ABOUT

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana is a Lesotho-born, South African fashion designer and founder of her eponymous luxury heritage label. Known for her signature Basotho blanket-inspired designs, Thabo transforms cultural symbols into globally celebrated fashion statements. Her breakout moment came in 2011 with the “Rose Coat” at the Durban July, earning Best Dressed and widespread media acclaim.

A graduate of Nelson Mandela University (Most Creative Award, 2008), Thabo launched her label in 2009. She later expanded her global footprint as a Mandela Washington Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin.

Her work has graced runways in Vancouver, London, Milan, and Paris, and featured in Vogue Italia. She is the recipient of the African Creative Industry Award and Lesotho’s Cultural Appreciation Award (both 2024), the Impact Award for Design Excellence (2014), and was nominated for Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer at the 2025 South African National Arts & Culture Awards. She is also the first fashion designer to hold an artist residency at the Iziko South African National Gallery.

Rooted in Basotho heritage, Thabo’s designs celebrate African identity through storytelling and innovation.