When looking for the best shoe brands in South Africa, finding the best shoe brand can be challenging. There are so many shoe brands out there, and some of them produce shallow-quality shoes that might not last very long. It is essential to know which shoe brands offer high-quality products that will last a long time because buying cheap shoes doesn’t make sense over the long run. In this blog post, we have compiled a list of 10 shoe brands that we think are among the best in South Africa to make things easier. Check them out and see if they meet your expectations!
Whenever you need to buy a new pair of shoes, it can often seem like an overwhelming task. Our expert writers have great experience in the Shoe brand sector. They are collecting these best shoe brands by proper research to help people find their perfect pair of shoes and save time scouring through all sorts of illegitimate sources that don’t put your needs first. So let’s see what we’ve found as some best shoe brands!
The List of Ten Best Shoe Brands in South Africa:
The perfect pair of shoes for a sustainable lifestyle is hard to find. But luckily, we’ve done the work and found ten unique shoe brands in South Africa that are eco-friendly and innovative when it comes to their materials used or social responsibility initiatives. Now you can scroll through our list below!
- Tsonga South Africa
- Asics Tiger, ASICS South Africa (Pty) Ltd
- iFele
- Sapmok PTY (Ltd)
- adidas South Africa Pty Ltd
- VAYA Footwear
- Corks
- Matsidiso South Africa
- DRIP Footwear
- Bathu
1. Tsonga South Africa:
The journey began in the late 1990s when cheap imported footwear flooded the South African market, forcing many shoe manufacturers to close their doors.
Tsonga’s founder, Peter Maree, who at the time already had two decades of experience in the industry, embraced the challenge. He saw an opportunity for a niche market in high-quality leather footwear with a uniquely African style and the comfort that only hand-stitching can provide.
With a team of top international designers and skilled technicians already in place, Peter set out to find the unique hand-stitching skills that would be the signature of Tsonga Footwear for years to come.
Today, in the heart of the kingdom of the Zulu in South Africa, there are inspiring stories of success to be told. Transformed from an old abandoned school building, The Thread of Hope farm became the training center where many from the local rural community were allowed to learn skills in manufacturing leather footwear. For many years, it was a place where women gathered, and conversation flowed to the rhythm of the work.
| Address | 1 Dartnell Road Willowton Pietermaritzburg 3200 |
| Phone | +27 33 387 9221 |
| Founder | Peter Maree |
| Established | 1990 |
| Website | https://www.tsonga.com/ |
| Social Media | https://www.facebook.com/TsongaSA |
| customercare@tsonga.com |
2. Asics Tiger, ASICS South Africa (Pty) Ltd.:
The core of the Asics Tiger brand is Japanese technology. Asics Tiger was born in Japan in 1949 and targeted the global street fashion-savvy market. Asics Tiger is a sports lifestyle brand that delivers both confidence and strength backed by Asics’ heritage and technologies and the spirit always to push ahead.
For a brand that has stuck to its sports-influenced designs, Asics Tiger pushes out shoes still trendy enough to be worn every day. It blurs the lines between sportswear and leisurewear with excellent arrangements appropriate for different styles. This is evident in the Gel-Lyte sneakers that made an impression on runners from 1987, but it’s also been prominent in the streetwear scene in modern years.
| Address | Old Warehouse Building Black River Park South Fir Street Observatory Cape Town South Africa |
| Phone | +27 (0)21 300 7720 |
| Established | 1949 |
| Website | https://www.asics.com/ |
| consumer-za@asics.com |
3. iFele:
Durban-based contemporary African footwear brand iFele was founded in 2016. It reinterprets the Zulu Timbalada (traditional tire sandals) using modern shoe-making methods and combining leather uppers with thermoplastic rubber soles sourced from a tannery in Wellington, Western Cape. The shoes are hand-decorated with colorful pieces and metal studs inspired by traditional Zulu design.
I feel founder and director of Zetu shoes, Reggi Xaba, says, “The idea of the brand stems from a desire to create a product that represents our beautiful culture honestly and positively to show the rest of the world and ourselves. We explore the idea of an African urban nomad who expresses his culture confidently everywhere he travels. iFele is about us, proud Africans in the urban environment,”.
