From crafting simple leather belts to building his own leather and clothing brand, 45-year-old Asekho Twaku carries nearly three decades of craftsmanship, reinvention and global ambition behind the luxury label that now bears his name. Born in East London, he says his creative journey began long before he ever imagined exporting handcrafted goods to fashion capitals. “I’ve always been drawn to making things with my hands, design has been part of me from the start,” he said.
Twaku first discovered the foundation of his craft at Buchule Technical High School. “Grade 8 technical drawing introduced me to structure, shape, and detail, and those skills stayed with me and still guide my design processes today,” Twaku said. Later, he enrolled for a BCom accounting degree at Vista University’s Gqeberha campus, now part of Nelson Mandela University.
“I fell in love with leatherwork during that time, so what started as curiosity became a full-time calling.” Today, he is the founder and lead designer of Asekho Twaku Leather & Clothing, known for handcrafted exotic leather goods, footwear, handbags, accessories, and bespoke clothing. “I started in my father’s garage, I was making belts, selling them one by one, and learning everything through trial and error.” He credits perseverance and the people around him for keeping the vision alive.
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