One thing about South Africa is that the talent here is limitless, and young creatives continue to make a name for themselves through fashion, design, photography and the digital sphere –sometimes merging multiple disciplines into one. This year, a few standout talents earned their stripes, graduating top of their class and giving us much to celebrate. These are the emerging creatives on our radar.
THANDO NTULI
@munkus
Designer Thando Ntuli is on the rise. The Sowetan-born creative founded her clothing line, MUNKUS, in 2019 and has steadily been working to forge her brand as one that represents South Africa’s rich cultural heritage, powerful women and the importance of family ties. Earlier this year, she won South African Fashion Week’s (SAFW) New Talent Search competition and showcased her collection ‘Sisendleleni’ on the runway. She’s since shown at Lagos Fashion Week as well as in Kenya for Rwanda and Kenya Fashion Week in November. Her designs have captured attention for their vibrant prints, voluminous silhouettes and asymmetrical and layered structures. At the heart of her brand, Thando says she wants to use the power of storytelling in her clothes to allow women to be their most confident selves.
MISHAAL GANGARAM
@mishaalganjaz
Conceptual photographer and artist Mishaal Gangaram’s signature aesthetic is informed by struggles of identity and mental health and gives a platform to unheard voices. He’s collaborated with a range of brands, designers and music artists, and Design Indaba selected him as one of its Emerging Creatives Class of 2022. He previously shot with GQ South Africa in collaboration with Calvin Klein and has worked with Kamo Mphela, Thebe Magugu and Adidas.
FIKILE SOKHULU
@sokhulufikile
Fikile Sokhulu, a designer and winner of SAFW’s New Talent category, strikes a balance between style, simplicity, sustainability and social impact. Her garments are ethereal and feminine, and her most recent collection, ‘Turning Gold into Dust’, explores the notion of sacred beauty even further. Earlier this year, Fikile was one of 13 artists in the Standard Bank Art Gallery exhibition, ‘We Are Culture’, curated by Bee Diamondhead. She was also previously selected as one of four designers for the Fashion Bridges project, a collaboration between South Africa and Italy, including SAFW and Milan Fashion Week, to encourage a cultural design exchange. She’s also worked on a collection with Mr Price.
MASEGO MORGAN
@masegomorgan
Masego ‘Coconut Cracked’ Morgan is a fashion influencer who uses her online presence to champion issues around race, ethics, sustainability and eco-consciousness. She’s the Co-founder of both CNSC, an online platform that explores an inclusive approach to sustainable living, and Worldrobe, which encourages a culture of community repair and sustainable fashion practices via a virtual reality community. She landed her first magazine cover this year, was previously nominated for a Sustainable Influencer award, and regularly features on various media platforms to bring conscious fashion awareness to the masses.
SHELLEY MOKOENA
@shelleymokoena
Shelley Mokoena, a fashion and design tastemaker, founded her clothing brand, Connade, in 2019, renowned for its modern architectural pieces. This year, she ventured into the design space by curating the Wasomi Experience, an exhibition focussing on POC female creatives that invites its audience to experience texture, fabric and design like never before. She participated in the Samsung Bespoke Refrigerator Challenge and served fierce looks on the ’Gram, promoting her unique designs.
This article was originally published in Glamour’s Dec/January Party Issue. Grab your digital copy here.
