In a landscape crowded with fast fashion labels and global giants, Afrikanswiss MuNtu Jeanes stands apart—not just as a denim brand, but as a storyteller. Founded and led by Thato Matabane, Afrikanswiss has grown from humble beginnings into a premium lifestyle label that reclaims African heritage through high-quality denim. 
From Roots to Runway
Matabane’s journey started early. After earning his advanced certificate in fashion design at SewAfrica, he sharpened his skills working for Woolworths (visual merchandising) and later at House of Olé. It was during this time that he grasped not only the technical side of fashion, but also how to weave identity into design. 
Built on this foundation, Afrikanswiss officially came into its own in 2013, and by 2014 the brand had opened what is recognised as Africa’s first denim boutique dedicated to locally designed premium denim. 
Design Philosophy: Denim with a Story
Denim is more than just fabric for Afrikanswiss—it’s a canvas. The brand fuses traditional stories, motifs, and influences (Khoisan heritage among them), into the texture, washes, treatments, patchworks, and prints of its pieces. It doesn’t shy away from distressed effects, hand-treatments, layering of colour, or using motifs inspired by ancestral art. 
What’s more, Afrikanswiss pushes for unisex styling, letting many of its pieces transcend the typical gender divides in denim wear. The brand’s lifestyle approach means it offers more than jeans: hoodies, jackets, dresses and accessories all receive the same artistic care. 
Craft & Presence
Quality is central. The garment construction, washes, and detailing reflect craftsmanship. But Afrikanswiss also knows the importance of presence: being part of South African Fashion Week across multiple seasons, showcasing collections that command attention, and maintaining storefronts like boutiques in key Johannesburg malls. These weren’t just business moves—they’re part of the brand’s identity as a local icon. 
Why Afrikanswiss Matters
• Cultural Anchoring: It bridges contemporary urban aesthetics with deep ancestral roots, giving wearers a way to express pride in their heritage.
• Authenticity: From Matabane’s own background to the inspirations (stories, prints, treatments) used in the clothes, there’s a sincerity you feel.
• Innovation Within Tradition: It doesn’t copy; it reinterprets. Denim doesn’t stay static with Afrikanswiss—it transforms, adapts, surprises.
• Shifting the Local Fashion Narrative: As one of the first premium African denim-lifestyle brands, it has pushed the boundaries of what locally-made designer denim can mean, both in quality and cultural weight.
Spotlight Moment: AW25
In the Autumn/Winter 2025 collection, Afrikanswiss delivered more than just clothes—they staged a declaration. The collection blended structured denim tailoring with saturated colour, street-wise bravado with elegance. Berets in denim, sharp shoulders, bold layering: these weren’t just trends, they were affirmations of identity and style rooted in African cosmology and aesthetic memory. 
Afrikanswiss is more than denim with flair. It’s a statement: that fashion can carry history, that style can bear witness, and that clothes can be both beautiful and deeply meaningful. In an age of fleeting trends, Afrikanswiss invites us to slow down, to wear what tells a story—and that is where its power lies.
