February 26, 2020 |
It’s always an inspiration to see a new name break into the saturated Paris Fashion Week scene with a lot to say. When he won last year’s LVMH Prize, Johannesburg-based Thebe Magugu made history as the first person from the African continent to do so. Taking all that success back into his homeland and creating magic out of it, Magugu presented his Paris Fashion Week debut with his AW20 collection.
Dedicated to embodying his South African heritage with everything he does, the designer got inspired by the communities of Kimberley and their sometimes harsh and rural but always breathtakingly beautiful. Magugu’s new ideas of wardrobe staples are hand-made and injected by creativity directly referencing this one place in the world that means so much to the designers. Feminine and structural silhouettes include school-girl-like shirts, pleated skirts, trench coats and classic knits, all imagined, designed and made in South Africa. In addition to the clothes on display, Magugu also presented an exhibition of portraits photographed by Kristin-Lee Moolman around Kimberley, showcasing the uniting notions of the clothes in the starring role. Honest, poetic and alluring – it’s the world of Thebe Magugu.
Photographs by Kristin Lee Moolman.
