Bright colourways, clashing prints, oversized scarf headgear forecast at SAFW
Makhetha, Imprint and L'Oréal Walk Your Worth debut
SA Fashion Week (SAFW) spring/summer 2024/25 season at the Mall of Africa in Midrand at the weekend was a spectacle of fashionable firsts.
Joburg’s fashion devotees, influencers, media personalities and socialites poured into the front rows to catch a glimpse of the latest offerings from beloved fashion brands. The three-day fashion fury saw 36 designers forecasting the threads and style notes that we would be rocking in the next three months or so.
Brands making their SAFW debut included Thabo Makhetha, Imprint and L’Oréal Walk Your Worth.
Spotted in fresh fits were Kay Kay Ribane, Prince “PD Jokes” Dube, Zayaan, Blue Mbombo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Bonang Matheba, Thembi Seete, Yonwaba Mshuqwana, Natasha Thahane, Langa Mavuso and Zoë Modiga.
Makhetha’s showcase featured ensembles in a muted palette of sand and cream; printed leather jackets of assorted lengths, ivory white coordinating pieces, playful tulle skirts and ballgown skirts, wrap dresses and tunics draped in belted scarfs. Mzukisi Mbane of Imprint’s seven colours serving was a feast for the eyes. Mbane’s collection featured models in stellar head-totoe prints from psychedelic black, blues and pinks to vibrant aquatic blues with feathered details and spirited tribal prints in yellows and marigolds.
“This collection was inspired by …how our lives throughout time have been driven by faith. From a general spiritual and religious point of view we looked at how the concept of faith, spirituality and religion is so embedded in our DNA,” Mbane’s show notes read.
“While the whole collection revolves around a picture of my mother in her church uniform, the overall silhouettes are inspired by African heritage and religion. I played a lot with African church uniforms and traditional attire with colours inspired by tribal artworks from my travels and ancient Nguni beadwork.”
Global fashion initiative L’Oréal Walk Your Worth’s highly attended runway show had 30 influential personalities walk the ramp in bespoke garments by celebrity fashion designer
Biji Gibbs of Biji
La Maison de Couture.
“This is so exciting for me as a musician but also as a fashionista. I love looking great and trying out new stuff. I’m crazy that way – I can’t wait to walk down the runway,” said Vusi Nova.
Metro FM’s Luthando “Lootlove” Shosha said:
“I’m excited. In my other world, I’m a supermodel so I get to live out that dream tonight. It’s going to be so much fun.”
Matheba closed the show in an aureate embroidered gown with a crown headpiece and sweeping shimmering cape. She walked the final walk with Gibbs as the other personalities poured onmonochromatic
to the runway chanting Gibbs’s name. Bright colourways, clashing prints, oversized scarf headgear and summer knits are forecast for the upcoming season. At Michael Ludwig, neutral knitwear was uplifted with bright scarlet reds and cool blues. The Bam Collective channelled the inner sophisticated women with elongated silhouettes and big fringe details. Ezokhetho’s signature print and billowing skirts were upgraded with clashing colourways in bright fuchsia and baby blue geometric prints. SAVÁ by Sânia Bacar is peppered with relaxed knitwear and monochromatic suiting in funky shades.