SOUTH AFRICA MENSWEAR FASHION WEEK 2026 and SOUTH AFRICA FASHION WEEK 2026: THE KEY TRENDS
black coffee, imprint, david tlale, house of ole, fred rich, maxjenny, haku, ephymol, something good studio, KAREN MONK KLIJNSTRA, IDOL STITCHES, fundudzi, GERT-JOHAN COETZEE, VICTORI and more
Barrel Shapes, Bright Patterns and Maximalist Silhouettes from Africa’s Most Southernmost Tip Speak of Playful Theatrics and High Glamour, All Grounded in Solid Craftmanship.
Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs, at South Africa Fashion Week
Image Credit South Africa Fashion Week and South Africa Menswear Fashion Week.
Two of South Africa’s top fashion events took place in the sunny month of April 2026 – South Africa Fashion Week showed collections in the ultra-glamorous city of gold, Johannesburg, and South Africa Menswear Fashion Week opted instead for cool, stylish and laid-back Cape Town as its setting. Both sets of shows were eagerly anticipated, both delivered the goods, and more.
The collections showcased across the board reflected the bold, dramatic spirit of fashion in South Africa. There were also trends that beautifully reflected the very different characteristics of the two cities. Here are some of the themes:
Eighties Maximalism was a dominant trend, characterized by power shoulders, bold primary colours, sequins, and dramatic accessories. For menswear, this translated into looks like a bright yellow coat over a black tailored suit and sequined, puffed-sleeve pieces from designers like Zamaswazi and House of Ole.
The world was indeed our stage! South Africa Fashion Week opened with a spectacular show by veteran designer Gert-Johan Coetzee, who blended glamorous couture with aerial acrobatics, cabaret, and storytelling in his “Behind the Crimson Door” collection. The show featured stunning fringe and ombré pieces that came alive with movement.
Puff skirts, barrel jeans and bubble silhouettes were seen in many places. These spoke of volume and playfulness through soft, rounded forms. This trend extended into menswear, with designers like Anunes introducing bubble pants and On Duty Jeans showcasing flared and puffed trouser shapes.
Hot pink – from blush to shocking pink and crimson – was definitely the ‘pop’ shade of the season, with cactus green a close contender. Both these shades countered the earthy browns (a current global trend we’ve seen everywhere, from runways to high street stores) and monochromatics. Virginal white featured in many collections (in fact we couldn’t resist giving the ‘snow-leopard’ prints of the ‘African queens and kings’ a category of their own!)
No African fashion week is complete without an extraordinary set of patterned surface designs, and the inimitable Imprint won hands down with their unbeatable set of irresistable Pan-African prints.
Pull on your African kaftan, grab your straw hat and sunspecs and join us on your mobile by the pool for this season’s joyous trends from The southernmost tip of the African continent.
BEHIND THE SCENES AT SOUTH AFRICA FASHION WEEK 2026
Beautiful people, fabulous hair and make-up, sensational fashionistas! The glamour factor was sky-high. Let’s kick off with a glimpse behind the scenes…
THE KEY TRENDS AT SOUTH AFRICA MENSWEAR FASHION WEEK AND SOUTH AFRICA FASHION WEEK S/S 2026:
1. MONO=CHROMES
Monochromatic shades emerged as a quiet counterpoint to the season’s bold riot of patterns.
Eighties power shoulders and colourful sequins indeed grabbed the attention, but some designers opted for subtlety: minimalist white, earthy browns, bright yellow and head-to-toe black.
These single-colour statements were anything but dull – in fact designers like David Tlale, GDWN, Lele Winnifred and Helon Melon proved that often the most powerful statement is made in a solitary, unbroken shade.
