A Conversation on Sustainability, Resilience, and the Future of African Fashion with Tracy-Lee Rosslind

Tracy-Lee Rosslind is a dynamic and multi-talented Entrepreneur, Stylist, Creative Director, Producer, and motivational speaker, whose remarkable journey began in modelling and television at the age of nine. She has grown into one of the continent’s most vocal advocates for ethical fashion, intentional consumption, and locally rooted creativity.

In this conversation, she opens up about the values that shaped her, the realities of building consciously in South Africa, the ethics of collaboration, and why African innovation may hold the key to fashion’s future.

Words Khaya Mnisi

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What initially pulled you toward the path of sustainability and ethical fashion? Was there a particular moment or realization that shifted your perspective?

There was really no particular moment that shifted my perspective regarding sustainability and ethical fashion. My father was a leather designer before I was born, and my mother loved all things local, so she would always dress me in pieces from local designers. She was obsessed with Green Market Square, and my aunts and grandmothers would sew or knit clothes for me, including pageant dresses and dance costumes. There was always a sense of pride in locally produced or created fashion.

There was a moment, however, when I began to understand the issue of overconsumption and this societal push to have more than we actually require as a measure of success. When I lost a significant portion of my possessions in a house fire, I quickly learned that you don’t need the excess society convinces you is necessary to feel accomplished or successful.

As someone who has always been vocal about sustainability and ethical practices in fashion, and now you’re working on launching your own haircare brand in 2026. How are you bringing that same mindset into this new project?

Oh wow, that is a sneaky one. I actually have not told everybody yet, but yes, I am launching an incredible haircare brand at the end of next year. It has been in development for the last two and a half years with two amazing business partners, and I am so excited for people to finally see what we have been working on.

The journey has also been a lesson in fall down six times, get up seven. Some may know that I launched a haircare range just before COVID, and unfortunately, due to the pandemic, I lost that entire business. I had invested everything I had up until that point, and it was an incredibly difficult adjustment. It took a lot of tenacity, self-belief, and faith to continue down this path.

In 2026 I will be dedicating my full focus to my new haircare range. It’s definitely going to be getting the majority of my time which is what it deserves.

Our core goal at both Haze Enterprises and the new brand being launched next year is job creation. It is one of the most pivotal points we focus on and will always return to. I am creating a range not just for my people to have access to haircare that truly works and feels like an aesthetic reflection of who they are and where they are in their lives, but also to create work and opportunity. I hope that this becomes a pebble in the water that creates a ripple effect of opportunity and wealth.

We are all so deeply passionate about shining a light on and celebrating South African plants and actives, as well as the scientists and pharmacists who are creating world-class formulations right here at home. Everything is created locally, but designed to make a meaningful impact globally.

Entrepreneurship is never easy, but it is always worth it, and this new chapter feels like a full-circle moment that honours resilience, intention, and purpose.

And with so much greenwashing happening in the beauty industry, how do you make sure what you’re creating stays real and true to your values?

I absolutely despise greenwashing, not just in the beauty industry, but in fashion as well. It is something that upsets me to my core, and I will never put my name next to it or want anything to do with it.

It is not always easy or cost-effective, especially for a new business, to be entirely sustainable, manufacture entirely locally, or rely only on local suppliers. These things can be incredibly expensive. That said, I believe it is essential to have a long-term vision for sustainability. In year one, for example, you might not be able to avoid certain costs, like importing packaging or sourcing specific materials, because it is the most feasible option at the time.

The key is to plan for the future. In five years’ time, when your business has more resources, credibility, and stability, you should be in a position to pivot towards using more local and sustainable aspects, even if they are slightly more expensive. It would be naive to expect that in a country like South Africa, a new brand could start completely sustainably from the outset.

Personally, I know I cannot start as sustainably efficient as I would like, but I am confident that over the next few years I will reach the level of sustainability I envision for both this new brand and Haze Enterprises.

For me, it is also about intention, which I believe is crucial. What is your intention? What is your business’s intention? Do you intend to be part of the problem, or do you intend to build towards becoming the solution, if not part of the solution?

For people, brands, stylists, or designers who share your philosophy or are just beginning to navigate the world of ethical fashion, sustainability, and mindful consumption — what advice would you give them?

The advice I would give is to believe in yourself. I know it sounds cliché, but in commercial fashion, sustainability is a new frontier. Africa has always been a source of sustainable and incredible garments and traditional ensembles. Sustainable practices have existed for millennia, with ancestral clothing made with care and respect for people, communities, and the environment. The real challenge lies in commercial and fast fashion, as well as its impact of overconsumption, which causes severe environmental damage and economic detriment to many countries. It is time to move back to locally produced and manufactured quality, slow fashion, where we have fewer pieces that we care for more.

It is so important that pioneers in this space have enough self-belief, confidence, and passion for their work to stick it out for the long haul. Like most good things, meaningful impact takes time.