IFELE is a Xhosa word for skin or leather.
IFELE sandals are handcrafted in full-grain buffalo leather and exquisitely finished with the highest quality of indigenous craftsmanship by our own local attains.
Available in various designs and natural colors finished with durable rubber soles, each style feels light and flexible on the feet, whether one is taking a leisurely walk or trekking the rugged African terrain. The shoes are made for African travelers with a modern twist in design to suit the taste of urban nomads.
Tele’s site is currently under construction, but you can find them at their parent company, Zetu.
| Address | Unit 8, 453 Lilian Ngoyi (Windermere), Morningside, Durban, 4001, South Africa |
| Phone | (031)3031480 |
| Established | 2016 |
| Website | http://zetu.co.za/ |
| Social Media | https://www.facebook.com/zetushoes |
| Founder | Reggi Xaba |
4. Sapmok PTY (Ltd):
Sapmok was created by Werner Winterboer in 2015. Werner was born and raised in Pretoria and studied BComm Logistics in Stellenbosch. After struggling for seven months in the office, he decided to follow his dream to start his own Modern Africa Adventure brand. He combined all the things he loved and his ideal picture of life to create the style of Sapmok. Even though the company started in 2015, Sapmok only started to trade in February 2017. It took almost two years to develop and design the brand before selling our first pair of shoes. The name of the brand comes from the word Kompas (compass in Afrikaans) written backward.
Smok is an all adventure brand with a unique product offering of hand-crafted shoes and products tailored to give an authentic feel and real-life experience. Smok HQ is situated in Pretoria, operating out of an old Menlo Park house, and this is where all the fun happens – from manufacturing to sales.
They have some of the best cobblers in South Africa to create your perfect shoe; from the size of a kiddie one up to a men’s size 14, they try their best to fit your feet in their comfy AF shoes. Creativity is constantly flowing around in the factory, customizing a shoe that only suits you and you alone. So come and wear the shoe that you dreamed of last night.
| Address | 69 Thomas Edison St, Menlo Park, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa |
| Phone | +27 63 619 9763 |
| Established | 2015 |
| Website | http://www.sapmok.com/ |
| Social Media | https://www.facebook.com/SapmokHQ/ |
| Rating | 4.8 |
| Review | 119 |
| Founder | Werner Winterboer |
5. adidas South Africa Pty Ltd:
Adidas (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd. was founded in 1972.
Now more sustainable than ever, the new Stan Smith, Forever collection of sneakers comprises various preferred materials. Using a recycled, PRIME GREEN upper and more eco-friendly construction, Adidas has taken a big step forward on its sustainability journey. Each sneaker is faithful to its timeless silhouette while drawing inspiration from a different green member across the entire Disney family. Besides the PRIME GREEN upper, 50% of which is made up of recycled polyester, this fun collection of shoes uses recycled rubber outsoles, 15% recycled Ortholite sock liners, and laces composed of recycled polyester and recycled rubber.
Visit the Adidas South Africa website.
| Address | Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa |
| Phone | +27 21 442 6200 |
| Established | 1972 |
| Website | https://shop.adidas.co.za |
| Social Media | https://za.linkedin.com/in/wendy-topley-46b87b14 |
| Rating | 3.8 |
| Review | 51 |
6. VAYA Footwear:
The VAYA Footwear project is a sneaker business with the primary goal of igniting the hustle fire and ambition in the hearts of South Africans. A “Shoe brand for the ambitious” that South Africans are going to love.
The word VAYA is a South African township slang that means “go,” “to go,” or “going.” This common word can also be used as motivation to “Go get it!” which translates to “chase or go after your dreams.”
