A line-up of 40 Designers, coupled with an exciting schedule of associated, fashion-related events, are on the cards for the Autumn/Winter 2025 South African Fashion Week Collections taking place at its new home at Melrose Arch from 24 – 28 September 2024.

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“We are delighted to have luminaries like Mantsho, Erre, House of Olé, Naked Ape, 2017 Scouting Menswear Competition winner, Floyd Avenue, and Artho Eksteen, winner of the 2020 New Talent returning to the schedule. We are equally thrilled to welcome Melrose Arch to our circle of partners who understand how to leverage and align their brands optimally with the soft power of fashion,” says director Lucilla Booyzen.

“SA Fashion Week remains the pinnacle of the country’s fashion design talent. Together with our existing sponsors, Cruz Vodka, Mr. Price, Isuzu, L’Oreal, and E! Entertainment, we will now be exploring opportunities with selected retailers, restaurants, art galleries, book, and fashion stores within Melrose Arch to capitalize on SA Fashion Week’s influence as a draw card for the broader public,” she says.

The CRUZ Launch Party will once again kick off the event on the evening of September 25th of September. This will be followed on the 26th, by the much-anticipated CRUZ COLLECTIVE featuring Cape Town based Thabo Makhetha with her collection, titled “Pheteho 2.0, first timer – Wepner’s “Good Luck, Babe!” Collection, and Durban’s, Fikile Sokhulu.

“Cruz was born from the spirit of New York, so we rally behind the pursuit of success. Our latest AW 25 Cruz Collective – Thabo Makhetha, Wepner, and Fikile Sokhulu encapsulate our definition of success – a journey of small and big wins, and the luxurious experiences that follow. Experiences are character-defining and fashion is a daily experience that Cruz is committed to supporting with our collective #MakeItAnywhere, this season,” Maisha Mamabolo, Brand Manager: White Spirits · HEINEKEN Beverages.

Other highlights of the first day will be, Artho Eksteen’s Collection titled “Pond”, taking inspiration from the tranquil yet chaotic allure of rivers, ponds and streams. Cape Town designer Michael Ludwig with his “Circular Criticism Collection”, a thought-provoking visual exploration of the cyclical nature of criticism and self-growth, and Sandy Rogers with her Pret-a-Perfect label titled “The Ties that Binds Us”

The next show will feature Pretoria-based labels, Erre, pronounced “air”, established in 2013 by design duo Carina Louw and Natasha Jaume, Ephymol, and one of the country’s most creative signatures, The Bam Collective inspired by the ever-evolving sense of self, Jacques Bam’s Collection titled ‘DYNAMISM 24/25’ explores identity-formation with clothing as its catalyst.

The first day continues the high-octane offering with Gert Johan Coetzee launching his London Fashion Week Collection.

Inspired by the ISUZU brand, the ISUZU LUXURY COLLECTIONS is a thrilling athleisure collaboration by designers Floyd Avenue, Belhauzen’s “Sakura Drive,” Collection, and House of Olé who will each incorporate a statement athleisure capsule story in their overall seasonal collection. One of the designers stands to scoop a R50 000 prize, says Booyzen. “Fashion and luxury automobility have never intersected quite like this before,” she says.

“ISUZU Motors SA is overjoyed with our continuing collaboration with SA Fashion Week. Our brand makes products that embody style and comfort. As with fashion, we strive to blend form and function to perfection in all we do. This partnership embraces the synergy between the automotive and fashion worlds, representing a fusion of design, functionality, and lifestyle. As the Official Vehicle Partner of SA Fashion Week for the second year running, we look forward to highlighting the bold creativity in the South African fashion industry—a harmonious match for the bold vehicles we create,” Nandi Matomela | Senior Manager Brand Strategy & Field Marketing

Shaldon Kopman of Naked Ape will open the next double bill. Naked Ape’s 100% natural “Afro Monk” collection pays homage to the “unassuming spiritual beings that grace our existence – often unnoticed yet profoundly impactful,” he explains.
Amongst the stars Kopman has dressed are Boris Kodjoe, Laurence Fishburne, and Samuel L. Jackson with a career highlight designing eco-garments for Barack and Michelle Obama.

Next up and described by the New York Times as one of South Africa’s most compelling fashion designers, Lezanne Viviers will launch a Spring Summer 25/26 collection titled DISCLOSURE, which seeks to reveal and unveil universal truth, by investigating the undisclosed.

