Sustainable fashion darling GuguByGugu wins gold at the 2026 Eco-Logic Awards

7 Oct 2026

Alongside South African eco-champions such as FoodForward SA, Wessa, and Project 90 by 2030, the South African sustainable luxury fashion brand GuguByGugu won gold at the 2026 Eco-Logic Awards, announced recently at the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town.

Image credit: GuguByGugu

Gqeberha-born designer Gugu Peteni created the brand, bringing sustainable design a touch of high fashion by blending African heritage with street-style silhouettes.

Known for high-quality knitwear crafted from locally sourced merino wool and mohair, GuguByGugu is no stranger to receiving accolades. In 2024, the brand took home the Trans-seasonal Design Award at the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards.

The brand received the honour with several other conservationists, entrepreneurs, innovators, and community champions recognised for advancing practical solutions to some of the country’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Rethinking established practices

Hosted by renowned comedian and presenter Themba Robin, the event coincided with World Habitat Day.

The awards highlight South African businesses and individuals proving that environmental responsibility and economic opportunity can go hand in hand, creating profitable solutions that protect natural resources, strengthen communities and deliver lasting impact.

“Fifteen years ago, many of the ideas celebrated at the Eco-Logic Awards were still considered unconventional.

“Today, environmental innovation plays an influential role in how we do business, design products, manage resources and build communities.

“What is particularly encouraging is that this year’s winners are not simply highlighting the challenges we face but demonstrating what is possible when people move beyond awareness and take action.

“Their work reminds us that meaningful progress comes from rethinking established practices, collaborating across sectors and recognising that the wellbeing of people and the natural world are inseparable,” says David Parry-Davies, founder of the Eco-Logic Awards and editor of The Enviropaedia.

Entries for the 2026 awards opened earlier this year, and an independent panel of judges with extensive executive and environmental expertise across diverse sectors assessed submissions in 12 categories.

Using Eco-Logical thinking as a basis for evaluation, the judges identified individuals, organisations and initiatives demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation and practical impact in tackling South Africa’s environmental challenges.

Wearing his creative direction hat, South African designer Wanda Lephoto recently worked on a project for Soccer Bible and Adidas, showcasing Bafana Bafana’s 2026 World Cup kit in a three-chapter visual narrative mirroring the adidas three stripes, moving from street and Zulu heritage to everyday community life. Image credit:

#AfricaTextileTalks: Africa’s not new to sustainable fashion; it’s true to it

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Meet the 2026 winners

Nature Conservation 2026

Gold: FreeMe Wildlife
Silver: Lapalala Wilderness School
Bronze: SHIELD Elephant Shepherd Programme

Climate Change 2026

Gold: Project 90 by 2030
Silver: Lapalala Wilderness School
Bronze: Greenpeace Africa Clean Air Campaign

Eco-Innovation 2026

Gold: Nature Connect – Sustainable Schools Online Hub
Silver: Circular Energy NPC (Specialised Collection Vehicle)
Bronze: My Walk Made with Soul

Circular Economy and Waste Innovation 2026

Gold: FoodForward SA
Silver: Uthando (Love) South Africa (Social Development Projects: Waste To Wonder)
Bronze: UTTE Circular Construction Urban Systems Initiative