The South African Fashion Week SS25 Collections
A celebration of quiet luxury, enduring craft, and a return to intentional design.
By Leon Haasbroek
It’s no secret - South African Fashion Week has been a cornerstone in my calendar since 2011. Over the years, I’ve seen it evolve from a local platform to one of the continent’s most influential fashion movements. But this season? It feels different. There’s a grounded sense of elegance. A deliberate quietness that speaks louder than hype.
Taking place at The Forum in Hyde Park, the Spring/Summer 2025 collectionsbring together a line-up of emerging and established talent in a three-day celebration of considered design and cultural storytelling. With Quiet Luxury as its overarching theme, the collections whisper confidence, craftsmanship, and classic refinement.
🎟 Tickets are limited and available via Quicket
A Look Inside the Line-Up
Day one opens with Jessica-Ann Shepherd - a standout in every sense. As founder of Oddity and the winner of the SS24 New Talent Search, she sets the tone for what’s to come. Eight fresh talents follow suit, each bringing a responsible print concept to life as part of SAFW’s celebrated New Talent Search platform. From Estella James in Cape Town to Ngano Design Africa in Johannesburg, these designers are shaping the future, not just for themselves - but for the industry at large.
The evening closes with none other than Gert-Johan Coetzee, whose collection The Arrival blurs the line between past and future. His ability to anchor story, star-power, and soul is why he’s one of South Africa’s most enduring fashion voices.
Highlights from the ISUZU Luxury Collections
Day two opens strong with Thabo Makhetha, whose latest Thetana-inspired looks fuse recycled materials and heritage design with unexpected softness. Next up, Tiger Blue delivers pure selvedge denim, unwashed and unaltered, curated by Cape Town duo Etienne Joubert and Wilrien Strydom. The day concludes with Rubicon’s poetic blend of precision tailoring and natural flow - elegance reimagined by Hangwani Nengovhela.
In between, fashion meets spirit with Cruz Vodka’s Collective, showcasing the likes of:
Mimangaliso Ndiko (SIX6)
Global favourite Shaldon Kopman
And boundary-breaker Jacques Bam, whose gender-fluid designs continue to push fashion forward.
A Beachside Breeze & Fresh Perspectives
Day three kicks off with BeachCult by Joanna Hedley, followed by Pret-A-Perfect, whose refined take on luxury from The Faktory is everything you want modern dressing to be. I’m especially excited for Helon Melon’s tribute to Mohair and Kid Mohair - sophisticated, fun, and so very South African.
Also returning to the SAFW runway is Colleen Eitzen, debuting her swimwear collection - a fresh, feminine take on summer. And supported by Department of Sports, Art and Culture (DSAC), three emerging forces close the day: OG Brand, E_MANIA, and VICTORI.
The grand finale belongs to Sun Goddess, the dynamic duo Vanya and Thando Mangaliso - our very own "Afro-Gucci." Their regal aesthetic, rooted in culture and elevated by craftsmanship, always reminds me why SAFW is worth showing up for, season after season.
This Season’s Powerhouse Partners are:
🙌 ISUZU Motors South Africa
🍸 Cruz Vodka
💄 L’Oréal Paris South Africa
Their continued support makes this platform possible, championing creativity, beauty, and local excellence with every show
In Closing
From my very first show in 2011 to now, the South African Fashion Week remains a non-negotiable in my annual rhythm. It’s more than fashion - it’s a living archive of our culture, our designers, our stories.
For schedules and updates visit safashionweek.co.za
I’ll see you at the Forum.
Photos: Henry Marsh
