Fashion

The Looks That Owned Durban July 2025

Published

1 year ago

9 July 2025

Durban city ( Durban July ) was made a city of great and rich South African fashion this July. It was like the Indian ocean’s warm waves met golden beaches where Zulu culture lives in every corner. The coastal playground transformed the month of July into South Africa’s ultimate fashion stage, where clothes didn’t just look beautiful but could actually speak culture.

This year’s theme “Marvels of Mzansi” demanded more than pretty outfits, it called for wearable storytelling. From the protea’s resilience to football’s unifying power, these looks celebrated South Africa in ways that would make any local nod in recognition. No fluff, just raw, authentic style that can make you proud to call this place home. Now, let’s get down to our very own handpicked rich and cultural looks that wrote history and made us take screenshots.

Sithelo Shozi – The Blue Crane’s Flight

Sithelo Shozi

Designer Nolanga Made created poetry in motion with this light blue masterpiece. The fitted bodice gave way to a skirt that seemed to breathe, layers of feather-like chiffon floating with each step, mimicking the Indwe’s graceful wings. Delicate silver beadwork caught the light like morning dew on feathers, while the icy-to-skyblue gradient mirrored crisp Highveld skies.

Mbali Nkosi – Namaqualand’s Bloom

Mbali Nkosi

This dress was a landscape. Layers of hand-dyed chiffon in sunrise hues (peach melting into golden yellow) swirled like desert winds. Craftsmen probably spent 300 hours stitching individual floral appliqués that seemed to grow organically from the fabric. The piece of the moment was the headpiece of real pressed Namaqualand daisies preserved in resin, nature’s art frozen in time.

Happy Simelane – Desert Rose Resilience

Happy Simelane

This grey-blue gown was a masterpiece in texture, featuring hand-embroidered floral motifs in silk thread, each petal shaded from dusty pink to deep maroon to mimic the desert’s changing light. The sculpted mermaid silhouette represented strength, while the delicate beading whispered of fragile beauty surviving against odds.

Khutso Theledi – Football Fever

Khutso Theledi

Local designer Thando Simelane reimagined sportswear as high fashion. The structured corset top mimicked referee stripes in matte and patent black leather, while the voluminous tulle skirt concealed a surprise, 200 miniature embroidered soccer balls along the hem. Gold chains representing trophies draped strategically, catching light with every confident stride. Khutso did this to pay tribute to rivalries in South Africa football, the Kazier Chief vs Orlando Pirates.

Mihlali Ndamase – Golden Legacy

Mihlali Ndamase

This look surely started conversations. The corset’s intricate beadwork replicated mine shaft patterns, with 24k gold leaf pressed into resin panels. The hammered metal mini skirt paid homage to miners’ tools, its uneven edges representing both struggle and refinement. Styled against a cave-like backdrop, it was social commentary in sequins.

Jessica Nkosi – Protea Power

Jessica Nkosi

The national flower came alive in this rose-gold creation. Laser-cut leather petals (over 1,200 individual pieces) were hand-sewn onto a corset base, each one heat-treated to curl naturally. The skirt’s metallic undersheen recalled the plant’s waxy resilience, while the dramatic train flowed like the Cape’s summer winds.

Thando Thabethe – Floral Queen

Thando Thabethe

The dress bodice’s 3D embroidery used seven shades of thread to create depth, while the skirt’s 18 layers of chiffon were individually dyed for perfect gradient. The showstopper? The headpiece with 200 hand-blown glass flowers on brass stems, each one movable to catch the light.

Sarah Langa – Township Royalty

Sarah Langa

This Skhothane tribute broke conventions. The jumpsuit’s gold chain motif was actually hand-painted, then distressed for authenticity. The wide belt replicated vintage soccer trophy designs, while the hat’s angle paid direct homage to 1980s Soweto street style. Every detail whispered: “We’ve always been fabulous.”

Anele Zondo – Woven Heritage

Anele Zondo

Traditional meets avant-garde in this architectural wonder. Over 400 meters of hand-dyed ilala palm rope were woven around a steel frame, creating a living sculpture that moved with her. The headpiece incorporated real ostrich feathers and copper beads, a nod to both rural craftsmanship and urban innovation.

Honour Zuma – Warrior’s Fire

Honour Zuma

This red leather gown was armor softened by its intricate embroidery, Zulu love letters stitched in gold thread along the sleeves. The sculpted shoulders represented strength, while the skirt’s 10,000 hand-sewn sequins mimicked embers rising from a fire. Her natural hair, styled into a majestic crown, completed this unapologetic declaration of identity, a warrior fighting injustice. A true Mzansi marvel.