Vaya Footwear, A South African sneaker brand that celebrates ambitious people and reminds them to keep working on their goals no matter what
The founder and chief executive officer of VAYA Footwear, Themba Makamo, has always been influenced by the sneakers he wears and wanted others to get a foot in too. “There is a specific type of feeling I get when I walk in sneakers and I thought to myself I would like to create something that could recreate that feeling in someone else.” Makamo said he wanted to design sneakers that would make people feel confident and go for their dreams. They are retailing for R1000 and are available on their website for delivery nationwide.
| Address | 108 Elizabeth Avenue, Parkmore, Sandton 2196, SA |
| Phone | +27 10 023 4295 |
| Website | http://www.vaya4it.co.za/ |
| Social Media | https://www.facebook.com/VayaFootwear |
| Founder | Themba Makamo |
7. Corks:
South African sneaker brand, Corks was founded by owner Seb Matheson after a friend returned to South Africa from Europe brandishing a cork wallet. Seb got to work, and in April last year, he established a factory in Durban and distribution offices in Cape Town:
According to Seb, cork is a great natural fiber because it is sustainable, lightweight, water-resistant, durable, and soft. Corks’ soles are made from TPR rubber (a thermoplastic rubber with plastic’s melting and molding properties), and the laces are organic cotton sourced from Asia. While the sole is not currently recycled, Seb says Corks is in the process of developing a fully recycled cork sole using old cork stoppers from wine bottles.
Corks’ packaging is a 100% recyclable cardboard box designed to exclude plastic. Each shoebox comes with an extra pair of laces as well as a card, encouraging customers to use the cardboard boxes as a planter.
| Address | Durban, South Africa |
| Phone | |
| Established | 2019 |
| Website | https://corkshoe.co/collections/shoes |
| Founder | Seb Matheson |
8. Matsidiso South Africa:
Founded in 2017 on a calculated whim, Jinae Heyns became the co-owner of an ethically-chic shoe brand called Matsidiso. From a marketing background, Jinae approached her mother-in-law, who had owned and ran a dance factory specializing in ballet and ballroom footwear. At the time, it had been struggling. Matsidiso’spackaging is plastic-free, materials and production are made in Cape Town, South Africa, and the company supports a chain of local suppliers that contribute to the economy.
Matsidiso’s range is made of ethically handcrafted, modern shoes with an African twist. Each shoe is intentionally designed for comfort and durability, …
| Address | Unit 7, 98 Bofors Cir, Eppindust, Cape Town, 7460, South Africa |
| Phone | +27 65 819 2406 |
| Established | 2017 |
| Website | https://za.matsidiso.com/ |
| Social Media | https://www.facebook.com/matsidisosouthafrica/ |
| Founder | Jinae Heyns |
9. DRIP Footwear:
Drip Footwear was started in 2019 by Lekau Sehoana, and in just two years, they have more than nine stores across the country and a brand partnership worth R100 million with one of the most prominent artists in the country, Cassper nyovest. DRIP sneakers retail from R700 – R1200 and are available at their stores and online nationwide
| Address | Unit 06 Old mint office Park, Mint Street, Louwlardia, Centurion-0157, SA |
| Phone | +27 67 274 6170 |
| Established | 2019 |
| Website | https://inetissa.com/drip/ |
| Social Media | https://www.instagram.com/dripfootwearsa/ |
| Founder | Lekau Sehoana |
10. Bathu:
The Bathu Journey Means #WalkYourJourney
Theo Baloyi started Bathu in 2015 after months of conceptualizing, feasibility studies, and being rejected by 13 different factories; the Mesh Edition Sneaker was born. They have more than 10 Bathu stores around the country.
A Truly African Sneaker Brand Bathu aims to be a sneaker brand that Africans can proudly affiliate with. A Sneaker Brand from Africa for Africa.
Bathu‘s Founder, Theo Baloyi, is passionate about energizing Africans, helping them to help themselves, and reigniting hope within African communities.
Walk your Journey with Bathu Shoes. Born in the Township. Built for your journey. Super Comfortable | Proudly South African Shoes | Shop Online |
| info@bathu.co.za | |
| Phone | 010 880 4319 |
| Established | 2015 |
| Website | https://www.bathu.co.za/ |
| Social Media | https://facebook.com/www.bathu.co.za |
| Founder | Theo Baloyi |
Conclusion:
We hope you enjoyed our list of the top 10 best shoe brands in South Africa, and we’re happy to share some more information about why these are all great options when looking for a new pair. if you wants to fine good loans company in south Africa then visit now