South African designers, alongside other African names to know in fashion, were recently celebrated for their collections’ homecoming after having dazzled at Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks—a major milestone!
Cape Town, South Africa (05 December 2023) — Snippets of two Fashion Week experiences were suitcased and sent to Cape Town over the past weekend. There, local fashion designers as well as other African names in fashion to know and root for, were celebrated for major milestones in the industry.
Still infatuated with the sense of accomplishment after having showcased at Paris and Milan Fashion Week, these designers were the pride and joy of the weekend for lovers of the craft.
If you follow fashion, you know that their showcases at the big Fashion Weeks matter (especially from an African perspective) for many reasons, not least because of the exposure it spotlights on non-Western creativity.
This is something South African creatives of all skills and backgrounds have relished in this year (such as Thebe Magugu and Lukhanyo Mdingi) and will hopefully set the tone for a dazzling near future for more local masterpieces.
Two South African designers and their creations (Belle Togs by Keke Moeca, who is based in Gauteng, and Molebatsi, founded by Jessica Jane and Wandile Molebatsi) lit up a runway made specifically to celebrate their achievements at the picture-perfect Mount Nelson Hotel to an international audience.
Joining their walks on stage were collections from Christopher Emef by Christopher Emefiele (British-Nigerian) and Safiètou Seck’s ‘SARAYYA’ (Senegal).
20 models had the honour of walking their designs, which was a milestone in its own right as these talents were scouted as part of an empowerment programme!
All of the collections‚—each a thrill in its own stature—were proudly welcomed and praised through applause galore.
Beyond a celebration and homecoming of their designs at the most important events in the world of fashion, the gathering was also the signal of something new—the Pan African Luxury group (Africa’s top designers) who will be presented in New York City, Paris and Milan in 2024 alongside international designers. This curation of our continent’s talent is not only a chance for more showcases that equalise non-Western talent in fashion with designers from around the world but also paves the path for more African designers to get their moments in the sun.
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