17 South African fashion designers you should be following
In a world where westernisation is taking a toll on the existence of most cultures, South African fashion designers have stood against all the odds to bring out South African designs to the world, and they have broken the waves in the very competitive industry. They are the minds behind the beautiful prints and good-quality fabrics that most of us enjoy.
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For years, African fashion has earned popularity in most western countries and beyond. This is a result of how unique the prints and fabrics of the clothes are. This is one of the reasons that has kept African culture alive. These are the best South African designers setting the pace in the industry.
South African fashion designers
Who is the best fashion designer in South Africa? If you are a fashion fanatic, these are the icons that you should have your eyes focused on. These best fashion designers in South Africa are listed in no particular order.
1. Anisa Mpungwe
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- Brand name: Anissa Mpungwe Atelier (previously known as Loin Cloth and Ashes)
Born in Tanzania, Anisa was raised in South Africa, and she took advantage of the opportunities in the country to build her brand in the design industry.
As young as 19, she was already up building her career. She started working for various fashion magazines, houses, and factories. This helped her groom her skills.
She has showcased her work in various fashion weeks on multiple platforms in Mozambique, New York, Italy, and Sweden, to mention a few.
2. Nkhensani Nkosi
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- Brand name: Stoned Cherrie
Nkhensani became a household name because of her flourishing career in the arts. She is a coveted designer and an accomplished actress and TV personnel.
Nkhensani Nkosi is the brains behind Stoned Cherrie, which she brought into existence in 2000 and is currently among the award-winning clothing labels in South Africa.
3. Linda Gale
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- Brand name: Stitch & Steel
Linda is among the top designers in South Africa who is making the most of coming up with Afrobougee quirky items. Her first visit to Malawi greatly influenced her style.
She expresses her love for African fashion in unique and high-quality fabric feminine clothing. She has also done a couple of male pieces, even though her primary focus is on feminine outfits.
Linda's style incorporates a striking array of brightly-coloured fabrics that bring out African feminine beauty.
4. Jacques van der Watt
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- Brand name: Black Coffee
Jacques van der Watt interestingly plays around with the traditional South African pattern in modern art to come up with some of the most unique and fashionable pieces.
He was among the SA fashion week designers that took part in the edition of the event in 1999, which greatly influenced the birth of the Black Coffee brand.
5. Marianne Fassler
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- Brand name: Leopard Frock
Marianne Fassler is one of the famous designers, as she has been in the industry for nearly three decades. She runs her business from her workshop in Leopard Frock Saxonwold, Johannesburg.
She has diversified her style by coming up with outfits that can serve several occasions to make the most sophisticated wedding dresses.
6. David Tlale
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- Brand name: David Tlale
David Tlale is another big name in the list of fashion designers in South Africa. His work was showcased on different platforms, including the Cape Town Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week.
His brand grew amidst the challenges and uncertainties in the industry thanks to his elegance regarding style. David Tlale is one of the exceptionally bold styles in the country.
7. Palesa Mokubung
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- Brand name: Mantsho
Palesa Mokubung has set the trend for the country to develop one of the most marketable fashion brands, Mantsho. Her achievements are greatly attributed to her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fashion Design, her entrepreneurial nature and passion for the art.
8. Mzukisi Mbane
- Brand name: Swagger Diaries
Mzukisi Mbane is another icon-setting trend in Cape Town's industry. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Commerce and chose to follow his passion and establish his brand, Swagger Diaries, in 2011.
Swagger Diaries is a brand of a kind as it aims to narrate African ancestors' tales through fabric designs and unique prints. The brand has diversified to work on shoes and some fantastic accessories.
9. Wandile Zondo
- Brand name: Thesis Lifestyle
Wandile Zondo hails from Soweto and got into the world of fashion as an entrepreneur. He co-founded a brand called Thesis Lifestyle. His aim in joining the industry in 2005 was to change the clothing retail in the shops in Soweto.
He used the experience he had gained while working at Edgars to partner with Galebowe Mahlatsi to start their brand. The two have since then not looked back.
10. Thula Sindi
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- Brand name: Thula Sindi designs
Thula Sindi has a fashion background as an alumnus of the London International School of Fashion. He is one of the most promising SA designers because of his wealth of experience working with a textile company that prompted him to work on his brand.
11. Bongiwe Walaza
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- Brand name: Bongiwe Walaza designs
Bongiwe Walaza learnt fashion skills from her mother, who was a seamstress. She perfected it and became the international designer she is. She has worked with textile companies like Da Gama textiles, which is notable for producing shweshwe fabric.
12. Cari Stephenson
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- Brand name: Tart
Cari Stephenson is another designer based in Cape Town and the brains behind Tart designs. Her style differs slightly from the rest as she expresses her creativity through ethnic prints and classic silhouettes.
The best term that could be used to describe her style is simple but sophisticated. The other thing that makes the line stand out is its eclectic colour scheme.
13. Laduma Ngxokolo
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- Brand name: MaXhosa Africa
Laduma hails from the Xhosa community, and as a result, he draws inspiration for his style from his cultural background. His style is distinct as it comes out in abstract patterns in his knitwear.
His brand already has a global following, including several Black Panther cast members who wore MaXhosa's designs to the film's world premiere.
14. Michelle Ludek
- Brand name: Michelle Ludek
Michelle Ludek is another icon in the list of the best fashion designers in South Africa. She has a history in North America, where she earned her skill in commercial fashion design. Her style stands out, from netty sweaters to lazy shift dresses.
15. Leigh Schubert
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- Brand name: Leigh Schubert
Leigh Schubert was born and raised in Durban before moving to Johannesburg in her teens. She creates one-of-a-kind yet timeless smart and casual wear with bold colours and modern solid lines.
Her designs have appeared at Australian Fashion Week, South African Fashion Week, Cape Town Fashion Week, Joburg Fashion Week, Durban Fashion Week, and The Durban Fashion Fair.
16. Thebe Magugu
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- Brand name: Thebe Magugu
Thebe is among the famous local fashion designers in Johannesburg who was born in Kimberley. He rose to prominence as the 2019 LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize winner. Magugu has collaborated on several capsule collections with international brands such as Dior, Adidas, and AZ Factory.
17. Gert Johan Coetzee
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- Brand name: Gert Johan Coetzee
Gert's fashion atelier is located in Linden, Johannesburg, Gauteng. He is known for his couture red carpet gowns, but he also designs a ready-to-wear collection. He also dedicates each collection to a particular social cause to draw attention to social problems.
Is fashion design a good career in South Africa?
Fashion design is a fantastic career that exposes students to a world beyond fashion. Some of the advantages of these careers include expanding your network and providing you with personal growth and confidence.
These are some of the most influential South African fashion designers breaking the waves in the art to create unique pieces. Some have worked on hippie clothing in South Africa, whereas others have let comfort dictate their style.
READ ALSO: Top 20 most famous South Africans of all time: who are they?
Briefly.co.za recently published an article highlighting the top 20 most famous South Africans of all time. South Africa has produced world-renowned celebrities and famous people, ranging from Nobel Prize winners to comedians, actors, and even athletes.
Many icons have left an indelible mark on South Africa and its people. These South African heroes and heroines come from all walks of life and represent the best of the country's culture.
Source: Briefly News
Priscillah Mueni (Lifestyle writer) Priscillah Mueni is a lifestyle and entertainment content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering in 2019. In 2023, Priscillah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has been writing articles on Briefly.co.za since 2019. Email: pshmueni@gmail.com
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Adrianna finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
