The Spring/Summer 2025 Collections of South African Fashion Week (SAFW) sashayed into The Forum, Hyde Park, last night—and let’s just say, the looks were louder than a runway heel on polished marble.
Front Row (or as the fashion set says, FROW) glittered with the glam squad in full formation: @KimJayde, @Margo_Fargo, and @AislynnPadz were the holy trinity of trend, captured oh-so-flawlessly by @KJProductionsRSAin visuals that scream editorial elegance. TV inserts? Oh, honey—they’re en route, courtesy of @DossierMagazineSA. Stay tuned and stay styled.
Now in its 28th iconic season, SAFW is not just threading garments—it’s stitching legacies. The overarching theme? Quiet Luxury—a refined rebellion against the loud logos of yesteryear. Think soft tailoring, whispering wealth, and fabrics that glide, not shout.
Young, Gifted & Seam-Stressed for Success
Leading the charge was Jessica-Ann Shepherd, founder of Oddity, debuting her winning collection from the New Talent Search. A tonal tour de force that blended futurism with folklore, her designs were less “trendy” and more timeless time travel.
And let’s talk semi-finalists—Estella James, Ecstatic, James Presents, Juanie, My Roots, Ngano Design Africa, Kaparipari, and Taylored Substance—each a blueprint for sustainable style and responsible design. One will win, but all eight already belong in fashion’s hall of fame.
Now in its 28th iconic season, SAFW is not just threading garments—it’s stitching legacies. The overarching theme? Quiet Luxury—a refined rebellion against the loud logos of yesteryear. Think soft tailoring, whispering wealth, and fabrics that glide, not shout.
Young, Gifted & Seam-Stressed for Success
Leading the charge was Jessica-Ann Shepherd, founder of Oddity, debuting her winning collection from the New Talent Search. A tonal tour de force that blended futurism with folklore, her designs were less “trendy” and more timeless time travel.
And let’s talk semi-finalists—Estella James, Ecstatic, James Presents, Juanie, My Roots, Ngano Design Africa, Kaparipari, and Taylored Substance—each a blueprint for sustainable style and responsible design. One will win, but all eight already belong in fashion’s hall of fame.
Gert-Johan Coetzee’s Celestial Homecoming
Then came the mic drop. The master of red carpet magic, Gert-Johan Coetzee, closed Day One with “The Arrival”—an interstellar pilgrimage that fused cosmic couture with ancestral codes. It was glittering, grounded, and deeply poetic. A show? No. A fashion séance.
Since launching in 2009, Coetzee’s legacy includes his bursary program at the Northwest School of Design, and last night’s runway confirmed: the stars are indeed aligned for his protégés.
Let’s Hear it for the Sponsors
Behind the seams? A coalition of style-savvy sponsors who bring the fabric fantasy to life. Isuzu Motors South Africa, Cruz Vodka, and L’Oréal Paris South Africa are more than logos—they’re the wind beneath fashion’s wings.
Their support emboldens SAFW’s ethos: fashion isn’t just about looking good, it’s about doing good—responsibly, sustainably, and unapologetically African.
Then came the mic drop. The master of red carpet magic, Gert-Johan Coetzee, closed Day One with “The Arrival”—an interstellar pilgrimage that fused cosmic couture with ancestral codes. It was glittering, grounded, and deeply poetic. A show? No. A fashion séance.
Since launching in 2009, Coetzee’s legacy includes his bursary program at the Northwest School of Design, and last night’s runway confirmed: the stars are indeed aligned for his protégés.
Let’s Hear it for the Sponsors
Behind the seams? A coalition of style-savvy sponsors who bring the fabric fantasy to life. Isuzu Motors South Africa, Cruz Vodka, and L’Oréal Paris South Africa are more than logos—they’re the wind beneath fashion’s wings.
Their support emboldens SAFW’s ethos: fashion isn’t just about looking good, it’s about doing good—responsibly, sustainably, and unapologetically African.
Fashionistas, the runway is still hot, and Day Two is bursting at the seams with ISUZU Luxury Collections, Tiger Blue, and a fabric fairy tale told by Rubicon’s own Hangwani Nengovhela. If you’re not at Hyde Park, sweetie—you’re missing the moment.
🎟️ Tickets still available on Quicket
📧 Media Queries: nicola@safashionweek.co.za
So zip up your finest, charge those ring lights, and meet us where the hemline meets the headline. This isn’t just Fashion Week—it’s Fashion Weak-in-the-knees.
