There is something quietly powerful about a comeback. Not loud, not desperate, but deliberate. That was the energy surrounding South African Fashion Week (SAFW) Spring/Summer 2026, a return that felt less like a reset and more like a reintroduction. And if fashion is anything, it is memory, identity, and reinvention stitched into fabric.
On 10 April 2026, The BAM Collective transformed the runway into something far more expansive than fashion. Staged within Fashion: The Image at the Roger Ballen Centre for Photography and the Inside Out Centre for the Arts, ROMANTICISM 2026 unfolded as a fully realised world, where texture, theatre and heightened emotion converged in a striking display of contemporary South African design.
With Huephoria, blonde becomes more than a colour. It becomes a signature, a discipline and a carefully considered expression of self, shaped by the eye of a stylist who understands the power of image.
Founded by Shawn Ntuli, widely known as Shawn The Stylist, Huephoria is built on lived experience. It is a response to years of experimentation, frustration and, ultimately, refinement. Before the brand, there was a deep observation of beauty in its most personal form.
Libhongolethu Geza, popularly known as Libho Geza, is a South African lifestyle creator, athlete and media personality whose presence continues to resonate far beyond the screen. After capturing the nation’s attention as the 2021 winner of Love Island South Africa, Libho has carved out a space defined by authenticity, movement and intention.
With The Living Thread, William De Beer transforms grief, love and legacy into a couture bridal language that feels both intimate and expansive.
For William De Beer, fashion was never just about clothes. It was about feeling. Memory. Obsession, even.
In the style-conscious rhythm of Lagos, where fashion is both expression and presence, The FIA Factory has built a design language rooted in precision, ease, and quiet confidence. Founded in June 2015 by Funke Ola, Ijeoma Jibunoh, and Abisose Ola, the brand draws its name from the founders’ initials, grounding its identity in collaboration, clarity, and a shared vision of modern femininity.
In the ochre-hued rhythm of Marrakesh, where craft is not a trend but a way of life, Marrakshi Life has carved out a distinctive space in contemporary fashion. Founded by Randall Bachner and later joined by co-founder Nicholas Minucciani, Marrakshi Life is rooted in a shared vision of craftsmanship, ease, and a slower, more intentional approach to fashion.
Garth Brown is stepping into his own light with clarity and intention. Blending gospel-rooted emotion with contemporary Afro-house textures, his sound feels both grounding and expansive. His latest single, ‘Endaweni’, written alongside Lady Du, is a powerful isiZulu offering that explores themes of belonging, reflection, and spiritual alignment.
Rooted in heritage and shaped by a deeply considered design philosophy, Hamaji Studio is carving out a distinct space in contemporary African fashion. Founded by Kenyan designer Louise Sommerlatte, the brand is known for its grounded aesthetic, where craft, community, and sustainability come together in garments that feel both timeless and intentional.
If there is one thing Zendaya does with intention, it is a press tour. This time, she is not just promoting a film. She is building a bridal fantasy, one look at a time.