Ngano Design wins SA Fashion Week SS2025 Talent Search

Lesley Moyo
May 2
3 min read

In a moment steeped in emotion and creative triumph, Ngano Design emerged as the winner of the prestigious SA Fashion Week New Talent Search 2025, with soul. For Tanaka Magirazi Vengere, the visionary behind Ngano Design Africa, this milestone is nothing short of transformative.

SA Fashion Week Ngano Design runway visual

Tanaka Magirazi Vengere, the visionary behind Ngano Design Africa

“I am stunned and humbled by this recognition,” Tanaka shares. “It’s an achievement I carry with deep gratitude not just for myself, but for the entire journey that brought Ngano to this point.”

And what a journey it has been.

From Veterinary Science to the Soul of Fashion

Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tanaka initially pursued a career in veterinary medicine before pivoting towards his true passion: fashion. His creative rebirth began in South Africa, where she enrolled at STADIO School of Fashion, completing a BA Honours degree and later studying at Ferrari Fashion School in Milan, an experience that sowed the seeds of what would become Ngano Design.

“Ngano” means “story” in my native chiShona, he explains. “It speaks to my love of storytelling and the many ways stories get told , I wanted to build a brand that wove story, craft, and African soul into every thread.”

With the guiding mantra “isu tese sezvatiri nezvatichava” all of us as we are and what we shall become , Tanaka began laying the foundation for a label that embodies both identity and transformation.

Resilient, Rooted, Rising

The winning collection, titled “Resilient, Rooted, Rising,” is a love letter to self-actualisation, a journey many in Southern Africa will relate to. Inspired by his upbringing in Zimbabwe and his vision of an empowered African woman, the collection explores the beauty of growth through adversity.

“It tells the story of a woman who’s weathered life’s complexities and walks forward carrying both her history and her sensuality with confidence,” Tanaka says.

The collection features abstract foliage prints, ties, and tassels symbolising rootedness, and silhouettes that blend boldness with adaptability. Deconstructed elements and upcycled materials underscore a message of resilience and reinvention every piece wearable in multiple ways, echoing the fluid narratives of those who wear them.

Runway as Reflection

Tanaka’s runway presentation offered more than a showcase, it was a visual narrative.

“I wanted to honour the beauty in transformation. The boldness of someone who’s learned, endured, dreamed and now rises. The pieces reflect a sense of ease, confidence and layered storytelling.”

Adjustable fits, transformative details and the interplay of conceal and reveal make Ngano’s garments feel like living stories, a visual language of the past, present and possible.

What’s Next for Ngano Designs?

Fresh off his win, Tanaka is poised to expand Ngano’s presence and voice, both digitally and physically. Plans are underway to revamp the brand’s website, build a stronger social media footprint, and launch an original podcast exploring African creativity.

“I want to create a vibrant ecosystem around Ngano, consumers as story characters, artisans as magic-makers, and supporters as the backbone,” he says.

He also envisions partnering with local manufacturers and artisans, building slowly and sustainably, and participating in more fashion weeks to share the magic of Ngano with a wider audience.