SOUTH AFRICA MENSWEAR FASHION WEEK SS 2022

by Cecile Paul · Published August 26, 2021 · Updated January 24, 2024

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Unapologetic COLOUR, Celebratory PRINTS and Quintessential African DESIGN rocked South Africa Menswear Week SS 2022 in Cape Town.

Image Credit South Africa Menswear Week 2022

http://www.menswearweek.co.za/

More is more! Prints, colours and embellishments – at Masa Mara

The very best of the established and upcoming designers in and around South Africa (and greater Africa) participated in a bi-annual predominantly Menswear show that exploded with celebratory Spring & Summer colours and hot weather-inspired printed textiles. To say the shows sizzled with raw, unadulterated trend-setting creativity is an understatement!

Graduate show collections

Graduate show collections

We Are Egg was the venue for the live shows 2022

Models pre-show at We Are Egg

The SS 2022 shows also hosted a compilation of experimental graduate talent, which served as a refreshing springboard for the more established brands to strut their stuff. Due to covid-19 restrictions Menswear Week was a hybrid of traditional live and pre-recorded digital shows, the live shows taking place inside the custom-built live-performance area at the outrageously fashionable concept store We Are Egg in designer shopping complex Cavendish Square. The ‘behind the scenes’ shenanigans were (almost) as glamorous as those on the actual catwalk.

See our feature on We Are Egg on Pynck:

https://pynck.com/2020/12/we-are-egg-new-concept-store.html

Summer shades – behind the scenes

Complementary colours added vibrancy to the collections

Pre-show final tweaks

Aviator shades, a straw hat and camouflage contours

Hair attention pre-show

Gold accessories add some glitz

Bold prints and bolder accessories

There was no shying away from the bright and the bold!

Fifties-style glamour in a head-scarf and shades

Contour camouflage make-up

Statement accessories

Gold 20s flapper headgear complements a bright yellow ensemble

Colour, colour, colour! And more brightness from the make-up artist’s palette

A floppy hat in a bold print

It was a visual feast of extraordinary proportions, ranging from, at one end of the spectrum, demure and restrained pastels, to designers having lavishly piled on copious layers of the brightest of print collages. Print on print on print was at the order of the day, with various brands extending the print theme to accessories – hats, bags, luggage and even bicycles and surfboards were equally embellished!

Pastels and two-tones – at XM Creations

Gorgeous pastels and a selection of shorts – at Lucky Luke

Pastels and bold sleeves

Giving you my heart! – at XM Creations

Have a (pastel) heart! – at XM Creations

Tie-dyed pastel dungarees – at We Are Egg

A standout collection at South Africa Menswear SS 2022 was Rwandan-based Masa Mara with their uber cheery African prints, mixing traditional tribal wear with modern sportswear. We loved the onesie ‘wetsuit’ and surfboard combo, all embellished in delicious prints! This collection is a true celebration of all African Cultures and their irrepressible vibrancy. Another brand that needs a special mention is Imprint, a Cape Town-based luxury African design house, specializing in fashion-forward lifestyle pieces based on streetwear. We adore their zebra-print kaftan for one-stop glamour-and-comfort!

Palazzo trousers and a wrap top – at Masa Mara

An ensemble (including luggage) equally fit for Ibiza, Bali, Machu Pichu or Lagos! – at Masa Mara

Padded sportswear hoodie – at Masa Mara

Prints to take you on a journey! – at Masa Mara

Elegance in a cut-away sleeve jacket – at We Are Egg

Dungarees with a message – at We Are Egg

A squiggy printed dress and fabulous platforms – at We Are Egg

Ready for the surf, printed surfboard & all – at Masa Mara

Not shying away from bold prints – at Imprint

Suited, African style – at Imprint

More is more – at Imprint

Turquiose blended with bold prints – at Imprint

Safari jacket – at CNEXOR

Colour – as with most African shows – was a given, often deep and saturated primary hues, ranging from shocking pink to canary yellow. Yellow, in fact, was one of the key colours at the shows, with various designers utilizing it as the signature colour in their collections. Contrasting and complementary colours – such as yellow juxtaposed with turquoise and orange with blue – created vibrancy in collections that were already boiling over with African enthusiasm and energy.

Complementary shades – at African Salad

Glamourous elegance – at Imprint

Yellow, yellow and more sunshine yellow! – at Imprint

Sage green sportswear – at Forge Studios

Elegance in this maxi dress with matching hat and contrasting cummerbund – at Imprint

Earthy boldness and leg-of-mutton sleeves – at Bernali

The ever-classic duo of black-and-white also wowed, most notably so those by brands Imprint and XM Creations, who went to town with their gorgeous two-tone pieces.

Black and white polka dots – at XM Creations

A shorts ensemble with a beaded neckpiece – at Imprint

A mid-riff-baring polka dot shirt – at XM Creations

Two-tone, military-style – at African Salad

An elegant maxi dress with straw hat – at Imprint

There was a fusion, fluidity and crossover of what has traditionally been labelled ‘menswear’ and ‘womenswear’ pieces – similar to what most of the global fashion weeks showcased over the past year. A refreshing display of indiscriminate gender-fluid designs was on offer, the choices overwhelming.

Sportswear-inspired pieces rubbed shoulders with the avant-garde and often the lines between genres were blurred. Unsurprisingly shorts featured in many collections – summer in Africa requires a wardrobe full of these!