Thebe Magugu is a young South African designer whose apparel is known for pushing the boundaries of couture, while empowering the women and men who wear his designs. Born in Kimberley, South Africa, Thebe’s first source of inspiration came from the women who played an instrumental role in his life. Although traditionally a womenswear brand, his experimental designs aim to blur the gender lines and create clothing that question social constructs of what it means to be masculine and feminine in African society.
His career truly began at the Lisof Fashion School in Johannesburg where he studied fashion and apparel design while contributing to publications like The Times and Flux Trends. Thebe was also selected for Design Indaba’s Emerging Creatives of 2017 program. His debut collection titled, “Geology,” premiered at South Africa’s fashion week earlier in the year and has since been featured in publications like Vogue. When speaking to Nataal about his inspiration behind the collection he states, "I started to imagine a woman taking to the great outdoors, to escape the burdens and noise of urban living." While he is only one collection into his career, he has already set the tone for young African designers pushing their brands beyond their immediate borders.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
Photo courtesy of Thebe Magugu.
