Xhosa designs featured alongside the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Hermes at Paris Fashion Week (PFW) yesterday.
Fashion house MaXhosa Africa showcased a star-studded presentation of its fall/winter 2025-26 PFW collection at the Pavillon Elysée.
In its third season on the official PFW schedule and with a prominent clientele including Beyoncé and Michelle Obama, MaXhosa is the only Africa-based luxury fashion house to have been officially commemorated by the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM), representing the African continent on the world’s most prominent fashion platform.
Entitled Lo Ngu-Mbulelo (Thanksgiving), the collection is an expression of gratitude to the knitwear brand’s Xhosa roots. The presentation also references Umbulelo, a sacred act of giving thanks to bring prosperity.
“The collection pays tribute to our ancestors and encompasses the global influences and relationships that have elevated and shaped MaXhosa Africa on the international stage through the years,” said founder and chief creative director Laduma Ngxokolo. “In its essence, we express gratitude for the many cultures and communities that have embraced and shaped us.
“The day we chose to present at Paris Fashion Week was International Women’s Day and it’s a special tribute to the ‘MaXhosa matriarch’, the late Lindiwe [Ngxokolo],” said Ntsika Tyatya, the company's culture and communications lead. “The collection has a clear marriage of colours, with Tsolo inspiration mixed with Venda, Sotho, and African heritage. The collection infuses invigorating colours and vivid 3D patterns in a retrospective look over the last 15 years since the brand was established.”
The star-studded event featured top South African models, including Lebo and Denetric Malope, with star rapper Maglera Doe Boy opening the show in a surprise performance. TV personality Boity (Boitumelo Thulo) who modelled in the September PFW show, returned as a special guest.
Fashion house Khosi Nkosi is set to debut a runway collection today. It will showcase its Frontline collection, in partnership with African Bank, in a Paris Fashion Week Studio showcase set apart from the main PFW schedule.
The Frontline collection integrates Ankara prints, West African-inspired knitwear and adaptive designs, showcasing professional pieces celebrating an African identity and designed to reflect the resilience and dignity of African Bank’s origins in the 1960s.
South African actress and African Bank ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha was the star of the brand’s March 1 runway show during Milan Fashion Week at the iconic Villa Erba in Lake Como, Italy.
“During fashion week, everybody always brings forth amazing, unique outfits — super chic,” said Mbatha to the Sunday Times. “I’m in awe and deep admiration of the Khosi Nkosi brand and of [founders] Khosi and Thabo [Mukwevho].
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