Leeroy Esbend Leeroy Esbend

The Business of Fashion: How SAFW Fueled an Industry

South African Fashion Week has never been just about pretty clothes - it’s been about building a fashion industry. From the start, SAFW emphasised that fashion is a serious business with real economic potential. Over 27 years, it evolved into a powerhouse platform that doesn’t merely showcase style but actively fuels commerce, jobs, and growth.

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Leeroy Esbend Leeroy Esbend

From Runway to Revolution: Milestones in 21 Years of SAFW

In over two decades, South African Fashion Week has delivered a rich timeline of milestone moments - each marking a new chapter in the country’s fashion narrative. From shifting schedules to iconic venues, from breakthrough collections to industry “firsts,” these milestones chart SAFW’s evolution from a single annual show to a biannual, multi-faceted showcase that it is today.

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Leeroy Esbend Leeroy Esbend

Lucilla Booyzen’s Vision: Building a Fashion Ecosystem

Every great movement has a visionary at its helm, and for South African Fashion Week that visionary is Lucilla Booyzen. A former model turned producer extraordinaire, Booyzen dreamed of an inclusive, thriving fashion industry long before it existed.

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Leeroy Esbend Leeroy Esbend

Black Carpet Beginnings: The Birth of SA Fashion Week

In August 1997, South African Fashion Week (SAFW) rolled out a black carpet in a white marquee at Johannesburg’s Mandela Square, boldly announcing itself open for business. This inaugural event was unlike any fashion showcase the country had seen, 17 visionary designers came together to present cohesive collections under one tent, placing local design talent at center stage.

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Lucilla Booyzen Lucilla Booyzen

Ephymol - A Signature Journey with South African Fashion Week

I first got to know Ephraim Molingoana - the creative force behind Ephymol, long before his label lit up the South African Fashion Week runway.  We met when he was a model and stylist, already admired for his incredible personal style.  

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Lucilla Booyzen Lucilla Booyzen

The Jacques I Know

The Jacques I know is a fearless creator with an energy that fills every room he walks into. He is bold, unapologetic, and never afraid to push boundaries - whether it’s with colour, silhouette, or the way he reimagines what South African luxury can look like.

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Guest User Guest User

Fashion is the language you speak without words

Decoding the style of others and rethinking your own

Have you ever looked at someone and thought:
“They must work in a bank.”
“She’s definitely in fashion.”
“He looks like an architect… or maybe a DJ.”

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