This year's Soweto Fashion Week Winter/Autumn 2025 has been a visual feast, bringing together seasoned and emerging designers to illuminate the runway with their innovative collections, each showcasing bold colours, creative silhouettes, and daring styles.
This annual affair, running from May 7 to 10 at Soweto Theatre, touted as a reflection of contemporary South African culture, not only celebrated fashion but also solidified its reputation as a platform that allows young designers to redefine fashion through personal narratives interwoven with cutting-edge artistry.
While the first day offered a mere preview of what was to come, the second day showcased an impressive array of talent from designers, including Emerging Designers Bloc, G Staat, Sew Africa, Oak Field, the University of Johannesburg, George Tebor, and Tshwane University of Technology.
It also continues to stand as a reminder that in an industry often dominated by trends, true artistry emerges from personal stories and shared experiences, with some of the designers detailing their heartfelt journeys with Saturday Star.
Sphokuhle Mzinya, a talented young designer, recounted her inspiration, attributing her creative spark to her mother. “Being at Soweto Fashion Week as the youth of South Africa is a huge opportunity that we need to be grateful for. We are still students; to showcase our work means a lot and indicates that we are going far,” she said.
Dumisani Ntombela, the founder of Art Illusion Wear from South West Gauteng College, embraced his chance to exhibit his work on the runway, rallying behind his slogan, “Till death we do art.”
Ntombela presented sophisticated winter garments, reflecting a balance of simplicity and elegance.
“The plan with this season was to go simple but with an expensive taste. And the turnout was impressive. I have always aspired to be a designer. Also, you can not run away from the calling of being a designer. I have always wanted to be a designer but could not ask my parents because they could not allow me at first. But I did it anyway,” Ntombela expressed.
Equally poignant was Mvuyisi Tshabalala's story. Having lost his parents at a young age, he shares that he found solace in fashion and design. Tshabalala's creations aim to tell a deeper story, demonstrating that each garment carries with it a significant narrative.
“I have been through a lot as a young man; I lost my mother when I was two years old. My father was never in my life. He came back for only a year, and then he passed away. So I was all alone, so it was a survival for me. So when I say fashion is my freedom, I found shelter in fashion.”
Speaking about support Tshabalala says he gets support from most of his peers, his mentor, and his school, George Tebor.
“They are the ones who showed me that if you believe in yourself, you can do it. When I started this, I told my family that I wanted to be a fashion designer. They said there is no money in designing,” he said.
Emerging designer Sindisiwe Masemola from Zondi, Soweto, expressed her ambitions for the future, mentioning a desire to participate in prestigious competitions like SA Fashion Week and abroad in Milan and Paris.
“My plans are to grow my brand, expose it to more people, and also have a signature style that people will identify me with,” she stated, hinting at the international aspirations shared amongst many young creators.
Stephen Manzini, the founder of Soweto Fashion Week, voiced the importance of this event for the fashion community, highlighting its role in fostering growth and creating opportunities for emerging designers. “Growth and a different setup and new sponsors. It is very important to have a fashion week for the community of fashion. It builds, it grows and encourages people. Because from here, more opportunities come. It is about the fashion industry helping designers build a market and build a local industry. The more consistent we are with this, the more people we are able to help,” said Manzini, emphasising the collective potential of local talent.
He further extended his gratitude to sponsors such as Creme of Nature, Monkey Shoulder, and the Johannesburg City Theatres, as well as media partners like Saturday Star and Soweto TV, for their unwavering support.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star