Veldskoen® named Best Footwear Brand at the 2026 South Africa Fashion Awards
The publicly voted award recognises ten years of South African craftsmanship, and a brand designed with character, made for characters.
Veldskoen® has been named Best Footwear Brand at the 2026 South Africa Fashion Awards, earning public recognition for its distinctly South African approach to footwear, craftsmanship and storytelling.
The award comes as Veldskoen® marks its tenth anniversary. Since 2016, the company has reimagined the traditional veldskoen for a contemporary generation, pairing time-honoured local construction with colourful soles inspired by South African places, people and culture.
Barbs Sixtus, Marketing and PR Manager at Veldskoen®, says the accolade reflects the contribution of the wider community behind every pair.
“This recognition reflects the work of the craftspeople who make our shoes here in South Africa, our team and partners, and the people who continue to make Veldskoen® part of their own stories,” says Sixtus. “To be named Best Footwear Brand gives us confidence as we take what is made here to more people around the world.”
While Veldskoen® the company is ten years old, the shoe celebrates a history stretching back more than 400 years. Worn across generations and communities, it reflects the different cultures and experiences that have shaped the country. Veldskoen® sees itself as one of the stewards of this broad South African heritage, with a role in reinterpreting and carrying it forward for new generations and audiences.
Its adaptability has always been part of its character. The veldskoen has moved across communities, generations and settings while remaining recognisably South African. The modern brand builds on that flexibility by working with different partners, responding to different markets and pursuing commercial opportunities without losing sight of what makes the product distinctive.
Every pair is made in South Africa using traditional stitch-down construction. The local production model helps sustain skills and employment while giving customers around the world a tangible expression of South African creativity and character.
That international story is already taking shape. Veldskoen® currently exports to 34 active markets, demonstrating demand not only for a South African-designed shoe, but also for the story and craftsmanship it represents. The company’s strategy is to consolidate its position at home while selectively pursuing opportunities abroad.
“We have always believed that South Africa makes remarkable things,” Sixtus adds. “This recognition gives us fresh confidence as we enter a new decade. We want to protect what makes the veldskoen distinctive, build a stronger business and introduce more people to the best of what South Africa can create.”
The second annual South Africa Fashion Awards recognise the designers, models, stylists, photographers, beauty innovators, retailers, executives, brands and campaigns contributing to the country’s fashion industry. The 2026 programme comprised 21 publicly voted categories.