If your intention is to protect the ecosystem around your brand, respect communities, and care for the environment and animals involved, then that tells me you have a good heart. That heart is your most important guide. Celebrate it. Trust it. It is the part of you that is contributing to real change.

This path is not always easy. It is rarely the most popular or convenient route, but it is necessary. We must strive for change, not just for the sake of fashion, but for the broader industries we are part of, so that we may elevate and preserve them for the future. Believing in your values, even when it is challenging, is how meaningful, lasting impact is created.

Courtesy of Tracy-Lee Rosslind. Expresso Show

Are there any brands — local or global — that you think are truly leading the way when it comes to sustainability and combating fast fashion?

There are so many incredible brands, both locally and globally, that are making real strides in sustainable fashion. What I especially admire are those doing the hard scientific work — those creating alternative leathers, plant-based materials, and lab-grown feathers. I am a super big fan of fig and cacti being utilized to create alternative fabrics and leathers. That kind of innovation is going to have an massive impact on the future of fashion. It allows multiple designers to work with fabrics that are already created consciously, opening up a vast array of options for the designers out there.

I am also deeply passionate about thrifting and vintage shopping, especially with the overconsumption crisis the planet is currently facing. With plus-minus 6000 kilograms of textile waste being discarded every 45 minutes in the Western Cape alone, I’m sure we can all agree that less has now got to mean more. One of my absolute favorite thrifting initiatives is U‑Turn, which uses their thrift stores to create real opportunity. The people who work in these stores are part of a life-changing program — formerly homeless individuals now gaining real work-readiness skills through retail, laundry, and other roles. It also ensures that we are uplifting communities and that the money spent on fashion is being reinvested where it is needed most.

As someone who has been in the industry for a long time  starting out at just nine years old and growing through so many creative roles, from styling to creative directing and producing-collaboration must have taken on different meanings over the years. What does collaboration mean to you now, and what are some of the best ways to foster a healthy, creative, and collaborative environment on set?

From the age of film to the age of digital media, a lot has evolved.  For me, the meaning of collaboration has always remained the same.

Collaboration is about honoring what each person or brand brings to the table. It is ensuring that every joint effort is a positive step forward for all involved. It is a show of respect, admiration, and love for each other’s talents, crafts, and art. Collaboration is also about shining a brighter light on everyone who has come together to create impact, inspire change, or open our minds to new possibilities.

At the heart of collaboration is ethics, integrity, and intention. It is about working with love, respect, and a genuine desire for the best outcome for everyone involved. True collaboration is when we all rise and shine together. It means respecting everyone in our ecosystem, putting our best foot forward, crediting all contributors, and maintaining that ethos consistently.

In your experience, what are some of the best ways to foster a healthy, creative, and collaborative environment on set, and how do you navigate etiquette when working with other people’s teams or ideas?

I am so glad you asked this question, because I do feel that social media has blurred the lines when it comes to etiquette on set. For me, it always comes back to transparency and respect for people’s networks. A network takes time, patience, and consistency to build, and that should always be honoured.

When you are on set, especially someone else’s, it is important to show respect for the directors, producers, and creatives who brought that team together. If you would like to work with someone from that team in the future, the right approach is to communicate with the relevant people first. That way, everything is done transparently and with respect.

Always credit where credit is due. People often say, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” but the full quote reminds us, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” It is a gentle reminder that originality and integrity are what truly move our industry forward.

At the end of the day, collaboration should always feel inspiring, not competitive. When we lead with respect, gratitude, and genuine intention, we create environments where everyone can thrive. My hope is that we continue to uplift one another and build spaces that celebrate creativity, honour individuality, and spark meaningful change. I want to create revolutions, not trends.

You’ll be heading to Nigeria this December as both an award nominee and keynote speaker at the African Fashion and Arts Awards — congratulations! Can you tell us more about this step, and what it means to you to represent sustainable creativity on a continental stage?

I am so incredibly excited and honoured to be heading to Abuja, Nigeria, for the African Fashion and Arts Awards. To be nominated for Stylist of the Year, to have my company Haze Enterprises nominated for a Sustainable Green Fashion Award, and to host such an incredibly important event is such a meaningful moment for me; one I will never forget. It is also really heartwarming to be acknowledged for all of the years I have put into the sector.

Africa truly is the heartbeat of the planet, and I have always had the utmost respect for my fellow African brothers and sisters, not only for our incredible ability to rise above, but also for our innate pride in and love for the cultures and traditions that are found within our continent.

Having styled some of the biggest artists in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, this feels like a full-circle moment. To finally go to a country that has had such a profound impact on my journey and my legacy, and to speak on sustainability while celebrating African heritage, creativity, and innovation in art and fashion, is truly special.

Although Africa is not the source of the current challenges facing fashion and overconsumption, in my opinion, it is uniquely positioned to be a pioneer. I truly believe that Africa can lead the way toward a new era of conscious, sustainable fashion that celebrates culture, craftsmanship, and ethical practices.