A Weekend of Marvels - Savanna x Nao Serati at The Durban July
A Weekend of Marvels - featuring the Zamatwins - Andile & Ayanda
Editor: Leon Haasbroek
Photos by: Johan Venter and Che February
Make-up by: Nixon make Up
Styling and Set: Colin Shandoss
If there’s one moment on South Africa’s annual calendar that effortlessly merges fashion, sport, and culture into one dazzling spectacle, it’s the Hollywoodbets Durban July. And this year, Savanna Premium Cider is raising the bar with its boldest campaign to date - The Weekend of Marvels.
Designed as a full-scale cultural takeover from Friday, 04 July to Sunday, 06 July, the campaign brings Savanna’s signature crisp wit, premium flair, and local relevance to the forefront of the July weekend. Aimed at celebrating the true marvels of Mzansi - its people - the three-day experience is curated with precision, humour, and creative excellence.
The headline act? A first-of-its-kind fashion collaboration with rising South African design talent Nao Serati, debuting a race-day capsule collection themed The Weekend of Marvels. Known for his bold, witty, and culturally conscious aesthetic, Serati’s pieces redefine couture storytelling with every stitch - balancing theatricality with thought, humour with haute.
“South Africa is a country filled with marvel - it’s in how we speak, how we mix all our colours, how we create, celebrate, and craft,” says Nao. “We’re woven together from different threads to create a country of pure gold. So honestly, finding inspiration for this project was easy - because it’s all around us. In fact, it is us. We are the marvels.”
With a tongue-in-cheek take on fashion that complements Savanna’s dry humour and cultural tone, Serati’s collaboration blends streetwear, couture, and satire. The result is a capsule collection that’s as bold as it is playful - and as proudly South African as the campaign itself.
“Fashion should have humour, joy, and a fluidity between streetwear and high fashion,” he explains. “Savanna is perfect for a designer like me because my clothes are fluorescent, loud, and a bit of a push - but we do it with a wink.”
“It’s less about infusing Savanna’s tone into my work, and more about aligning with it.”
The Weekend of Marvels unfolds across three premium experiences:
According to the Savanna team, the decision to scale up the campaign wasn’t just about going bigger - it was about showing up with purpose. “If we’re going to show up, we’re sure to show up with crisp style, dry punchlines and big main character energy,” they share. “The Durban July isn’t just a day - it’s a cultural marvel bringing people from all walks of life together to celebrate creativity, style, expression… and horse racing? We didn’t go bigger for the sake of it, we went crisp, dry and distinctively premium - to create something that cuts through the noise and authentically connects.”
Friday kicked off at the ultra-exclusive Savanna Manor, with the Pre-Race Affair delivering golden-hour glamour, comedy cameos, and cider served neat.
Saturday sees the unveiling of the Neat Speakeasy inside the Chaise Lounge at Greyville Racecourse - a bespoke trackside moment featuring live race commentary, curated comedic performances, and appearances by Madame Wae Wae Papa Na, Celeste Ntuli, Mpho Popps, Moshe Ndiki, and Farieda Metsileng.
Sunday will wrap it all up with a beachside cool-down at the Savanna Sunday Soirée, promising a final dose of laid-back luxury.
Each moment of the weekend - from the velvet-laced wit of the Neat Speakeasy to the storytelling, fashion, and music layered into Savanna Manor - was designed to reflect the brand’s unique intersection of comedy, culture, and premium cool.
“Savanna lives in that rare space where humour, social commentary, and style intersect,” the team explains.
“This weekend was about bringing that world to life. Nothing was overdone or overthought - just crisp, clever experiences that felt effortless to enjoy, important to be part of, and unmistakably South African. And of course, always distinctly dry.”
The collaboration between Savanna and Nao Serati brings a fresh energy to the race-day fashion conversation - not just with the clothes, but with the meaning behind them.
“Our job is to push things forward, to tilt the frame slightly, to paint the same picture with a new brush,” Serati notes. “Working with the Zama Twins allows us to present something exciting - even for them. That kind of creative trust is incredibly bold.”
“I don’t see this as a fashion stunt,” he adds. “Savanna is making a real statement. They’re showing their commitment to South African fashion, comedy, and culture. And that’s powerful.”
Speaking on why Nao Serati was the ideal collaborator, Savanna notes his instinctive understanding of South African identity - and style with substance. “Nao gets it - the fashion, the feeling, the finesse, much like how Savanna takes pride in understanding South Africa,” they say.
“He tells South African stories with his craft. Bold, unbothered, beautifully off-centre and super premium - his designs had wit stitched into the seams, and that’s exactly the kind of marvel we were looking for.”
And if you’re wondering whether this is a once-off cultural cameo, think again. Savanna has its eye on long-term impact. “Savanna will continue to pop up where culture happens,” the brand confirms. “You can expect more dry humour, more crisp perspective, and more premium moments that live beyond the moment. We’re not just here to entertain - we’re here to create experiences that people feel, share, and talk about long after the last sip.”
As The Weekend of Marvels continues to unfold, it’s clear that Savanna isn’t just here to make an appearance - it’s here to make an impact: that is…… Bold. Dry. Brilliantly South African.
