If there is one South African shoe that can most definitely tell various stories, it’s a vellie. From dirt road strolls and working hard on the land, to travelling locally and abroad, these versatile shoes are the perfect companion; something I rarely leave at home when heading out on an adventure. Few footwear brands tell a story quite like Veldskoen®, the proudly South African footwear label that has been named Best Footwear Brand at the 2026 South Africa Fashion Awards. It so happens that the publicly voted accolade also arrives as Veldskoen Shoes celebrates its tenth anniversary, marking a decade of reimagining a traditional South African shoe for a new generation.

With its recognisable silhouette, colourful soles and locally made construction, Veldskoen has carved out a distinctive place in South African fashion. Over the years, it’s proven that heritage and contemporary style can comfortably walk side by side. For fashion lovers who value local design, authentic craftsmanship and more thoughtful ways of shopping, Veldskoen‘s story is a reminder that what we wear can reflect not only our personal style and the places we’ve been, but also the people, places and traditions behind the brand.

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A Proudly South African Footwear Story

The modern Veldskoen brand might have been established in 2016, but the shoe itself – the vellie – has a history stretching back more than 400 years. Worn across generations and communities, the traditional veldskoen reflects the many cultures and experiences that have helped shape South Africa.

Rather than leaving this heritage in the past, Veldskoen has reimagined the vellie, giving the familiar, nostalgic shoe a contemporary update. Its colourful soles bring a playful twist to a classic design, while its distinctly South African identity remains at the heart of the brand.

Ultimately, the result is South African-designed footwear that connects tradition with modern-day dressing. Whether styled with denim, relaxed linen, everyday basics or a more considered travel wardrobe, the veldskoen offers a characterful alternative to trend-driven footwear.

For anyone exploring South African fashion brands or looking to support locally made fashion, Veldskoen is an example of how traditional design can evolve without losing its sense of place.

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Veldskoen: Why Local Craftsmanship Matters

Beyond Veldskoen‘s colourful soles and recognisable design lies a commitment to local production. Every pair of Veldskoen shoes is made in South Africa using traditional stitch-down construction, placing South African craftsmanship at the centre of the brand’s identity. Through local manufacturing they help sustain specialist skills, support employment and keep production knowledge alive. All this while also giving customers an opportunity to connect with the people and processes behind what they wear.

This naturally also makes Veldskoen relevant to the growing conversation around slow fashion and conscious consumerism. Slow fashion encourages us to look beyond the immediate appeal of a purchase and consider how items are made, who makes them and how thoughtfully we build our wardrobes.

Buying locally is not the only consideration when shopping more consciously. Today, we need to know where a product is made and understand its construction are useful starting points.

For those seeking locally made shoes in South Africa, Veldskoen certainly brings together a recognisable heritage design, local manufacturing and a contemporary fashion perspective.

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Ten Years of Character, Colour and Community

For Veldskoen, the Best Footwear Brand award is as much about the people behind the product as it is about the shoes themselves.

“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 Barbs Sixtus, Marketing and PR Manager at Veldskoen.

“To be named Best Footwear Brand gives us confidence as we take what is made here to more people around the world.”

The brand’s international reach is already growing, with Veldskoen exporting to 34 active markets. Its strategy is to strengthen its position in South Africa 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.”

This message resonates well beyond footwear. In a world where fashion trends can change from one season to the next, brands that celebrate their origins and invest in the skills behind their products offer a different kind of story: one rooted in identity, creativity and connection.

A Win for South African Fashion with Veldskoen

Now in its second year, the South Africa Fashion Awards celebrates the designers, models, stylists, photographers, beauty innovators, retailers, executives, brands and campaigns shaping the country’s fashion industry. The 2026 programme featured 21 publicly voted categories, giving the public a voice in recognising the people and businesses contributing to South African style.

For Veldskoen, being named Best Footwear Brand is a fitting milestone in its tenth year. It celebrates a brand that has taken a familiar South African shoe and reinterpreted it for contemporary wardrobes at home and abroad.

Perhaps that is ultimately the appeal of Veldskoen shoes: they are more than a finishing touch to an outfit. They carry a story of local craftsmanship, cultural heritage and South African creativity.

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