5 YOUNG DESIGNERS MAKING IT BIG INTERNATIONALLY

We take a look at five local fashion designers who are making waves internationally.

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THEBE MAGUGU
Makes the list because: Not only has Thebe won the prestigious LVMH prize for 2019, his designs focus on new ways of presenting women with clothing that enhances their beautiful curves and can be worn every day.

Best known for: His collections are all named after the subjects he studied at high school.

Claim to fame: His first stint in the fashion industry was when he crashed David Tale’s famous show which was held at the Mandela bridge, where he wore a Chinese bag as bow headband. Shortly after, Thebe showed for the first time at SA Fashion Week and was praised for his way of thinking and his meticulous tailoring.



RICH MNISI
Makes the list because: Besides being a fashion designer, Rich has ventured into furniture that exudes the same aesthetic as his clothing brand.

Best known for: Playing with gender and sexuality through his designs.

Claim to fame: Rich Mnisi’s first collection won him the African Fashion International Young Designer of the year in 2014. With his fresh way of designing and colourful imagination, Rich has become one of the first Africans to curate a collaboration with Coca-Cola and win Emerging Designer of the Year at the Essence Best in Black Fashion awards.



MMUSOMAXWELL
Makes the list because: The duo’s designs are rich in African culture and use natural and high-quality commercial fibres.

Best known for: Perfect tailoring and pattern work. Also, dressing Beyoncé for Global Citizen Festival.

Claim to fame: Initially the duo were competitors for the David Tlale Internship programme, and they both won a spot to showcase at SA Fashion Week (SAFW) in 2016. After the programme, they decided to join forces as they had a similar aesthetic when it came to designing. They showcased their first collection under MmusoMaxwell in 2017 in the SAFW New Talent Search iniative and won.



MAXHOSA
Makes the list because: MaXhosa is more than just a fashion brand, it is a way of living. The aesthetic of the brand is to proudly showcase the Xhosa culture in a beautiful woven way.

Best known for: Heritage fashion and lifestyle.

Claim to fame: MaXhosa by Laduma started when Laduma went through initiation and the need for a luxury knitwear brand to wear after. He created African luxury knitwear using only South African mohair and wool, which celebrated his Xhosa culture and offered a solution suitable for the amakrwala (Xhosa initiates) traditional dress. Besides showcasing everywhere from New York to Pitti Uomo in Italy, MaXhosa has dressed A-list stars such as Swiss Beats and Alicia Keys to name but a few.



LORD_QUITERIA
Makes the list because: Besides being the go-to designer for celebrities such as Dineo Moketsi and Thando Thabethe, the haute couture label is full of fresh ideas.

Best known for: Dressing a couple of our favourite international celebrities such as Beyoncé and Terri J Vaughn.

Claim to fame: First there was the Johannesburg-based couture label made up of Quiteria Kekana and George Malelu who hit the big time after designing a bespoke look for Beyoncé for the Global Citizen Festival. The duo split after five years of working together. Now Lord_Quiteria has taken the high fashion industry in Africa to another level. His designs have graced a lot of publications and covers and he is currently gearing up to showcase in Houston, America this summer.