From 5 to 7 November, Soweto Theatre in Jabulani became the stage for Soweto Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2026 season, with emerging designers, student collections and established names sharing one runway. The season also saw actress Nasiphi Ntabeni make her runway modelling debut, alongside the introduction of a new partnership with Black Wines Matter.
Opening Night
RFL Studios opened the season’s emerging designer showcase with MORWAMOTHO, a menswear collection named after the Setswana phrase for “son of man”. The ready-to-wear collection blended elevated streetwear with solid and printed denim, suiting, natural cottons and linens, finished with printed bucket hats and fringed canvas totes.
Lethu Textiles brought bold African prints to the runway, including wide-leg trousers in a vivid patchwork-style print with a ruffled, high-slit hem, as well as a strapless lime-green floral dress finished with pink trim and a pink tulle underskirt.
Night Two
Style by Ali presented its Onduty line, playing with colour and shape through pieces such as barrel-leg trousers, a mustard utility-style jumpsuit and red satin trousers paired with oversized wrap jackets.
Precious Lulu Couture presented a deeply personal womenswear collection, paying homage to her roots through a combination of leopard print and black panther-inspired designs. She shared the runway with four designers from KwaZulu Fashion Hut, an incubation programme that mentors and upskills emerging designers working to establish themselves in the industry. The designers travelled from KwaZulu-Natal for the showcase, marking their second appearance at Soweto Fashion Week.
Actress Nasiphi Ntabeni also made her runway modelling debut, walking for Precious Lulu Couture. She is best known for playing Nontsikelelo “Ntsiki” Mabandla in the popular Mzansi Magic soapie Inimba.
Final Night
Wanda Baloyi’s Wanda Wear sent out light, free-flowing pieces suited to the season, with colour running throughout the collection. A green ball gown and a blue two-piece stood out, alongside black-and-white printed satin sets.
Sello Medupe of Scalo, who has dressed some of South Africa’s biggest celebrities, presented a glamorous and elegant womenswear collection designed for the events calendar. Beaded and embellished mini dresses featured alongside feathered pieces in white and pink, sculptural ruffles and statement sleeves.
Dope Store closed the season with a laid-back, sporty aesthetic, bringing together neon yellow-green hues, tennis-inspired details, baseball-style tops, graphic tees featuring Arthur Ashe prints, and relaxed dresses, shorts and trousers.
The season also marked a new partnership with Black Wines Matter. Entrepreneur Mbali Masike-Malebye, founder of Mbali Brand Solutions, brought small wine businesses from her academy to Soweto Fashion Week under the Black Wines Matter banner.
“Soweto Fashion Week is a place where young Black designers are being backed, and Black Wines Matter is doing the same for young winemakers. Together with Soweto Fashion Week, we’re saying our stories, our brands and our talent belong in every room. Black excellence is not one industry; it is a whole culture rising together,” says Masike-Malebye.
Soweto Fashion Week extends its thanks to this season’s partners and sponsors for their support: City of Johannesburg, Joburg City Theatres, Soweto Theatre, Black Wines Matter Academy, PMC Make-Up Academy, IOL/The National, The Star, Saturday Star and Soweto TV.
About Soweto Fashion Week
Founded in 2011, Soweto Fashion Week has grown from a bold idea into one of South Africa’s significant fashion platforms, dedicated to celebrating and developing the country’s design talent. The platform has launched careers, built industry connections and helped place South African design on the international map.
Soweto Fashion Week is South Africa’s representative to the BRICS International Fashion Federation, bringing the country’s fashion voice into a global dialogue spanning emerging markets across four continents.