Mdava by David Tlale, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Mdava by David Tlale, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Mdava by David Tlale, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
GDWN, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Black Coffee, at South Africa Fashion Week
House of Ole, at South Africa Fashion Week
The Intern by David Tlale, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
GDWN, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Lele Winnifred, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Helon Melon, at South Africa Fashion Week
The Intern by David Tlale, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
2. AFRICAN SNOW QUEEN/KING VIBES
Hello virginal white (and goodbye, just for the moment, hot pink)! We thought this cool trend is deserving of its very own category out with the general trend of ‘monochromatics.
This trend is a deliberate nod to luxury, purity and elegance. Think regal snow queen white and ermine-like grey, with all its connotations, and you’ll get the picture.
Imprint’s snow-leopard-like ensembles looked opulent enough for an African-queen/king, whereas GDWN’s oversized ivory crochet gown oozed sophisticated simplicity, and Lele Winnifred’s all-white creations were a hundred percent ‘high-altitude chic’.
Designers showcased their frosty creations as ancestral heirloom pieces but also succeeded in showing them as most wearable. All you need is an occasion! We’d argue arctic armour has never looked more covetable.
Lele Winnifred, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Idol Stitches, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Imprint, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Imprint, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
GDWN, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Lele Winnifred, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
3. FILM NOIR
The mood is intimate, slightly risqué, definitely melancholic, and always elegant. Think urban nightlife, cabaret and shadows, and you’ve nailed this trend.
In cinema, film noir is about shadows, moral ambiguity, and urban nightlife. Fashion that captures this feeling isn’t just black clothing—it’s about texture, contrast, and silhouette.
Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs paints a picture of the ultimate seductress whereas Haku adds a sense of avant-garde futurism to the feeling of film noir. Victori’s black denim coat over a high cut leotard and over-the-knee boots oozes sensuality. Bring on the night!
Haku, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Haku, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs, at South Africa Fashion Week
Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs, at South Africa Fashion Week
Victori, at South Africa Fashion Week
4.FOREVER STRIPES
Will the classic stripe ever be out of fashion? Arguably one of the most enduring, versatile and flattering forms of surface design, stripes can shift from nautical casual to high-art sophistication in the blink of an eye. Think Coco Chanel’s Breton tops of the 1930s – a symbol of effortless chic (and female emancipation!).
Toi Toi Apparel’s boy’s ‘sailor suit’ complete with its knots and nautical ribbons, is just adorable! Whereas Maxjenny’s giant diagonal stripes are a stroke of pure genius. We almost adore the sailor’s scarf that Toi Toi Apparel’s model is sporting as much as his Peter Pan ears!
However, Karen Monk Klijnstra’s stripy ‘liquorice allsorts’ coat, has to be our ultimate favourite.
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Toi Toi Apparel, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Fred Rich, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Toi Toi Apparel, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Wee
At Karen Monk Klijnstra, South Africa Mneswear Fashion Week
3. HOT PINK RISING
Pink – but make it red-hot please! Pink in every shade – from blush to cerise, was undeniably
designers’ ‘pop’ colour of the season’s collections.
Maxjenny’s ‘architectural’ print kaftan with its matching stove-pipe slacks stands out as one of the most covetable pieces from the shows. We’re totally sold, and can think of innumerable places to sport that ensemble!
Menswear also got their share of pink this season: Zamswazi and House of Ole, in particular, produced very covetable suits in the hottest colour of the season.
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Zamswazi, at South Africa Fashion Week
House of Ole, at South Africa Fashion Week
Gert-Johan Coetzee, at South Africa Fashion Week
4.GREEN ENERGY
Poison ivy or renewal? The green-eyed monster or earthy calm? Green is one of those colours that has many connotations, mostly positive.
Designers like TOVCH had a love-affair with green this season. They opted to style their barrel jeans with emerald green, looking fresh and contemporary. Their monochromatic green women’s 3-piece is certainly very, very bold! Karen Monk Klijnstra’s cape is a thing of beauty and the satin suit created by Maxjenny would take one many places.
