Luxury South African Clothing Brands That Are Worth the Hype
South Africa’s fashion scene is buzzing with creativity and innovation, boasting a range of brands that reflect the unique style and spirit of the country. Here’s a spotlight on some of the South African clothing brands that are making waves and deserve your attention:
First up, we have Pessimistic, founded by Khomotso Molokwane in 2016. This brand brings bold, edgy streetwear with minimalist designs that challenge fashion norms. Pessimistic aims to blur the lines of what streetwear and high fashion fundamentally is and they do this by altering conventional streetwear mediums and providing their own interpretation of what they see through colour, design and silhouette.
Next is Valhalla, a conceptual brand based in Johannesburg. This brand bridges the realms of high-end and streetwear to produce ready-to-wear garments. Quick fact: the word ‘’Valhalla’’ is derived from Norse mythology and stands for “Hall of the Fallen” which is believed to the Heaven for the greatest warriors.
Cultish is all about breaking boundaries. Cultish is a testament to the craft, each piece made in Cape Town, South Africa, by an in-house team of artisans. These garments, meticulously sourced and crafted, are of premium quality, enduring, and unapologetically authentic. They defy the transient nature of trends, offering instead a timeless aesthetic that sets the trends others follow.
GALXBOY is a South African streetwear brand which has its roots in the underground and rebellious youth street culture that dominates the urban centres of Mzanzi. GALXBOY is the brainchild of Thatiso Dube who is the founder and head designer of the brand. The GALXBOY aesthetic is characterized by its innovative designs brought to life through a 21st-century African design philosophy that showcases the modern aspirations of South African youth.
Created by Robyn Keyser in November 2016, Artclub and Friends is a brand that all artists can call home. A brand where artists can express themselves freely and trust that support will always be available to them on their journeys. Beyond making beautiful clothes to inspire you to get up and chase your dreams, they exist to reconnect people to the profound process of making clothes - the stories of the people and their hands that make it all possible.
Grade Africa, founded by Bonga Ntlwana in 2016, showcases African culture with bold patterns and vibrant colours. This streetwear brand, born in South Africa, has a mission to inspire individuals to elevate themselves and their communities. Their name pays homage to the foundational first grade, where one learns important fundamentals that serve as a springboard for future growth and success. In addition to their retail locations, they pop up in cities across the world from time to time, having previously appeared in New York, London, Dubai, Lagos, and more.
Sol-Sol, is a South African menswear label making good quality basics with a focus on fit, fabric and design. They walk the line between menswear and streetwear blending clean silhouettes with muted colour tones. SOL-SOL offers minimalist streetwear with clean designs and high-quality materials.
For luxury and sophistication, check out Swank Jozi, it started as a side hustle project by high school teenagers to express themselves and their love for creative fashion interest and exchanging clothing pieces from their school back packs to friends and family in the beginning of 2013. S.W.A.N.K is a South African Street inspired and provoking brand that uses clothing for creative storytelling and social commentary.
Raion, founded by Rishi Love and her boyfriend Ryan Sexton in 2021.based in the heart of Cape Town, Raion blends contemporary fashion with traditional craftsmanship, focusing on sustainable and stylish pieces.
Lastly, Micael Matthews, founded by Micael Matthews in 2017, brings high fashion with exquisite tailoring and luxurious fabrics. Prior to its conception, BABYXDADDY, a brand he initially constructed in 2015, also inspired by street fashion, paved the way for Micael Matthews. A transition that refined, defined and fabricated the concept.
Born during an exhilarating time where luxury brands are curating an open and inclusive dialogue in the industry, Micael Matthews creations echo the evolution of streetwear, where street meets luxury and primarily, luxury meets meaning.
These brands represent the vibrant and diverse culture of South Africa. Support local fashion and embrace unique, stylish clothing! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit that notification bell for more fashion content. See you next time!