to building a network of African design ambassadors capable of advancing responsible design, developing sustainable businesses and strengthening Africa’s position in the global design industry.
As the RLSD Africa 2026 Most Commendable Designer, Ogunjimi will take EXUVIA and the continental title to Bangkok from October 27 to 29, where her work will compete alongside designs from other regions of the world on the international RLSD stage.
The RLSD Africa journey will return to the continent in November, when all 15 finalists reunite in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the RLSD Africa 2026 Continental Showcase. The remaining category winners will be officially unveiled during the event.