TOVCH, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
TOVCH, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
TOVCH, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
At Karen Monk Klijnstra, South Africa Mneswear Fashion Week
5.THE WORLD IS A STAGE
Many designers opted for theatrics this season. Eclectic ensembles that speak of storytelling, created in fabrics that, in turn, tell their own stories, were seen in many places.
Scottish tartan rubbed shoulders with West African prints; florals, paisley and stripes existed in harmony, using the body to imagine and narrate tales of near and far.
A master of the art of creating thespian pieces is Karen Monk Klijnstra, whose creations are inspired and multi-dimensional. The colourful luggage that accompanied the ensembles further adds to the theme of travel, exotic locations and dramatics. Fred Rich’s eclecticism also needs a well-deserved mention.
Every outfit is a reason to play a role!
At Karen Monk Klijnstra, South Africa Mneswear Fashion Week
At Karen Monk Klijnstra, South Africa Mneswear Fashion Week
At Karen Monk Klijnstra, South Africa Mneswear Fashion Week
TOVCH, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Fred Rich, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
6.FINE AND DANDY
Think Regency-era Beau Brummell for reference! The dandy is a philosopher of the art of the appearance, someone for whom fashion is an art form. Understated and somewhat obsessive, the dandy insists that a silhouette speaks louder than words and that not paying attention to every detail of one’s dress is a mortal sin…
South African designers House of Ole, Imprint and Maxjenny nailed a very African version of this look.
Imprint, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
House of Ole, at South Africa Fashion Week
House of Ole, at South Africa Fashion Week
House of Ole, at South Africa Fashion Week
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
7. PATTERN RULES SUPREME
Pattern is synonymous with Pan-African fashion. Every country on the continent prides itself on its own home-grown version of patterning and prints. Frequently European influences are mixed with the indigenous ones to create surface designs that are coveted the world over.
A good example of the latter is Maxjenny’s realistic, glowing prints this season. Something Good Studio achieved their unique patterned look by means of jacquard knits, to great effect. The mermaid-shape printed gown by Idol Stitches deserves an honorary mention: it is definitely fit for an African queen!
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Fred Rich, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Maxjenny, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Something Good Studio, at South Africa Fashion Week
Idol Stitches, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Henri Uduku, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Imprint, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Imprint, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
8. EIGHTIES VIBES
The Eighties are now regarded as ‘proper’ vintage, and designers are embracing this era with renewed vigour.
Bold primary colours, ruching and oversized shoulders give a nostalgic nod to the 1980s, where shoulder pads, big hair and bright colours were what characterised the era.
On Duty Jeans succeeded to marry the Eighties’ immense shoulders with a contemporary barrel shape jacket sleeve and trouser pipe. The effect is almost futuristic. Think Cyndi Lauper, and you’ve nailed Fred Rich’s look. Oh, and Haku gave us a wonderful Lara Croft impersonation! Gert-Johan Coetzee added to the Eighties revival, embracing these in-your-face, not-so-subtle shades…
We suggest you surrender to these Eighties vibes – we suspect they’re here to stay for a while…
Gert-Johan Coetzee, at South Africa Fashion Week
Emelia D, at South Africa Fashion Week
On Duty Jeans, at South Africa Fashion Week
On Duty Jeans, at South Africa Fashion Week
Fred Rich, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Haku, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
Henri Uduku, at South Africa Menswear Fashion Week
9. THE PUFF, BARREL AND BUBBLE SHAPE
This was the season of the organic shape. Soft, enveloping, rounded silhouettes full of volume were seen across many collections.
On Duty Jeans, for example, showed flared and puffed trousers and Helon Melon’s skirts had a definite barrel shape. Black Coffee’s ensembles were generous, with volume created through pleats, ruffles and smart pattern cutting whereas Victori’s barrel jeans followed a trend we’ve seen across many global fashion weeks.
Helon Melon, at South Africa Fashion Week
Black Coffee, at South Africa Fashion Week
Helon Melon, at South Africa Fashion Week
Victori, at South Africa Fashion Week
Black Coffee, at South Africa Fashion
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