00:00South Africa's fashion scene is among the most vibrant in Africa.
00:09Today, designers are reimagining heritage and sustainability,
00:13turning local traditions and recycled fabrics into trends that resonate worldwide.
00:19Cindy Sukomalo is one of the country's leading voices.
00:22Her label marries functionality with beauty, clothes designed to last generations.
00:27I want to make clothes that are going to last and be handed over.
00:31So I do think as a designer, yes, we've got the beauty side of things,
00:34but we've also got the functionality and I really want to make sure we maintain that functionality.
00:39Kumalo's career soared during the pandemic when she became a group winner of the prestigious LVMH Prize,
00:45one of the world's top awards for young designers,
00:49backed by French luxury group behind Louis Vuitton and Dior.
00:52In COVID, I was very lucky to be a group winner of the LVMH Prize,
00:58which really did uplift our business.
01:00And now we are stocked at Netta Porter and we've got amazing international stockers.
01:06And I think it's just really, it put a huge spotlight on who we are.
01:09Now stocked internationally, she still insists sustainability and ethics remain at the heart of her brand.
01:16For us, like ethical making is, goes hand in hand, obviously with sustainability.
01:20And we really do focus on social impact with the clothing that we make and as well as like ethical making.
01:26A new wave of talent is also shaping South African fashion.
01:29Sepi Susima, known as See the Stylist, draws inspiration from cultural heritage and tradition.
01:36His work often incorporates Africa patterns and fabrics, giving them a modern twist.
01:41I think my work is a lot about culture pattern and tapestry and like a lot of color, a lot of ball prints.
01:48And I draw a lot of my inspiration from Basotho, the tradition.
01:52And color brings joy to me.
01:55Seema's designs are also finding a wider audience through TikTok and other social media platforms.
02:01His love of thrifting and upcycling gives him the freedom to experiment, creating original and sustainable looks.
02:08Those are the markets that I would like to go, like to collaborate with world-class countries like your China, world-class countries like European countries.
02:17Just because that's where the fashion moves a lot.
02:21And also there is a lot of infrastructure that allows the spaces to happen.
02:26And if designer fashion isn't your scene, South Africa's thrift shops offer secondhand gems and upcycled originals, affordable style with a sustainable edge.
02:36I believe it's the right option for sustainability.
02:40I think that there's a lot of waste and it feels great when you find a good find at the thrift.
02:45From global runways to local thrift stores, South African fashion is making its mark proving that heritage and creativity thrive when sustainability leads the way.
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