Why This Matters Beyond Fashion

Durban July 2025 proved that South African clothing can:

– Preserve heritage techniques (like Zulu beadwork in Honour’s gown)

– Spark economic growth (all designers were local talents)

– Challenge stereotypes (Like Sarah’s upcycled luxury)

These dresses were cultural artifacts. When Mbali’s petals fluttered or Khutso’s soccer balls peeked out, they did what no textbook could: made South African pride tangible.

Real fashion doesn’t follow trends but starts its own movement. This year, the South African stars wore stories that will outlast any Instagram feed. Because in Mzansi, style isn’t about what you put on, but what you stand for. And if this Durban July proved anything, it’s that their voices, through cloth and thread, have never been louder.

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Fashion

Ib Kamara Exits Off-White

Published

6 days ago

1 September 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Ib Kamara has left Off-White, ending his tenure as creative director. The brand announced the departure on Monday, August 31, 2026, describing the split as a mutual decision. No successor has been announced.

Kamara first worked with Off-White as a stylist after connecting with Virgil Abloh in 2019. Following Abloh’s death in November 2021, Kamara joined the brand as Art and Image Director in 2022 and was later appointed Creative Director in 2024.

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

During his time at Off-White, explores the impact of Black culture has had on America. In his 2024 show, entitled “BLACK BY POPULAR DEMAND”,he infuses elements of heritage and modernity that paint a rich vision of Black fashion.

In September 2024, Off-White held its first New York fashion show. Celebrities like Issa Rae, Victoria Monét, Sunisa Lee and Flavor Flav attended the event.

His departure comes after a change in Off-White’s ownership. In 2024, LVMH sold the brand to Bluestar Alliance.

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Bluestar Alliance CEO Joey Gabbay praised Kamara’s contribution to the company. He said they are deeply grateful for Ib’s vision, creativity, and the remarkable energy he brought to Off-White throughout his tenure.

Kamara also spoke about his time at the company.

“Working at Off-White has been an honor and a profound creative education. The teams I have worked alongside, the collections we produced, the shows we dreamt ”

Photo credit: Pause Online (@pauseonline/Instagram)

Kamara has launched his own creative agency, Raw Materials by Ib Kamara, which will be his main focus now. Off-White now faces another a new transition.

Fashion

Louis Vuitton Opens New Immersive Store at V&A Waterfront

Published

1 month ago

6 August 2026

Fadire Olusola

Photo: Instagram

Luxury shopping in Cape Town has a new attraction. Louis Vuitton has unveiled a new store at the V&A Waterfront. This will allow visitors to browse the brand’s latest collections. The new boutique is a combination of fashion, art and local design, appealing to all fashion lovers.

The boutique opened on 30 July at Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, replacing Louis Vuitton’s previous location at the V&A Waterfront. It is part of the French fashion house’s latest retail initiative, and located at shops 6256 and 6259B, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.

Photo: Instagram

All parts of the store are designed to reflect Louis Vuitton’s identity. You will find Warm wood finishes, gem stone and handcrafted textures paired with contemporary furniture. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring in natural light with customers having a good view of the harbour and Table Mountain.

The expanded boutique introduces good offerings. Shoppers can check out designer leathers, handbags, luggage, footwear, accessories, and fragrances. New collections of Women’s ready-to-wear have been added to the Cape Town store. This allows local customers to gain full access to all the brands collections.

Photo: Instagram

The boutique offers personalized luxury services. Customers can book private appointments with client advisers for one-on-one styling. There are aftercare services that help maintain and repair Louis Vuitton pieces. Those who want to buy beauty products enjoy smooth refill services.

The precinct boasts popular stores that sell premium designers like Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. Louis Vuitton and these brands have made the Waterfront an appealing destination for everyone.

This investment shows how much confidence brands have in South Africa’s luxury market. The Waterfront welcomes millions of visitors every year. The presence of this boutique appeals among both tourists and local luxury shoppers.

With its great collections and excellent customer experience, Louis Vuitton’s new home shows Cape Town’s growing influence on the luxury industry.

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Fashion

MaXHOSA to Make Paris Fashion Week Debut With First Official Runway Show

Published

1 month ago

3 August 2026

Tega Ekeri