Berliner Tageblatt - Soweto Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 Showcases Emerging Talent and New Partnerships

Soweto Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2026 season concluded on November 7 at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani, presenting a diverse lineup of emerging designers, student collections, and established names sharing a single runway.

The three-day event, running from November 5 to 7, featured several notable debuts and industry collaborations. Actress Nasiphi Ntabeni made her runway modelling debut walking for Precious Lulu Couture. Ntabeni is known for her role as Nontsikelelo "Ntsiki" Mabandla in the popular Mzansi Magic soapie Inimba.

The season opened with RFL Studios presenting MORWAMOTHO, a menswear collection named after the Setswana phrase for "son of man." The ready-to-wear line combined elevated street fashion with solid and printed denim, suiting, natural cottons, and linens. The looks were accessorized with printed bucket hats and fringed canvas totes.

Lethu Textiles followed with bold African prints, showcasing wide-leg trousers in a vivid patchwork-style design with a ruffled, high-slit hem. The brand also presented a strapless lime-green floral dress featuring pink trim and a pink tulle underskirt.

Style by Ali displayed its Onduty line, focusing on color and shape through barrel pants, mustard utility-style jumpsuits, and red satin trousers paired with oversized wrap jackets.

Precious Lulu Couture presented a deeply personal womenswear collection that paid homage to the designer’s roots, incorporating leopard print and black panther motifs. The showcase included four designers from the KwaZulu Fashion Hut, an incubation program designed to mentor and upskill emerging designers. These designers traveled from KwaZulu-Natal for their second appearance at Soweto Fashion Week.

Wanda Baloyi’s Wanda Wear contributed light, free-flowing pieces suited to the season, with color running through the collection. Standout items included a green ball gown, a blue two-piece set, and printed satin sets in black and white.

Sello Medupe of Scalo, who has dressed several of South Africa’s biggest celebrities, presented a glamorous women’s collection designed for the events calendar. The lineup featured beaded and embellished mini dresses alongside feathered pieces in white and pink, sculpted ruffles, and statement sleeves.

Dope Store closed the season with a laid-back, sporty energy. The collection included neon yellow-green tennis details, baseball-style tops, graphic tees featuring Arthur Ashe prints, and relaxed dresses, shorts, and trousers.

The Spring/Summer 2026 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 the event 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," said Masike-Malebye. "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."

Soweto Fashion Week acknowledged its partners and sponsors for their support this season: 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.

D.Schneider--BTB