The second last show on the 27th will show Helon Melon from Cape Town who embarks on a journey into a world of “Gentle Magic”,
Helen dresses musical icons like Karen Zoid and cinema greats, like Yvette Gayle, her Collections will be followed by Zamaswazi. The evening wraps up with industry icon, Hangwani Nengovhela, of Rubicon’s “Medleys of Nature” collection drawing inspiration from the valleys, mountains, rivers, and forests of Venda. Rubicon has had a star-studded following since its inception including luminaries such as Basetsana Kumalo, Bucie Nkomo, Lizah James, Lynn Whitfield, and Zizo Tshwete.

The final lineup on this day are six newcomers demonstrating the opportunities for business growth at SA Fashion Week. Ellen Madie, E_Mania, Ngingu, Reina Majoko, Potrends, and SiXX6 with his “Neurodivergence” collection that explores soundscapes, and binaural meditation beats to emphasize the multiple experiences of neurodiverse individuals, will each show capsule collections.

All the make-up looks will be created in a collaboration with the Designers and L’Oreal Paris.
” We are delighted to partner with SA Fashion Week. As a feminine and feminist brand, we believe in empowerment for all. We therefore share this influential platform’s commitment to promote diversity in beauty and an ethos of beauty for all.” Ayanda Mackay, Brand Business Lead for L’Oréal Paris Southern Africa.

The SA Fashion Week AW 25 Collections concludes on the 28th of September with a power pack line-up starting with the Mr. Price Scouting Menswear Competition. This will be Mr Price’s last season at SA Fashion Week, and they are featuring Eight up-and-coming talents competing for a cash prize of R50 000.00 from Mr. Price and a show at the SA Fashion Week AW 26.
Winner of the 2023 Scouting Menswear Competition, Sinchui, leads the pack followed by finalists – Candid, Rebirth, The Trend Setter from the North, Thobey Cooper, Undefined outdoor clothing, Victori, Waalid, and Yung Blood Apparel. The designers will all show sustainable fashion collections with a strong emphasis on printmaking.

“The last three seasons have been a tremendous showcase of South Africa’s most talented young designers. From Cyla to Robyn and most recently, Jessica-Ann, we are excited to help the next name in fashion gain a foothold in the industry through their association with our Mr. Price Scouting Menswear Competition in September,” Kevin Smit, Managing Director, Mr. Price.

Popularly known as the African trend dictator, Palesa Mokubung whose designs have graced local celebrities such as Lira, Carol Bouwer, and Brenda Mtambo, solo show will be a reflective collection. Mokubung, explores the past, present, and future of her 19-year-long journey with design, focussing on the consciousness that lies within the “I am”.

Her Collection will be followed by another solo show, the “Sizalwa Ngoobani” Collection by Imprint. Mzukisi Mbane’s “Sizalwa Ngoobani” takes “a look back inspired by a move forward.”

Collections by Sungoddess and Sober’s collection called “A coloured People”, as well as Mina from Mozambique and Thato Matabane’s 10-year-old AFRIKANSWISS label, follow next. Matabane ‘s AW 25 collection celebrates the life of his great-grandmother, Sekgametse Masoko, as a designer in Sophiatown, incorporating influences from her Khoisan lineage.

The three-day celebration of fashion design, creativity, and workmanship ends flamboyantly with Enhle Mbali Motshwa’s “AmaZulu – The Heavenly Collection” for her Essi Apparrel label whose clients include Beyonce, Boity Thulo, Linda Mtoba, and Connie Chuane.

“A precinct focused on unique urban design is a superb backdrop for SA Fashion Week’s equally unique designer signatures. We are a premium lifestyle destination that is ideally positioned to enhance the SA Fashion Week experience with our diverse selection of eateries, retail stores, hotels, and lifestyle offerings, all in the safety of a professionally managed, secure environment. SA Fashion Week’s continuous commitment to sustainability and responsible fashion production also dovetails well with our commitment to place, people, and the planet at the core of what we do with our ongoing focus on sustainable practice.” Natalie Stewart – Managing Director at Melrose Arch.

Zebra Square will collaborate with SA Fashion Week for its fourth season as the official media and guest liaison. With an innovative history of working in high fashion, retail, and media spaces for many years, Zebra Square is well-entrenched in the business landscape.

Media Release by SA Fashion Week
Media Management Contact:
Jill Grogor – Zebrasquare@global.co.za – Admin2@zebrasquare.co.za

Accreditation is exclusively for fashion industry professionals – media, buyers, influencers, stylists, photographers, broadcasters, and sales agents, attending the event in a professional capacity.