Affordable Streetwear Suppliers in SA

Whether you’re a budding fashion entrepreneur, a reseller, or just someone who loves stylish streetwear without breaking the bank, South Africa has a vibrant and growing ecosystem of suppliers and brands. 

In this post, we’ll explore where you can find affordable streetwear in South Africa, how to source inventory smartly, and tips for building a sustainable apparel business.

1. Why Source Locally?

Before we dive into specific suppliers, it’s worth understanding why sourcing your streetwear locally — or at least regionally — can be beneficial:

Faster turnaround times compared to overseas imports.

Lower shipping costs, duties, and customs delays.

You support South African creatives and manufacturers.

More opportunity to inspect quality upfront and build relationships.

Starting locally also helps you understand the market and customer preferences before scaling with international suppliers.

2. Online Streetwear Stores & Affordable Brands to Source From

Here are some South African streetwear brands and stores that offer budget-friendly apparel and could be potential suppliers or stock sources:

• Zalemart – Branded Clothing Retail & Wholesale

Zalemart is a Durban-based fashion company that sells affordable branded clothing, with options for bulk purchases. Their range includes everything from jackets to basics and fashion wear at wallet-friendly prices – a good place to start if you want retail & wholesale contacts.

Why it’s great:

Affordable pricing (items from ~R179).

Contactable for wholesale partnerships.

Durban-based, serving all of SA.

• Rockstreet Clothing – Streetwear Basics on a Budget

Rockstreet offers streetwear staples like tees, hoodies, and casual wear at entry-level prices (e.g., tees from ~R130). 

Perks:

Competitive pricing makes it ideal for resale or stocking basics.

Men’s and women’s styles available.

Online presence with delivery across SA.

• Southside Streetwear SA – Street Culture Essentials

An online fashion outlet with a selection of sneakers, hype streetwear, and accessories. While not the cheapest on the list, they stock sought-after trend pieces that can attract customers if you’re reselling streetwear. 

• DeepRoots Clothing – Local Streetwear with Identity

DeepRoots focuses on South African-themed streetwear that resonates with local cultural narratives. While more curated than classic wholesale, these designs make for great resale pieces or stock for niche markets. 

• Tsotsi Streetwear – Affordable Everyday Wear

Tsotsi Streetwear offers casual, affordable pieces like joggers, shirts, and linen-blends — free shipping over R600 makes it a good option for stocking up without huge upfront costs.

• Chepa Streetwear – Quality with Local Flair

Chepa’s collections include cargo pants, jackets, and seasonal pieces at mid-range affordable prices. While not aimed strictly at wholesale, you can stock items for resale or mix with other suppliers for variety. 

• Luto Store – Trend-Driven Streetwear Pieces

Luto Store curates street and contemporary fashion, with selections from rising brands and local designers — ideal if you want trendier pieces at accessible price points. 

3. Wholesale & Blank Apparel Suppliers for Upstarts

If you’re looking to start your own brand, print your own designs, or supply a store, you’ll likely need wholesale blanks and customizable apparel.

• Just Brand – Wholesale Branded Clothing

Just Brand offers a wide selection of clothing perfect for screen printing, embroidery, or custom branding — from hoodies and tees to jackets — all at wholesale prices. 

Good for:

Bulk pricing for brand owners.

Plain garments you can customize.

Diverse product range under one roof.

• Giftwrap Shop – Branded Wholesale Clothing

Another option for bulk branded clothing, most of which can be used for custom prints or business apparel. Items like tees, polos, and hoodies come at low cost, making them suitable for starter inventories.

Tips for Blank Apparel Sourcing:

Many streetwear startups start with blank tees or hoodies that they customise themselves. While local B2B options exist, some businesses also consider international blank suppliers (e.g., Bella+Canvas, Gildan, AS Colour) for specific fabric qualities — but watch out for shipping costs and import duties if ordering into SA. 

4. Big Retailers with Budget Streetwear Picks

While not traditional “suppliers” for reselling, several big SA retail chains are worth knowing if you’re building a resale business:

• Mr Price Group & Subsidiaries

Mr Price (MRP), Studio 88, Power Fashion, and other brands under the Mr Price Group umbrella provide very affordable fashion that appeals to streetwear customers. Their business model focuses on value pricing, making them a popular source for retail arbitrage or trend spotting. 

• PEP & Ackermans (Pepkor Group)

PEP and Ackermans offer budget clothing basics that can slip into a streetwear-style rotation when styled correctly. While they are not wholesale streetwear suppliers per se, they’re essential to understand the SA value fashion landscape. 

5. Getting Smart About Sourcing

Whether you’re buying to resell or build a brand, here are practical strategies to keep costs down and quality up:

Buy in Bulk to Save

Bulk buys often unlock discounts — but only if your demand justifies it. Start with smaller test orders before scaling.

Build Relationships with Suppliers

Contact stores directly about wholesale accounts or order minimums. Some brands will offer pricing tiers if you order regularly.

Leverage Social Media & Local Markets

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are full of independent designers and suppliers advertising affordable drops and collabs.

Try Marketplace Platforms

Local marketplace sites (like Takealot, Yaga, Facebook Marketplace) often feature wholesalers or stock lots from resellers.

Attend Local Fashion Fairs or Pop-ups

Events like local markets and streetwear pop-ups are goldmines for discovering suppliers and networking with other fashion entrepreneurs.

Final Thoughts

South Africa’s streetwear scene is lively and diverse, with plenty of affordable suppliers to choose from — whether you want ready-to-wear pieces, blanks to customise, or even wholesale branded clothing.

Start by exploring local brands and wholesalers listed above, build supplier relationships, and always pair affordability with quality. With the right mix, you can carve out a successful niche in SA’s streetwear market.