Five South African designers are set to showcase a collaborative bespoke collection at New York Fashion Week on Wednesday as part of the #GiveHerACrown campaign.
The runway presentation at Chelsea Factory, led by The Change Collective in conjunction with Jaguar South Africa, Cape Town interior design studio ARRCC and the African Fashion Council in New York — celebrates South Africa’s 30 years of democracy, highlighting emerging talent, artistic freedom, and cultural expression.
At a welcome reception held on Friday at the South African consulate-general in New York, the designers spoke about the #GiveHerACrown campaign, which provides bursary funds and masterclasses for emerging designers.
Designer Thando Ntuli, 27, creative director of MUNKUS, blends bold generational heritage with a contemporary edge. “This sustainable collection for New York Fashion Week is called Iphupho, which translates to ‘a dream’, and it takes on a child’s perspective,” she told the Sunday Times. “From a child’s perspective, there are no boundaries. They see everything as new and they take in colour and objects as something amazing.”
Designer Gugu Peteni, who founded Afri-modern streetwear brand Gugubygugu in 2019, garnered accolades at the Design Indaba Top 40 and Project Runway SA.
“My collection is called ‘Do Not Tumble Dry’, inspired by women’s empowerment and the notion of women not shrinking themselves. We use oversized garments, we use mohair, silk, leather, and wool to illustrate how women are stretching themselves out to be whatever and whoever they want to be.”
Keneilwe Mothoa, who cofounded the brand Neimil, merges fashion with interior design, blending bold aesthetics with functional elegance.
“Leeto ka La ka, which translates to ‘my journey’ in English, finds influences in Sepedi and the Ndebele tribe with beading, pleating, and visually interesting textures and shapes,” she said.
Tsakani Mashaba, who established African art and textile design label HAMETHOP, says her New York collection is called Resonance.
“I had to scale down everything, simplify and declutter, using organic materials and merino wool. I’m Tsonga so there’s a celebratory element that comes from who I am, which is demonstrated by pops of colour through the runway.”
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Manthe Ribane Liebmann’s collection, inspired by a women’s aura and integrity, is entitled M. Aura.
“The inspiration comes from a woman’s resilience and sculptured aura,” she said. “The runway pieces are inspired by sculpture, by canvas — pieces that resonate with different shapes that were inspired by my previous designs.”
Irene Kakooza, communications manager of JLR SA and Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “#GiveHerACrown started in 2020 and the campaign is a convergence of storytelling, arts, creativity and celebrating and empowering women. Every year, we have a different rendition of that creative interpretation. Last year’s Crown Collection was displayed in New York at the South African Consulate General offices.
“The African Fashion Council, led by Chuks Collins, was our New York-based curator. Having showcased his own collections at NYFW a few times, Chuks knew exactly what we needed, and we were so lucky to have his guidance along with the ARRCC from South Africa to assist the five designers in their travel and show logistics.”
New York Fashion Week includes spring/summer 2025 runway presentations from designers including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Christian Cowan, Proenza Schouler, Off-White, the Global Fashion Collective, Evan Hirsch, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, LaQuan Smith and Sergio Hudson.
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