ESETHU CENGA: 'A 40 UNDER 40 CEO' BUILDING CULTURAL PRIDE & GLOBAL IMPACT THROUGH REWOVEN AFRICAN HERITAGE

Esethu Cenga is redefining sustainable fashion in Africa through Rewoven, turning textile waste into opportunity, and weaving cultural pride into global impact.

Africa Ceo Rewoven Testile Fashion Cultural preservation Inclusive entrepreneurship 40 under 40.
Esethu Cenga, Co-Founder and CEO of Rewoven
Esethu Cenga, Co-Founder and CEO of Rewoven



As the Co-Founder and CEO of Rewoven, Esethu Cenga is pioneering a powerful fusion of sustainable fashion, cultural preservation, and inclusive entrepreneurship. At the heart of her vision lies a bold ambition: to reimagine Africa’s creative industries not only as engines of local employment but as global forces for equity, identity, and innovation.

Esethu co-founded Rewoven to tackle the environmental and socio-economic challenges of the fashion industry by promoting textile recycling, upcycling, and circular economy practices within South Africa and beyond. Her leadership has positioned Rewoven as a trailblazing enterprise, one that reclaims African stories through fabric while creating meaningful opportunities for women and youth in the green economy.

Under her direction, Rewoven has partnered with leading sustainability initiatives, retailers, and policy advocates to embed circularity into the African fashion landscape. Through educational programs and public engagement campaigns, Esethu is nurturing a new generation of consumers and creators who see value in waste, power in heritage, and possibility in reimagining systems.

A champion of ethical leadership and purposeful innovation, Esethu is part of a rising cohort of African CEOs transforming  African creativity and commerce. Her work has earned her recognition on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list and invitations to global platforms focused on climate action, sustainable business, and inclusive development.

Esethu’s entrepreneurial journey is about more than building a brand; it’s about rewriting narratives. With every product reclaimed and every voice uplifted, she is showing that African-led innovation can be circular, conscious, and catalytic. Through Rewoven, Esethu Cenga is not just changing fashion; she’s weaving a new future for Africa and the world.

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