A creative collaboration of high design and heritage – Singita and Thebe Magugu

The ‘Heritage Series’ is a collection of nine dresses depicting mother and child from nine African cultures. Magugu collaborated with a talented illustrator, Phathu Nembilwi, to capture the essence of each tribe – the age-old customs and joyous, maternal love. Each dress in this collection represents South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi & Swaziland’s nine prominent tribes: VaTsonga, Ndebele, VhaVenda, Zulu, Basotho, BaPedi, Xhosa, Tswana, Swati.

Says Thebe, “Seeing the women in my family have to carry children on their back and supplies on their head always reminded me of Afro totem poles; a showcase of utter physical and symbolic strength, and I wanted to pay homage to this memory.”

South African-born Thebe Magugu is a rising star in international fashion, putting the contemporary African narrative into the spotlight with his incredible creativity and ability to translate heritage into a modern world. He rose to prominence after he received the highly-coveted LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize in 2019 and as a finalist in the 2021 International Woolmark Prize. Since 2017, Thebe has released eleven solo collections under his namesake label, as well as several capsules in collaboration with Dior, Adidas, and AZ Factory.

The link between Singita’s 100-year purpose, and Thebe Magugu’s ‘Heritage Series’, is a like-minded commitment to the preservation and protection of Africa’s most valuable assets – vulnerable wilderness for Singita; and touching heritage stories and African cultures for Magugu. Singita proudly celebrates contemporary design and creativity in Africa and takes influence from the continent in many aspects of the guest experience from local ingredients and flavours in menus; to art and design found at the lodges, as well as wellness treatments using traditional methods.

For more information, click here for our fact sheet or contact Kim Peter, GM of Singita Boutique & Gallery – kim@singitastores.co.za

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About Thebe Magugu

“THEBE MAGUGU” is a luxury South African fashion brand. Offering ready-to-wear collections while exploring parallel concepts through multidisciplinary capsule projects. Between pillar practices of cultural honour, novelty and uncompromising quality, it establishes an identity marked by self-evolving timelessness. Sleek, forward-looking design intersects with motifs & details that draw from our continent’s storied past, complex present and exciting imagined futures, providing smart, multifaceted clothes that mirror the inspiring qualities of the people they are made for.

www.thebemagugu.com or to follow Thebe on Instagram.

https://www.thebemagugu.com/faculty-press/voice/mother-and-child-heritage-dress/