Best African Shoe Brands In London For Quality Footwear

London has a small but interesting scene for African footwear, especially if you want trainers, handmade sandals, beaded leather shoes, and African print styles with a real cultural story behind them. Afro Kickz, Laidback London, Ohema Ohene, and Laviye London are good names to know, while BaobabMart is useful when you want to browse African footwear online from a wider marketplace rooted in African products.

Discovering authentic African Shoe Brands In London comes down to finding styles that combine cultural heritage with everyday wearability.

Start With The Kind Of African Footwear You Want

Before choosing a brand, it helps to be clear about the kind of shoe you’re after.

Some African shoe brands in London focus on trainers with artwork and custom detail. Others focus on sandals, leatherwork, beadwork, or African print footwear.

That difference matters because the best choice for a bold streetwear look may not be the best choice for everyday comfort or warm-weather sandals.

A good pair should give you three things: style, comfort, and a clear connection to African design. When those three come together, the shoe feels special without feeling like costume fashion.

African Footwear Brands In London Actually Worth Knowing

Afro Kickz

Afro Kickz is one of the strongest names if you want African-inspired custom trainers in London. The brand was started by Aida Kiraya in 2018 and focuses on sneakers inspired by traditional African imagery and modern Black culture. Afro Kickz is also London-based and offers bespoke sneakers for individuals, businesses, and brands.

This is a good option if you want footwear that feels personal and expressive.

The strength here is custom design. You’re not just buying another pair of trainers from a shelf. You’re getting something with artwork, personality, and cultural reference.

Best for: custom trainers, statement sneakers, cultural streetwear.

Laidback London

Laidback London is a strong option for handmade sandals and boots connected to Kenyan craftsmanship. The brand works with artisans in Kenya and says its leather sandals are handmade using traditional techniques passed down through generations.

This is a better fit if you want footwear that feels relaxed, wearable, and crafted by hand. The sandals often include beadwork and leather details, making them useful for summer outfits, holidays, casual wear, and warm-weather styling.

Best for: handmade sandals, leather footwear, beaded details, easy summer style.

Ohema Ohene

Ohema Ohene offers African print sneakers through its OH! Footwear range. The brand’s footwear uses vibrant African prints and includes canvas sneakers and hi-top styles, with sizes shown in UK, US, and EU formats on its product pages.

Some products are dispatched from a UK hub, while others may come from its Ghana design studio.

This is a strong choice if you want visible African print in your footwear. The shoes are bold and better suited for people who want the print to be noticed, not hidden.

Best for: African print trainers, colourful sneakers, unisex casual footwear.

Laviye London

Laviye London is already known for African-inspired fashion, and it can be useful for buyers who want footwear that pairs naturally with African clothing. They already blend African prints with modern sneaker designs, making it a good option if you want footwear that stands out but still feels wearable day-to-day.

This makes sense for someone who wants a coordinated look, especially if they are buying clothing and footwear together.

Best for: African-inspired fashion styling, coordinated outfits, print-led looks.

How To Choose Without Wasting Money

African footwear can look beautiful online, but shoes need more than a good photo. Before buying, check the practical details.

Look at sizing first. UK, EU, and US shoe sizes do not always line up perfectly, especially with handmade footwear. If the brand offers measurements or fit notes, read them carefully.

Then check the material. Leather sandals, canvas trainers, beaded uppers, rubber soles, and cushioned insoles all behave differently. A handmade sandal may feel different from a factory-made shoe, and that can be part of its charm, but you still want comfort and durability.

Also, check how the shoe is made. Laidback London, for example, highlights Kenyan artisans and traditional handmade techniques. Afro Kickz focuses on bespoke sneaker customisation and African-inspired artwork. Ohema Ohene leans into African print sneakers. These details help you decide whether the shoe fits your style and your purpose.

Where BaobabMart Fits In

BaobabMart should not be treated like a single shoe brand. That would be dishonest.

Its strength is different.

BaobabMart works better as a marketplace for African products, including African clothing and footwear categories.

That matters when you want to browse beyond one designer or one style. You may be looking for sandals today, but later you may also want African clothing, accessories, fabrics, or other cultural pieces that complete the outfit.

That is where BaobabMart becomes useful.

You get a broader African shopping experience instead of jumping from one brand website to another. The value is in the range, the sourcing, and the focus on African-made or African-rooted products.

For a London buyer, this is especially helpful when local options feel limited or when the style you want is not available in the city. You can still support African design and African craftsmanship without waiting for a pop-up event or hoping one London shop has the exact pair you need.

The Best Way To Shop For African Shoes In London

A smart approach is to use London brands and online marketplaces together.

Go to Afro Kickz when you want custom trainer artwork. Look at Laidback London when you want handmade sandals with a Kenyan craft influence. Check Ohema Ohene when you want bold African print sneakers.

Use BaobabMart when you want to compare African footwear within a wider marketplace that also connects naturally to African clothing and accessories.

That gives you more control. You are not forcing yourself into one option. You are choosing based on what you actually need.

Looking Beyond One Brand: Where You Find More Choice

If you’re trying to find African footwear beyond a single brand, platforms like BaobabMart become useful in a very practical way.

It gives you access to a broader range of footwear styles in one place, alongside designers like Afro Kickz or Laidback London.

You’ll come across:

• leather sandals and handmade pairs
• casual slip-ons and espadrilles
• everyday footwear designed by African artisans
• styles that don’t always appear in London-based shops

The advantage is straightforward.

You’re no longer waiting for one brand to release something new.
You’re not tied to one design direction.

You’re exploring different types of African footwear at once, which makes it easier to find something that fits your style, your comfort needs, and your budget.

For many London buyers, this becomes a natural next step, especially when local options feel limited or too specific.

When BaobabMart Makes More Sense

There are moments when using a marketplace simply works better.

For example:

• when you want to compare different African footwear styles quickly
• when you’re not sure which brand fits you yet
• when you need something practical, not just a statement piece
• when you want footwear that pairs easily with African clothing

This is where BaobabMart fits in more clearly.

It connects well with the rest of your wardrobe. If you’re already exploring African clothing, fabrics, or accessories, it makes sense to look at footwear within the same space instead of searching separately.

That continuity makes a difference.

You’re not building your style piece by piece across different sites, but instead, you’re seeing how things work together.

A More Natural Way To Decide What To Do Next

A simple approach tends to work best.

If you already know the brand you want, go directly to it.
If you’re still exploring, give yourself more options from the start.

That usually means:

• following London-based brands for unique and custom pieces
• using a broader platform when you want variety and easier comparison

Once you do that, the process feels less fragmented.

You’re not chasing availability anymore.
You’re choosing based on what actually fits you.